Encounter Bay won their sixth game in a row after defeating McLaren Districts by 17 points during round nine action in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) at Encounter Bay on Saturday. The Bays led by three points at halftime, before kicking four goals to one in the third term to take a handy 19-point lead at the last change. Each side kicked a goal in the last quarter as Encounter Bay won 9.1 (55) to 5.8 (38). Ben Davis kicked four goals for Encounter Bay, while Darcy Brown kicked two goals for the Eagles. Best players for Encounter Bay included Andrew Fyfe, Tyler Baldock, Ben Davis, James Brown, Ryan Pearsons and Callum Tonkin. McLaren Districts best players were Jackson Daniels, Codey Ellison, Matthew Raitt, Tom Fenoughty, Izaak Stokes and Daniel Marr.

Victor Harbor went back to the top of the ladder after defeating Myponga-Sellicks by 25 points in the Grand Final rematch at Myponga. It was a tight first half with ‘Victor’ leading by six points at halftime. The ‘Roos kicked six goals to three in the second half to win 9.5 (59) to 5.4 (34). Michael Ross and Jackson Elmes kicked two goals each for Victor Harbor, while Darren Shillabeer also kicked two goals for the Mudlarks. Best players for the ‘Roos included Zachary Dowling, Reece Kleinig, Benjamin Heaslip, Sam Overall, Rhys Bartram and Kane Cooper. Jake Spinks was named best for the Mudlarks and he was well supported by Scott Ogilvie, Kain Spinks, Liam Partridge, Jakob Drury and Sebastian Jurado.

Willunga won their sixth game in a row to consolidate their position in the top-three after a come-from-behind 23-point win over a gallant Strathalbyn on Saturday. The Roosters, looking for their first win of the season, led by nine points at three-quarter time and a big upset looked a distinct possibility. The Demons steadied in the last term, kicking five goals to one, to win 8.4 (52) to 5.7 (37). The Demons’ best players were Liam Nye, Nicholas Scanlan, Tyson Hoffmann, Aaron Douglass, Cameron Hutchens and Sam Renney, while Brad Haskett slotted three majors. Liam Newton, Jordan Kenny, Harry Hopkins, Ethan Fox, Jake Stafford and Declan Grant were named best for the Roosters, with Jack Wheaton kicking three goals. 

Langhorne Creek won their second game of the season after defeating Goolwa/Port Elliot by 71 points. The Hawks won by 21 points at halftime, before kicking a further eight unanswered goals in the second half to win 18.14 (122) to 6.15 (51). Langhorne Creek stalwart Jarrod Kellock kicked seven goals, while Liam Stirling kicked three majors. Dene McKinlay kicked two goals for the Magpies. Henry Bruce, Lachlan Bates, Kellock, Tom Derham, Matt Dominish and Stirling were named best for Langhorne Creek. Goolwa/Port Elliot was best served by Kai Iwao, McKinlay, Jayden Davis, Ryan Carnelly, Levi Baillie and Noah Ramasawmy.

Mt Compass kept their finals hopes alive following their 64-point win over Yankalilla. The Bulldogs won every quarter on their way to a 11.12 (78) to 1.8 (14) victory. Veteran forward Tom Pinyon kicked five goals for ‘Compass’, while their best players included Nathan Schulz, Brandon Mckenzie, Klaus Simons, Pinyon, Lochie Nash and Adam Hunter. Best for the Tigers were Michael Thompson, Bailey Gaskin, Joel Kay, Joel Field, Jesse Fitzgerald and Jack Fitzgerald.

Ladder (after round 9)

Victor Harbor 16, Willunga 16, McLaren Districts 14, Encounter Bay 14, Myponga-Sellicks 10, Mt Compass 8, Yankalilla 6, Langhorne Creek 4, Goolwa/Port Elliot 2, Strathalbyn 0.

Round 10 fixtures - home teams named first (Saturday 21/6/25)

Goolwa/Port Elliot v Victor Harbor

McLaren Districts v Myponga-Sellicks

Encounter Bay v Willunga

Yankalilla v Strathalbyn

Langhorne Creek v Mt Compass