Mount Compass secured their finals berth for 2023 after defeating fellow finals aspirant Victor Harbor by 24 points at Mount Compass during round 17 action in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) on Saturday. The win for the Bulldogs was set up by a dominant first quarter that saw the home side kick 4.4 to 0.0 to take a 28-point lead to quarter time. The rest of the game was even with ‘Compass’ eventually winning 9.8 (62) to 5.8 (38). Klaus Simons, Ziggy Vitkunas and Tom Vitkunas were named best for the Bulldogs, while Tom Pinyon (in his 200th game), Nathan Hicks, Lochie Nash and Ziggy Vitkunas all kicked two goals. Best for ‘Victor’ were Jesse McKinnon, Dylan Kleinig, Mitch Brook, Zac Dowling and Heath Treloar.

Langhorne Creek kept their slim finals hopes alive with a crushing 199-point win at home against Goolwa/Port Elliot. The Hawks led by 46 points at quarter time, 92 points at halftime and 158 points at the final change, before winning 32.26 (218) to 3.1 (19). Langhorne Creek had nine different goalkickers with Darcy Clifford (6), Coby Helyar (6), Jarrod Kellock (5) and Jackson Dalitz (4) all getting in on the act. Reece Slape kicked two goals for the Magpies. Clifford, Kellock, Helyar, Lachlan Bates and Troy Blackwell were named best for the dominant Hawks. On a tough day for the Magpies, Ryan Carnelly, Jye Bottroff and Daniel Fry were amongst their best players. 

McLaren Districts survived a huge scare as they came from behind to defeat Encounter Bay by one point on Saturday. The win wraps up the minor premiership for the Eagles. The Bays got off to a good start to lead by 19 points at quarter time and they were still ahead by 13 points at the last change. With the game slipping away, the reigning premiers swung into action, kicking four goals to one in the final quarter, to win 7.8 (50) to 6.13 (49). Jake Stummer-Harvey was the only multiple goalkicker on the ground with two goals for McLaren Districts. Best players for the Eagles included Tom Fenoughty, Brett Ellis, Sam Lawrie, Tarak Redigolo and Justin Bollenhagen. Encounter Bay was best served by Tyler Baldock, Tyson Neale, Callum Tonkin, Fraser Tonkin and Mason Middleton.

Strathalbyn won their eighth game of the season with a 31-point win at Yankalilla. The first quarter was high-scoring with the teams level at 5.1 (31) at the first change. The Roosters won the last three quarters, kicking eight goals to four, to run out winners 13.11 (89) to 9.4 (58). Ben Simounds kicked four goals for the Roosters, giving him 65 majors for the season, while Marc Elliott kicked three goals. Aaron Smith, Denver Ker and Travis Bartlett all kicked two goals for the Tigers. Richard O’Grady was named best for Strathalbyn and he was well supported by Cooper Machin, Elliott, Lachlan Butler and Lachlan Fox. Best for ‘Yank’ included Jack Fitzgerald, Joel Kay, Angus Weir, Joe Tyllis and Chris Clark.

Myponga-Sellicks wrapped up the all-important double chance with a strong 26-point win at Willunga. The Mudlarks led by eight points at halftime after kicking an inaccurate 4.13 (37) to Willunga 4.5 (29). A further nine goals to six in the second half saw Myponga-Sellicks triumph 13.17 (95) to 10.9 (69). The Mudlarks had nine different goalkickers with Jake Spinks, Levi Proude, Cooper Gilbert and Thomas Carroll all kicking two majors. Sam Renney and Job Colwell kicked three goals apiece for the Demons. Best players for the visitors included Carroll, Ryan Kelly, Ben Kennedy, Kain Spinks and Proude. Daniel Bass was best for Willunga and he was well supported by Renney, Brad Haskett, Harrison Mills and Jed Redden.

Ladder after Round 17

McLaren Districts 28, Myponga-Sellicks 26, Victor Harbor 24, Mount Compass 22, Willunga 20, Langhorne Creek 18, Strathalbyn 16, Encounter Bay 10, Goolwa/Port Elliot 4, Yankalilla 2.

Round 18 Fixtures (Saturday 26 August)

Strathalbyn v Encounter Bay

Goolwa/Port Elliot v Willunga

Victor Harbor v Langhorne Creek

Myponga-Sellicks v Mount Compass

McLaren Districts v Yankalilla