Mount Compass has all but secured their finals berth for 2023 after defeating Encounter Bay by 15 points during round 16 action in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) at Mount Compass on Saturday. In a low-scoring game, ‘Compass’ won 8.6 (54) to 6.3 (39). Joss Davis, Lochie Nash and Ziggy Vitkunas all kicked two goals for the Bulldogs, while their best players were Klaus Simons, Tom Vitkunas, Ziggy Vitkunas, Nash and Jordan Hooper. Best players for the Bays included James Bradford, Tyler Baldock, Tate Walker, Maxi Collins and Lachlan Williams.

Reigning premier McLaren Districts got back in the winners circle after a comprehensive 146-point victory against Goolwa/Port Elliot. The game was tight at quarter time with the Eagles ahead by just four points. McLaren Districts put the game away with a 10-goal second term to take a match-winning 61-point lead at halftime. A further 17 goals to three in the second half saw the Eagles win 30.15 (195) to 7.7 (49). Codey Ellison was a star up forward with 10 goals for the Eagles, while Matthew Merrett kicked six. Reece Slape kicked three goals for the Magpies. Best players for McLaren Districts included Sam Lawrie, Ellison, Tarak Redigolo, Alex Moyle and Todd McKay. Best for the Magpies included Jye Bottroff, Ryan Carnelly, Daniel Fry, Logan Payne and Slape. 

Myponga-Sellicks consolidated their top-three spot on the ladder with a 46-point win over Langhorne Creek. Langhorne Creek kicked the only goal of the first term to lead by five points at quarter time, before the Mudlarks fired up in the second term, kicking six unanswered goals, to lead by 36 points at halftime. A further three goals to two in the second half saw Myponga-Sellicks win 9.15 (69) to 3.5 (23). Jake Spinks (3), Harrison Cock (2) and Sam Kennedy (2) were the multiple goalkickers for the Mudlarks. Myponga-Sellicks were best served by Scott Ogilvie, Tom Carroll, Ben Kennedy, Spinks and Cock. Best for Langhorne Creek included Coby Helyar, Jarrod Kellock, Troy Blackwell, Peter Reichelt and Tom Derham.

Strathalbyn won their seventh game of the season with an upset two-point win over Willunga in tough conditions at ‘Strath’. Willunga started the game well to lead by a handy 13 points at halftime, before Strathalbyn kicked three goals to none in the third term to turn for home with a seven-point advantage. Willunga won the last quarter but in the end Strathalbyn prevailed 7.12 (54) to 7.10 (52). Ben Simounds kicked two goals for Strathalbyn, while Danny Juckers kicked four goals for Willunga. Mark Tucker, Thomas Welk, Mitchell Godfrey, Lachlan Butler and Richard O’Grady were named best players for the Roosters. For the Demons, Jack Redden, Juckers, Daniel Bass, Brett Miegel and Scott Brown were named as their best players. 

Victor Harbor won their sixth game on the trot after defeating Yankalilla by 82 points. ‘Victor’ won every quarter on their way to a 20.8 (128) to 6.10 (46) victory. The ‘Roos had 10 different goalkickers with Michael Ross kicking four majors in a best-on-ground performance. Denver Ker kicked three goals for the Tigers. Other good players for Victor Harbor included Jesse McKinnon, Zac Dowling, Matt Wiese and Jackson Elmes. Best players for ‘Yank’ were Jesse Fitzgerald, Joel Kay, Chris Clark, Luke Bartlett and Angus Weir. 

Ladder after Round 16

McLaren Districts 26, Myponga-Sellicks 24, Victor Harbor 24, Willunga 20, Mount Compass 20, Langhorne Creek 16, Strathalbyn 14, Encounter Bay 10, Goolwa/Port Elliot 4, Yankalilla 2.

Round 17 Fixtures (Saturday 19 August)

Langhorne Creek v Goolwa/Port Elliot

Encounter Bay v McLaren Districts

Willunga v Myponga-Sellicks

Yankalilla v Strathalbyn

Mount Compass v Victor Harbor