McLaren Districts have gone back-to-back in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) after winning the ‘A’ grade Grand Final by 27 points against Willunga yesterday. It was the Eagles’ third GSFL ‘A’ grade flag. It was a magnificent setting at Willunga Oval for the 2023 decider with clear, blue skies and a light breeze. It was a scrappy and low-scoring affair in the first half with McLaren Districts leading by 13 points at halftime. Willunga came back into the contest in the third quarter, kicking five goals to three, to reduce the margin to just two points at the last change. Both three-quarter-time huddles were surrounded as supporters urged their sides on for one last time in 2023. Each team had early chances in the last term, but it was McLaren Districts who landed the blows with four unanswered goals to run out winners 12.12 (84) to 8.9 (57). Sam Lawrie, Tarak Redigolo, Brett Ellis, Daniel Marr, Matthew Merrett and Alex Moyle were named best for the Eagles, with Merrett and Codey Ellison kicking three goals each. Best players for Willunga included Brad Haskett, Sam Renney, Nick Scanlan, Brett Miegel, Cam Hutchens and Daniel Bass, while Hutchens, Jed Redden and Daniel Lee kicked two goals each for the Demons.

In the other grades, Willunga defeated McLaren Districts by 18 points in the reserves, Myponga-Sellicks won the senior colts after defeating Encounter Bay by 16 points, while McLaren Districts started the day well with a convincing 77-point victory over Willunga in the junior colts.