Reigning premier Langhorne Creek and 2019 runner-up Willunga played out the first draw of the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) season at Langhorne Creek on Saturday. When the final siren rang, the sides were locked on 12.12 (84) each. Willunga got off to a good start to lead by 12 points at quarter time before Langhorne Creek bounced back in the second term to trail by just one point at the long break. The Demons took over in the third quarter as they kicked five goals to two to take a handy 23-point lead at the last change. Buoyed on by their home crowd, Langhorne Creek roared back into the contest as they kicked 6.2 to 2.3 in the final quarter to force the points to be shared. Caleb Howell kicked four goals and was named best player for the Hawks. Brett Miegel led the way for the Demons with three majors. Joining Howell in the best players for Langhorne Creek was Coby Helyar, Curtis Perrey, Troy Blackwell and Damien James. Best for Willunga was Brian Fenton, James Collier, Cam Hutchens, Miegel and Job Colwell.

Mount Compass returned to the top of the GSFL ladder following their comfortable 63-point home win against Yankalilla. ‘Compass’ welcomed back gun forward Tom Pinyon and also added a handy inclusion in former 130-game Crows player, Jason Porplyzia. After a low scoring first quarter saw Mount Compass lead by eight points at quarter time, the home side completely dominated the last three quarters as they added 10 goals to two to win 12.13 (85) to 3.4 (22). The returning Pinyon kicked five goals while Lewis Johnston kicked three. Best for the Bulldogs was Nick Mott, Peter Hoban, Nathan Hicks, Johnston and Sam Haniford. Yankalilla, under new coach ‘Micka’ James, were best served by Finn Betterman, Chris Clark, Mackenzie Ryan, Joel Kay and Kaleigh Fitzgerald.

Encounter Bay moved back inside the top five at the midway point of the season following their 55-point win at Myponga against the Mudlarks. The first three quarters were nip and tuck with the Bays leading by nine points at quarter time, five points at halftime and by six points at the final change. The Mudlarks were right in the hunt for their first win of the season with just 30 minutes left in the game but sadly, for them, it was all Encounter Bay in the final term. The Bays slammed on 8.2 to 0.1 in the last quarter to win 14.8 (92) to 5.7 (37). Gary Karpany kicked five goals in a best-on-ground performance for Encounter Bay while Ben Davis chimed in with three majors. Joining Karpany in the best players for the Bays was Fraser Tonkin, Ben Davis, Cohen Pettitt and Mitch Davis. Best for the Mudlarks was Harrison Cock, Sam Kennedy, Cambell Dahlitz, Ben Hamilton and Daniel Trevena.

McLaren consolidated their spot in the top five with a grinding nine-point win at Strathalbyn. The first quarter was a tight one with scores locked away at 4.1 (25) apiece at the first change. The Eagles kicked four goals to two in the second term to lead by 12 points at halftime. Each team picked five goals apiece in the second half as McLaren banked a very important two points as they won 13.8 (86) to 11.11 (77). Joel Chahla continued his good recent form as he jagged five majors for McLaren and he was well supported by Jordon Mutton who kicked three. Marc Elliott led the Roosters with three goals of his own. For the third game in a row, Todd McKay was named best for McLaren. Other good players for the Eagles were Kiefver Zohar, Chahla, Matthew Merrett and Joel Vandeleur. Brodie Martin, Lachlan Butler, Richard O’Grady, Marc Elliott and Mark Tucker were best for Strathalbyn. 

Goolwa/Port Elliot won their second game for 2021 with a 28-point win at Victor Harbor. The Magpies started well as they kicked 5.5 to 3.0 and led by 17 points at quarter time. They extended their lead out to 18 points at halftime and after kicking three goals to none in the third quarter, they turned for home with a handy 37-point margin. Victor battled hard to win the last term but the Magpies prevailed 12.9 (81) to 8.5 (53). Former Carlton and West Adelaide player, Adam Hartlett, kicked five goals on debut for Goolwa/Port Elliot while Fred Nissen kicked two. Billy Wade and Sam Basham each kicked two goals for the Kangaroos. Daniel Fry, Ben Cummings, Tyron Rigney, James Fry and Sam Priest were best for Goolwa/Port Elliot while best for Victor Harbor was Brok Schubert, Billy Wade, Seb Guilhaus, Dylan Kleinig and Zac Dowling.  

The competition takes a break for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend next week with the GSFL set to host the Southern Football League at Strathalbyn Oval on Saturday (12 June). There will be five games played on the day with the gates opening at 7.30am. Regular competition will resume on Saturday 19 June. 

Ladder after Round 9

Mount Compass 16, Willunga 15, Langhorne Creek 15, McLaren 12, Encounter Bay 10, Strathalbyn 10, Yankalilla 6, Goolwa/Port Elliot 4, Victor Harbor 2, Myponga/Sellicks 0.

Round 10 Fixtures (19/6/21 - home team named first)

Encounter Bay v Strathalbyn

Goolwa/Port Elliot v Mount Compass

McLaren v Myponga/Sellicks

Willunga v Victor Harbor

Yankalilla v Langhorne Creek