Langhorne Creek defeated Willunga by one point yesterday to keep themselves in touch with the top-five after eight rounds of the Great Southern Football League (GSFL). Willunga hosted the Grand Final rematch with the home side starting the game as warm favourites. The ‘Creeks’ led by 11 points at halftime and extended their lead to a handy 17 points at the last change. Willunga came back hard in the last quarter but the Hawks had done enough to win 14.6 (90) to 14.5 (89). Coby Helyar kicked four goals for Langhorne Creek, while Brad Haskett also kicked four goals for Willunga. Best for the Hawks were Matt Dominish, Helyar, Matt Tonkin, Jack Keynes and Darcy Clifford. Willunga’s best were Brett Miegel, Haskett, Job Colwell, Lachlan Scott and Darcy Scott. 

Myponga/Sellicks’ dream start to 2022 continued yesterday as they accounted for Victor Harbor to the tune of 83 points at ‘Victor’. The Mudlarks led by 11 points at quarter time and extended their lead to a handy 18 points at halftime. Myponga/Sellicks really took over in the second half , kicking 10 goals to one, to win 17.17 (119) to 5.6 (36). The Mudlarks had 11 different goalkickers with Jake Spinks, Jayden Scott, James Hutchinson, Ryan Haverty, Harrison Cock and Hassan Ahmat-Watkins all kicking two goals each. Kane Cooper and Sam Basham also kicked two goals each for ‘Victor’. Ben Kennedy continued his excellent season to be named best on ground and he was well supported by Levi Proude, Luke Whitford, Matthew Flintham and Haverty. Best for Victor Harbor included Mitchell Brook, Jesse Hutchinson and Ben Yeomans.

McLaren Eagles continued their unbeaten start to 2022 with a comfortable 48-point win at Mount Compass yesterday. It was a tight first half with the Eagles leading by just eight points at halftime. McLaren took over after halftime to kick 12 goals to five and win 18.10 (118) to 10.10 (70). The Eagles had nine different goalkickers with Tom Harms kicking four and Lachlan Camm kicking three. Ziggy Vitkunas kicked three goals for ‘Compass’. Brett Ellis kicked two goals and was named best player for McLaren and he was ably supported by Harms, Cody Ellison, Sam Bentley and Todd McKay. Mount Compass was best served by Adam Hunter, Ziggy Vitkunas, Corey Grove, Klaus Simons and Tom Pinyon.

Strathalbyn slipped inside the top-five following their 45-point win against Yankalilla. The Roosters won 13.17 (95) to 8.2 (50) to improve their win/loss record to 4-4 before a big round nine trip to take on Myponga/Sellicks. Austin McFarlane was best-on-ground for Strathalbyn and he was joined in the best players by Marc Elliott, Jacob Wright, Richard O’Grady and Joel Hodgson. Best players for Yankalilla included Joel Kay, Jack Fitzgerald and Sam Crawford. ‘Strath’ had 10 goalkickers with Ben Simounds slotting three majors, while Matthew Wilson kicked two goals for Yankalilla.

Encounter Bay kept the top-three in their sights with their sixth win of the season, a 97-point victory against Goolwa/Port Elliot at Goolwa. The Bays dominated all game as they led by 34 points at quarter time, 64 points at halftime and 86 points at the last change before winning 16.17 (113) to 2.4 (16). Lachlan Williams kicked four goals for the Bays in a best-on-ground performance, while Oakley Johnson and Brad Kreuger kicked three goals each. Daniel Fry and Jordan Wilson-King kicked the Magpies’ two goals. Other good players for Encounter Bay were Kreuger, Callum Tonkin, James Brown and Fraser Tonkin. Best for Goolwa/Port Elliot included Fry, Oscar McCann and Brian Gill. 

Ladder after Round 8

McLaren 16, Myponga/Sellicks 12, Willunga 12, Encounter Bay 12, Strathalbyn 8, Victor Harbor 8, Langhorne Creek 6, Mount Compass 4, Yankalilla 2, Goolwa/Port Elliot 0.

Round 9 Fixtures (home team named first)

Langhorne Creek v Goolwa/Port Elliot

Yankalilla v Mount Compass

Myponga/Sellicks v Strathalbyn 

Willunga v Victor Harbor

McLaren v Encounter Bay