Reigning premier Langhorne Creek flexed their considerable muscle with a 102-point victory at Goolwa over Goolwa/Port Elliot during round two action in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) yesterday. The Hawks had 11 different goal kickers with livewire forward Lachie McGregor kicking 11 goals and James Sellar four. After a high scoring first quarter saw Langhorne Creek lead 7.4 (46) to Goolwa/Port Elliot 4.1 (25), the reigning premier took over to kick 19 goals to seven for the rest of the game to win 26.16 (172) to 11.4 (70). Troy Blackwell, David Warren, Tom Derham, Damien James and Alex Cleggett were named in the best players for the winners. Trent Griffen led the way up forward for the Magpies with four goals while Brody Vincent, Brayden Miller and Zac Bates were among Goolwa/Port Elliot’s best. 

Willunga made it two-from-two with a convincing 73-point win at home against Strathalbyn. The first half was a real ‘shootout’ with the Demons taking a 12-point lead into the long break, 10.2 (62) to 8.2 (50). After halftime it was all Willunga as they kicked 10 goals to one to win 20.10 (130) to 9.3 (57). The Demons had 11 different goal kickers with Sean Beath, Tyson Hoffmann and Daniel Bass all kicking three goals. Beath has kicked 14 goals in two games so far in 2021. Craig Nelson, Cam Hutchens, Brian Fenton, Brad Haskett and Hoffmann were best for Willunga while for Strathalbyn, Tom Redden, Ryan Clarke and Marc Elliott were among their best players. 

McLaren has also started the 2021 season with two wins following a convincing 52-point win over Victor Harbor. The game was tight for the first three quarters with McLaren leading by 24 points at the last change against a much improved Victor outfit. McLaren showed their class in the last term as they kicked seven goals to three to win 15.17 (107) to 8.7 (55). Brendan Gill kicked three goals for the winners while Sam Basham also kicked three majors for the ‘Roos. Todd McKay, Brett Ellis, Thomas Fenoughty, Kaine Hopkins and Gill were named in the best players for McLaren. Former Magarey Medal winner James Boyd, who left Central District last week, was best for Victor with their other new recruit, Seb Guilhaus, also named in the best players.

Yankalilla notched their first win for 2021 with a thrilling two-point win against a brave Myponga/Sellicks outfit. Yankalilla led by 10 points at the first break before the Mudlarks roared back into the contest with six goals to one in the second quarter to lead by 19 points at the long break. The Tigers hit back hard in the third term to turn for home with a slender five-point lead and two goals apiece in the last term saw Yankalilla hold on to win 11.9 (75) to 11.7 (73). Playing-Coach Lindsay Thomas kicked four goals for Yankalilla and Harrison Cock also slotted four majors for Myponga/Sellicks. Joel Kay, Adam Braendler, Lachlan Whittlesea, Harrison Morgan and Brad Thompson were named best for the Tigers. For Myponga/Sellicks, Cock, Jake Spinks and Cambell Dahlitz were their team's best players. 

Mount Compass had another big win, this time by 76 points against 2020 grand finalists Encounter Bay with the returning Tom Pinyon kicking another eight goals to give him 15 majors after just two rounds for the Bulldogs. The game was all but over at quarter time as Compass led by 45 points at the first break. The game evened up in the next two quarters with each team kicking five goals before Mount Compass kicked away in the final term with a further six goals to one to win 18.9 (117) to 6.5 (41). Ziggy Vitkunas, Nick Mott, Sam Haniford, Corey Grove and Pinyon were named best for the Bulldogs while Kyle Hayter kicked three majors for the Bays with Andrew Fyfe, Lachlan Williams and Daniel Toole in the best players.

Ladder after Round 2 

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

Round 3 Fixtures (Home team named first)

Encounter Bay v Victor Harbor

McLaren v Willunga

Mount Compass v Myponga/Sellicks

Strathalbyn v Langhorne Creek

Yankalilla v Goolwa/Port Elliot