Reigning premier Langhorne Creek all but wrapped up the double chance following their excellent 34-point win against McLaren during round 13 action in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) yesterday. It was a tight and low scoring first half with Langhorne Creek taking a handy 18-point lead to the main break. The damage was done by the Hawks in the third term as they kicked 5.4 to 2.0 to turn for home with a commanding 40-point advantage. McLaren won the last quarter as they kicked four goals to three but Langhorne Creek went on to record their 11th victory of 2021, 13.10 (88) to 8.6 (54). For the second game in a row, Jarrod Kellock kicked five goals and was best-on-ground for the Hawks. He was ably supported by playing-coach James Sellar who kicked four goals in his first game since May 1. Other good players for the ‘Creeks’ were Darcy Clifford, Coby Helyar, Matt Dominish and Shannon Jones. Thomas Fenoughty, Daniel Marr, Matthew Merrett, Kaine Hopkins and Ashley Goodieson were the best players for the Eagles.

Mount Compass stayed top of the ladder following a convincing 132-point home win against bottom side Victor Harbor. The Bulldogs led by 24 points at quarter time, 54 points at halftime and 92 points at the final change before winning 24.14 (158) to 3.8 (26). Mount Compass had nine different goal kickers with full-forward Tom Pinyon slotting eight majors. Pinyon now has 71 goals for the season with five minor round games remaining before finals. Sam Haniford, Tom Corbett, Ziggy Vitkunas, Matthew Skrypek and Corey Grove (3 goals) were best for the Bulldogs. Leslie Weetra, Dylan Kleinig and Rhys Bartram were among the best players for the Kangaroos.

Strathalbyn maintained their spot in the top-five with a 39-point win over Myponga-Sellicks at Strathalbyn. It was a tight first half with the Roosters leading by just seven points at the main break. The third quarter would prove the difference in the game as ‘Strath’ kicked 5.4 to 0.1 to hold a match-winning 40 point lead with a quarter to go. The Mudlarks battled hard in the last term as both sides kicked two goals with Strathalbyn eventually winning 11.13 (79) to 6.4 (40). Tom McNamara and Brodie Martin each kicked three goals for Strathalbyn while Cam Vinell slotted two majors for the Mudlarks. Best players for the triumphant Roosters were Mark Tucker, Tom Redden, Reid Mahains, Liam Stirling and Jack Kelsh. Ryan Kelly, Nathan Hedger, Jake Spinks, Scott Ogilvie and Sam Kennedy were among the best for Myponga/Sellicks. 

Encounter Bay kept the pressure on Strathalbyn and McLaren for a spot in the top-five following their convincing 62-point win against Goolwa/Port Elliot at the Bays home ground. The game was ‘nip-and-tuck’ in the first half with Encounter Bay leading by just five points at halftime. It was a totally dominant display in the second half from the Bays as they slammed on 13 goals to four to run out winners 19.10 (124) to 10.2 (62). Encounter Bay skipper Tyson Neale kicked six goals in a best on ground performance while Gary Karpany kicked four. Brad Prior kicked three goals for the Magpies. Other good players for Encounter Bay included ruckman Callum Tonkin, Nick Marshall, Andrew Fyfe and Ben Gibbs. For Goolwa/Port Elliot, Ben Cummings, Jesse Bates, Prior, Rory Hausser and Tyson Rigney were their best players.

Willunga put a five-point gap between them and fourth spot following their convincing 99-point win at Yankalilla. The Demons dominated from the start of the game as they led by 31 points at quarter time and 51 points at the main break. A further nine goals to two in the second half saw Willunga win 18.13 (121) to 3.4 (22). The Demons had eight different goal kickers with Tyson Hoffmann (4) and Sean Beath (3) leading the way. Joseph Tyliss kicked two goals for the Tigers. For the fourth time this season, the ever-consistent Cam Hutchens was named best for the Demons and he was well supported by Braden Altus, Billy Cook, Brad Haskett and Sam Renney. Yankalilla were best served by Ben Gogel, Jesse Fitzgerald, Finn Betterman, Jack Fitzgerald and Lachlan King. 

Ladder after Round 13

Mount Compass 24, Langhorne Creek 23, Willunga 21, McLaren 16, Strathalbyn 16, Encounter Bay 14, Goolwa/Port Elliot 6, Yankalilla 6, Myponga/Sellicks 2, Victor Harbor 2.

Round 14 Fixtures (July 24 - home team named first)

Encounter Bay v McLaren

Goolwa/Port Elliot v Willunga

Langhorne Creek v Mount Compass

Myponga/Sellicks v Victor Harbor

Strathalbyn v Yankalilla