Reigning premier Langhorne Creek kept their unbeaten start to the 2021 Great Southern Football League (GSFL) season intact with a tight six-point win against McLaren at Langhorne Creek on Saturday. McLaren held sway in the first half as they opened up a 10-point lead at halftime. The Hawks came back into the contest with a five goal to two burst in the ‘premiership quarter’ as they turned for home with a nine-point lead. The Eagles had plenty of chances in the last quarter but could only manage 2.6 to the Creeks 2.3 as the home side hung on to win 11.11 (77) to 9.17 (71). Angus Lally kicked three goals for Langhorne Creek while Todd McKay, with two majors, was McLaren’s only multiple goalkicker. Alex Cleggett, Caleb Howell, James Sellar, Ben Arbon and Coby Helyar were named best players for the Hawks. Alex Moyle, McKay, Bryn Loots, Brett Ellis and Sam Lawrie were best for a gutsy McLaren outfit.

Willunga had a massive percentage boosting 241-point win over Yankalilla at Willunga Oval as they stayed on top of the ladder through four rounds. The Demons kicked seven goals in the first term, a whopping 13 majors in the second, eight goals in the third and finished off the game with nine last quarter goals to win 37.30 (252) to 1.5 (11). Willunga had 14 different goalkickers including Tyson Hoffmann (7), Daniel Bass (4), Scott Hunt (4) and Cam Hutchens (4). Ben Gogel was Yankalilla’s sole goalkicker. Hutchens, Brain Fenton, Hoffmann, Sean Beath and Harrison Mills were best for the dominant Demons while for Yankalilla, Brad Thompson, Gogel and Joel Kay battled hard on a dirty day for the Tigers.

Encounter Bay moved up to fourth spot on the GSFL ladder following a convincing 76-point win against Goolwa/Port Elliot. The Bays led by just one point at quarter time but completely dominated the second term to lead by 35 points at the long break. The Magpies came back in the third quarter as they kicked three goals to two but they still trailed by 30 points at three quarter time. It was all Encounter Bay in the last quarter as they kicked 7.5 to 0.1 to win 16.14 (110) to 5.4 (34). Tyson Neale kicked four goals for the Bays (17 for the season) and he was well supported by Lachlan Costello and Cohen Pettitt who kicked three goals each. Brayden Lane and Brock Godwin-Knott each kicked two majors for the Magpies. Pettitt, Andrew Fyfe, Lachlan Williams, Fraser Tonkin and Costello were best for Encounter Bay. James Fry, Aisea Raikiwasa and Dale Cuthbert were among Goolwa/Port Elliot’s best.

Mount Compass continued their winning ways with a comfortable 69-point win at Victor Harbor. Tom Pinyon kicked six goals for the Bulldogs to take his season tally to 23 from just four games, while former Adelaide Crows player, Lewis Johnston, kicked three goals in a  best on ground performance. Other good players for Mount Compass were Ziggy Vitkunas, Nick Mott, Tomas Vitkunas and ruckman Peter Hoban. Sam Basham provided Victor with a target up forward as he slotted three goals. Zac Dowling, Brok Schubert, Seb Guilhaus, Billy Wade and James Boyd were best for Victor Harbor.

Strathalbyn travelled to Myponga to take on the Mudlarks and emerged with a good 54-point win to sit just outside the top five on percentage. The Roosters opened up a match winning 43-point lead at halftime and extended their lead out to 65 points at three quarter time. Myponga/Sellicks battled the game out well to win the last quarter but Strathalbyn went on to win 13.15 (93) to 6.3 (39). Brodie Martin kicked three goals for Strath while Cam Vinall slotted two majors for the Mudlarks. Richard O’Grady, Xavier Redden, Jacob Wright, Marc Elliott and Sam Elliott were named in the best players for Strathalbyn while Ryan Mayes, Jake Spinks, Harry Cock, Anthony Kempster and Wade Hutchinson were best for Myponga/Sellicks.

Ladder after Round 4

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

Round 5 Fixtures (Home team named first)

McLaren v Encounter Bay

Mount Compass v Langhorne Creek

Victor Harbor v Myponga/Sellicks

Willunga v Goolwa/Port Elliot

Yankalilla v Strathalbyn