Strathalbyn moved a game clear of Encounter Bay in the top five following their 42-point win over the Bays on Saturday during round 10 action in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL). ‘Strath’ started well to lead by 11 points at quarter time and increased this to a handy 16 points at halftime. The Roosters dominated the premiership quarter as they kicked five goals to two to take an unassailable 36-point lead at the final change, before running out winners 13.10 (88) to 6.10 (46). Former Crows player Brodie Martin kicked five goals for Strathalbyn and Marc Elliott kicked three. Jacob Wright continued his consistent season for Strathalbyn to be named their best player. He was well supported by Xavier Redden, Liam Stirling and Thomas Redden. Andrew Fyfe, Lachlan Williams, Ben Davis, Callum Tonkin and Wade Sweetman were named as best players for the Bays.

Mount Compass stayed top of the GSFL ladder with a comfortable 53-point win at Goolwa against the Magpies. It was a tight and low scoring first half with scores tied at the long break. The Magpies would come to rue their poor kicking for goal as they could only manage 2.8 (20) to Mount Compass’ 3.2 (20) in the first half. The second half was all the Bulldogs as they kicked 9.5 to 0.6 to win 12.7 (79) to 2.14 (26). Tom Pinyon was a huge target up forward for ‘Compass’ as he slotted seven majors to give him 51 goals for the season. James Fry and Kosta Dekoning were the goalkickers for the Magpies. Nick Brokenshire, the ever-consistent Peter Hoban, Pinyon, Ziggy Vitkunas and Aidan Brencens were named in the best players for Mount Compass. For Goolwa/Port Elliot, Fred Nissen, Dale Cuthbert and Ben Cummings were among their best players. 

Willunga consolidated their spot in the top three following a 50-point victory at home against Victor Harbor on Saturday. It was a free-flowing and high scoring first half with Willunga leading 11.7 (73) to 7.4 (46). Willunga kicked eight goals to five after halftime to win 19.16 (130) to 12.8 (80). The Demons shared the goals around with 12 different goalkickers including Tyson Hoffmann (4) and Daniel Bass (3). Brok Schubert kicked three goals for the Kangaroos. Cam Hutchens continued his excellent season to be named best for the Demons and he was ably supported by Marcus Burdett, Myles Warmington, Hoffmann and Craig Nelson. Victor Harbor was best served by ruckman Seb Guilhaus, Billy Wade, Harry Grenfell, Jacob Lewis and Rhys Mutch.

McLaren won their seventh game of 2021 with a hard fought 12-point win over a gallant Myponga/Sellicks outfit at McLaren Vale. McLaren led by just four points at quarter time and extended this out to a handy 20 points at the long break. The Mudlarks kicked the only two goals of the third term to turn for home just nine points down. Both teams kicked three goals in the final term with McLaren winning 8.16 (64) to 8.4 (52). Daniel Marr was the only multiple goalkicker for McLaren with two goals while former Power and Swans player Simon Phillips slotted three majors for Myponga/Sellicks. Matthew Merrett, Ashley Goodieson, Joel Vandeleur, James Grimley and Sam Lawrie were best for the Eagles. Best for Myponga/Sellicks was Sam Kennedy, Scott Ogilvie, Harrison Cock, Ryan Kelly and Phillips.

Three-time reigning premier Langhorne Creek had a day out at Yankalilla on Saturday as they defeated the Tigers by 116 points after kicking an incredibly accurate 29.5 (179) to 9.9 (63). It was a high scoring first half with 18 goals scored and the Hawks led by a handy 34 points at halftime. Langhorne Creek pushed their lead out to 62 points at the last change and they didn’t let up there as they kicked 11.0 to 2.0 in the final term to put an emphatic exclamation point on their performance. The Hawks had plenty of avenues to goal with Caleb Howell (7), Jarrod Kellock (6), Coby Helyar (5) and Mitch Cleggett (4) leading the way. Ben Gogel was a shining light up forward for the Tigers with four goals. Kellock, Howell, Helyar, Troy Blackwell and Curtis Perrey were named in the best players for Langhorne Creek. Best for a disappointing Yankalilla were Finn Betterman, Jack Fitzgerald and Chris Clark.

Ladder after Round 10

Mount Compass 18, Willunga 17, Langhorne Creek 17, McLaren 14, Strathalbyn 12, Encounter Bay 10, Yankalilla 6, Goolwa/Port Elliot 4, Victor Harbor 2, Myponga/Sellicks 0.

Round 11 Fixtures (home team named first)

Langhorne Creek v Goolwa/Port Elliot

Mount Compass v Encounter Bay

Myponga/Sellicks v Yankalilla

Strathalbyn v Willunga

Victor Harbor v McLaren