Reigning premier Willunga were back in the winners circle on Saturday after defeating Victor Harbor by 39 points to reach the halfway point of the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) in third spot on the ladder. The first half was tight with the Demons leading by just nine points at the long break. They pushed on in the second half to kick six goals to two and win 14.16 (100) to 9.7 (61). Veteran Jake Standfield kicked three goals for Willunga, while Jackson Elmes also kicked three majors for Victor Harbor. Danny Juckers, Darcy Scott, Braden Altus, Brad Haskett and Brett Miegel were best for Willunga. Elmes, Ben Yeomans and Zachary Dowling were among the best players for ‘Victor’.

McLaren Eagles have reached the halfway point of the season undefeated after their 28-point win against Encounter Bay. The Eagles were accurate all day as they kicked 12.2 (74) to 6.10 (46). James Grimley kicked three goals for the Eagles, giving him 30 majors for the season, while Jake Tarca and Nick Marshall kicked two goals each for the Bays. Best players for top-of-the-ladder McLaren were Matthew Merrett, Joel Vandeleur, Ashley Goodieson, Alex Moyle and Todd McKay. Callum Tonkin, Tyson Neale and Marcus Lippett were among the best players for Encounter Bay.

Langhorne Creek won their third game on the trot with a convincing 112-point win over Goolwa/Port Elliot. The ‘Creeks’ led by 13 points at quarter time before completely taking over in the final three quarters, kicking 17 goals to one, to win 22.11 (143) to 4.7 (31). Coby Helyar was on fire up forward for the Hawks with 10 goals in a best-on-ground performance, while Caleb Howell slotted five majors. Kosta Dekoning kicked two goals for the Magpies. Joining Helyar in the best players for Langhorne Creek were Mitchell Cleggett, Howell, Matt Dominish, Jack Keynes and Jackson Humphries. Daniel Fry, Logan Payne and Oscar McCann were the best players for Goolwa/Port Elliot. 

Mount Compass won their third game of the season to sit just one game outside the top-five after travelling to Yankalilla and coming away with an 87-point victory. The final scores were Mount Compass 14.17 (101) to Yankalilla 2.2 (14). The ‘old firm’ of Tom Pinyon (5) and Ziggy Vitkunas (3) were the leading goalkickers for the Bulldogs, while Tom Spence and Jesse Fitzgerald kicked the Tigers' two goals. Klaus Simons, Ziggy Vitkunas, Pinyon, Shane Heatley and Brandon McKenzie were named best players for Mount Compass. Yankalilla were best served by Joel Kay, Sam Crawford and Oaklee Major.

Myponga/Sellicks won their third game in a row to consolidate their spot in the top-three with a 28-point victory at Myponga over Strathalbyn. It was a tight low-scoring game with just six goals kicked between the two sides to three quarter time with the Mudlarks leading by 14 points. Three goals to one in the final term saw the home side win 7.11 (53) to 3.7 (25). Sam Kennedy and Hassan Ahmat-Watkins kicked two goals each for the Mudlarks, while Ben Simounds kicked all three of Strathalbyn’s goals. Cooper Gilbert was named best-on-ground for Myponga/Sellicks and he was ably supported by Kain Spinks, Elliot Chalmers, Harrison Cock and Scott Ogilvie. Tom Redden, Adam Clark, Zac Edwards, Simounds and Marc Elliott were best for the Roosters. 

Ladder after Round 9

McLaren 18, Myponga/Sellicks 14, Willunga 14, Encounter Bay 12, Strathalbyn 8, Victor Harbor 8, Langhorne Creek 8, Mount Compass 6, Yankalilla 2, Goolwa/Port Elliot 0.

Round 10 Fixtures (Saturday 18 June)

Willunga v Mount Compass

McLaren v Myponga/Sellicks 

Encounter Bay v Yankalilla

Goolwa/Port Elliot v Strathalbyn 

Langhorne Creek v Victor Harbor