McLaren Districts’ amazing run of 30 consecutive wins came to an end at the hands of local rival Willunga during round 11 action in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) yesterday. The Demons led all day as they won 13.16 (94) to 5.12 (42). Former AFL player Jack Redden was named best for Willunga and he was well supported by Sam Renney, Daniel Lee (4 goals), Danny Juckers and Braden Altus. Best players for McLaren Districts included Jamie Smith, Tom Fenoughty, Brett Ellis (3 goals), Tarak Redigolo and Elijah Ware.

Goolwa/Port Elliot provided one of the upsets of the season after they defeated finals contender Mount Compass by 48 points at Goolwa. The Magpies won every quarter on their way to a 15.10 (100) to 8.4 (52) victory. The Magpies had nine different goalkickers with James Fry leading the way with three majors. Best players for Goolwa/Port Elliot were Ryan Carnelly, Daniel Fry, Jacob Hughes, Kosta Dekoning and Jye Bottroff. Ziggy Vitkunas kicked four goals and was named best player for ‘Compass’, while other good players were Jayden Weetman, Dylan Waye, William Zimmermann and Brandon McKenzie. 

Langhorne Creek kept their finals hopes alive with an eight-point win against arch-rival Strathalbyn. The game was tight throughout as the Hawks came out on top 11.4 (70) to 9.8 (62). Mitch Cleggett, Coby Helyar and Jack Keynes kicked two goals each for Langhorne Creek, while Riley Clamp also kicked two goals for the Roosters. Best players for Langhorne Creek included Tom Derham, Keynes, Troy Blackwell, Matt Dominish and Darcy Clifford. Strathalbyn’s best players were Jacob Wright, Mark Tucker, Marc Elliott, Matt Mundy and Richard O’Grady.

Victor Harbor won their seventh game of the season with a 12-point victory against Encounter Bay. The Bays started well to lead by 10 points at quarter time, before ‘Victor’ hit back to take a handy 20-point lead at halftime. Encounter Bay took the honours in the second half, but the ‘Roos prevailed 13.9 (87) to 11.9 (75). Best players for Victor Harbor included Michael Ross, Jackson Elmes (3 goals), Reece Kleinig, Mitchell Brook and Tom Neville. The Bays were best served by Elijah Horrocks, Pat Taggart, Tyler Baldock, Cohen Pettitt and Jayden Christophers.

Myponga-Sellicks consolidated their position in the top-three with a comprehensive 123-point win over Yankalilla at Myponga yesterday. The Mudlarks led by 39 points at quarter time, 68 points at halftime, and 75 points at the last change, before winning 19.19 (133) to 1.4 (10). Jayden Scott kicked six goals for the Mudlarks (36 for the season), while Sam Kennedy and Dylan Lang kicked three goals each. Denver Ker kicked the only goal for the Tigers. Best players for Myponga-Sellicks were Sam Kennedy, Harrison Cock, Lang, Anthony Kempster and Levi Proude. Yankalilla’s best players included Tyler Athanasos, Liam Gerber, Jesse Fitzgerald, James Hargreaves and Luke Bartlett.

Ladder after Round 11

McLaren Districts 20, Myponga-Sellicks 16, Willunga 16, Victor Harbor 14, Mount Compass 12, Strathalbyn 10, Langhorne Creek 10, Encounter Bay 6, Goolwa/Port Elliot 4, Yankalilla 2.

Round 12 Fixtures (Saturday 15 July)

McLaren Districts v Langhorne Creek

Goolwa/Port Elliot v Myponga-Sellicks

Strathalbyn v Victor Harbor

Encounter Bay v Willunga

Mount Compass v Yankalilla