Great Southern Football League - Round 16

Willunga have reclaimed top spot on the GSFL ladder after a thumping 122-point win over Goolwa-Port Elliot at Goolwa on Saturday. The game was effectively over at quarter time after the Demons kicked 8.3 to 1.0 to lead by 45 points at the first change. They extended their lead to 55 points at the main break and out to 84 points by the last change before kicking another eight goals to two in the final term to win 28.13 (181) to 9.5 (59). Marcus Burdett kicked seven goals in a best on ground performance for the visitors. Daniel Lee and Oliver Pacillo also hit the scoreboard with four goals each. James Fry kicked three goals for the Magpies and was named as their best player.

McLaren produced an excellent performance to knock off ladder leader Victor Harbor at Victor. After a tight opening term which saw McLaren lead by six points, the visitors really turned up the heat in the second and third quarters, holding the Kangaroos to just one goal and extending their lead to a match winning 29 points at the last change before running out winners 11.10 (76) to 7.5 (47). McLaren had nine different goal kickers with Max Wakefield kicking three while Sam Basham played a lone hand up forward for Victor with five goals. Best players for McLaren were Codey Ellison, Ashley Goodieson and Joel Vandeleur while Jack McKay, Sam Basham and Aydan Bartlett were among Victor’s best.

Reigning premier Langhorne Creek have moved within half a game of third position after a come from behind 32-point victory at home against Mount Compass. The visitors got off to a fast start to lead by 21 points at half-time. Langhorne Creek gathered themselves during the long break and came out flying in the third term, kicking eight goals to one to take a 20-point lead into the final change before keeping the Bulldogs goalless in the last stanza on their way to a 13.10 (88) to 8.8 (56) victory. Caleb Howell and Lachie McGregor kicked three goals each for the Hawks while Tom Pinyon kicked three for Mount Compass to take his season’s tally to 89. Mitch Cleggett, Lally and Howell were named best for Langhorne Creek while Peter Hoban, Tom Corbett and Adam Hunter were best for Mount Compass.

Strathalbyn kept their finals hopes alive with a comprehensive 64-point victory over Yankalilla at Strathalbyn. The victory keeps the Roosters in sixth spot, just one win behind McLaren with two rounds remaining. The home side was always in control taking a 40-point lead into half-time. A further seven goals to three in the second half saw the final score blow out to 17.7 (109) to 6.9 (45). Ben Simounds was a star up forward for the Roosters with seven goals to take his season tally to 48. Trent Kelly and Jesse Fitzgerald were the only multiple goal scorers for the Tigers with two goals each. Jacob Wright, Marc Elliott and Simounds were best for Strathalbyn while Jacob Lara, Xavier Gotch and Jono Lee tried hard all day for Yankalilla.

Encounter Bay won their seventh game for 2019 in a scrappy affair at winless Myponga-Sellicks. After a tight opening quarter, Encounter Bay pulled away to win 9.12 (66) to 4.9 (33). Nicholas Marshall was a star up forward for Encounter Bay kicking five goals and taking his season tally to 56. He was well supported by Gary Karpany with three majors. Patrick Barrett was best on ground for the victors while Scott Ogilvie was named best for the Mudlarks for the second game in a row.