GSFL 2025: Bulls edge clear over Lions, Tigers kick 30 goals in Kangas mauling and Sharks back on winners list

Top three sides Railways, Mt Barker and Albany recorded resounding wins in round six of the Great Southern Football League season on Saturday, stretching the gap to the bottom three teams on the ladder. The Bulls powered to a dominant 45-point win over Royals in the fiery clash at Retravision Stadium, cementing second spot. It was the third quarter where the Bulls pulled ahead to leave the Lions in the dust, adding four goals in a dominant period in attack. A major from Lions forward Harry Broomhall, who returned from Perth to play for his junior club, started the third term but the Bulls were relentless as they hit back with a stream of goals from Brandon Ugle, Dante Wiseman, Darcy Wallinger and Jared Ballard. Entering into the final change 25-points ahead, the Bulls had established a handy buffer and ran away with an easy 13.9 (87) to 6.6 (42) win after adding four more goals in the fourth. A major from Ugle in the opening seconds of the match started the Bulls in good stead but it was the Lions entered the first break ahead by a slim margin after Chandler Askevold-McDonald and captain Joel Flick put goals on the board. Both sides livened up in the second quarter with high-intensity turnovers but the Bulls edged in front by eight points to go into half time on top. The runaway third was followed by a thumping final term for the Bulls who notched an additional four goals thanks to young stars Wallinger, Wiseman and Tristan Ballard. On the injury front Bulls’ Kobi Williams went down with a groin complaint while the Lions lost Seb Stanton to an ankle injury early on. Wiseman and Ugle lit up the forward line for Bulls with five and four goals respectively while Daniel Patching, new recruit Riley Connelly and both Ballard brothers Tristan and Jared heavily contributed to their fifth win of the season. The Lions were best served by gun midfielder Declan McNamara, Cameron Lazar, Corey Linthorne and Broomhall. The Tigers dished out a 160-point drubbing to North Albany at Collingwood Park, the heaviest defeat of the season. The unbeaten Tigers were ruthless in the opening half as they piled on 16 goals to set up the victory, going on to kick 30 goals for the game. Spearhead Hayden Parker booted 11 goals in the thumping while Bailin Curtis and Kane Shephard added four majors each. Kleemann medallist Ryley Valli was back to his damaging best in the midfield, Parker and player-coach Bodhi Stubber controlled the front half and Shane Braimbridge set the tone in the ruck as the Tigers coasted to a 30.13 (193) to 5.3 (34) demolition. The Tigers were dominant out of the middle in the first term and had four goals on the board before the Kangas could blink – the opening major of the game coming from 100-game milestone man Ryan Davies. The Kangas kicked two of their own in the first but four of the Tigers nine majors in the opening stanza came from Parker’s boot as the visitors already led by 45 points. Parker had seven by the long break and the game was effectively over as the Tigers had opened up an 83-point buffer. The Kangas wretched injury run continued, reduced to two fit players on the bench in the second half and the pain on-field continued. The hungry Tigers feasted on their rivals, kicking six goals to one in the third term and piling on eight more in the final stanza. Valli booted three goals in a highly influential game while Braimbridge, Beau Ewen and Lachie Cale provided plenty of grunt through the middle of the ground. The Tigers had good players everywhere with the returning Milan Jaggi impressive in defence alongside Logan Stubber and Daniel Thomas. Up forward the Tigers had too many threats as Parker took his season tally to 40 goals in just six games. Bodhi Stubber and Mohit Jaggi were strong targets at half forward and Curtis provided some real spark at ground level. The only concern for the red-hot Tigers was losing Coen Marwick and Ryan Harper to injury. On a bleak day for the Kangas, Darcy Roberts and Jack Doak made their league debuts. Dylan Bennett, Brandon Woods, Jeremiah McKenzie and Kobi Keen tried hard while Graham Ross was swung back to play on Parker in the second half and helped stem the bleeding somewhat. The Sharks got back on the winners list, thrashing Denmark-Walpole by 78 points at McLean Park. The Sharks were buoyed by the long-awaited return of former WAFL midfielder Morgan Davies and Claremont colts listed players Charlie Anning and Aiden Clark. Brock Anning and Jack Day were key inclusions for the reigning premiers and Hamish and Angus Bowles also played. The Magpies trailed by only 10 points at quarter time but the visitors stretched the margin to 26 points by the long break. However a 13-goal to four second half put the game beyond doubt as the Sharks beat the Magpies for a second time this season. Brett Peake booted seven goals as the Sharks ran out big winners, 20.14 (134) to 8.8 (56). Davies in his first game of football since August 2023 and first for the Sharks since 2021, finished with three goals in a dazzling return. Isaac Baum (three goals), Angus Bowles (two) and Jesse Owens (two) also got in on the action. Brock Anning, Owens, Bryce Blaszkow and Clark were terrific contributors for the visitors, who responded well after losses to the top two sides in the previous fortnight. Simon Barker, Ryan Hick and Jaden Guidi (two) were influential for the Magpies and Tyler Stone finished with four majors.