GSFL 2025: Davies and Peake the shining lights as season finale looms and Sharks bare teeth to move second

Albany moved level on points with the second-placed Mt Barker ahead of an exciting final fortnight of the regular competition after thumping co-tenants Royals by 103 points. The Sharks kicked 11 goals to one in a dominant opening half at Retravision Stadium, setting up their 10th win of the season. The Lions were restricted to just two goals by the resolute Sharks defence, while at the other end star duo Morgan Davies and Brett Peake shone. The pair combined for nine of the Sharks 19 goals, as they simply had too much class for their opponents. Davies has played only five games for the Sharks this season but his impact has been immense, kicking 14 goals and providing more top-level class for the reigning premiers. He booted five majors and Peake finished with four as the Sharks ran away with a 19.7 (121) to 2.6 (18) victory. Sharks coach Roy Addis said he was able to call on his top 18 players for the first time this season. “Royals showed plenty of commitment and presented some challenges but our ball use and running across the game was a little bit better,” he said. “I am really satisfied with our ball use and the fact we are implementing in the game what we are doing in training. “We spoke for the first time this week about our premiership defence and we have two massive games ahead of us. “It’s in our hands and we will go out and circle like a bull shark.” He praised the contributions of Davies, Isaac Baum, Bryce Blaszkow, Kane Pinney and Peake. The Sharks led by 34 points at quarter time and extended their margin to 61 by the long break. Seven goals to one in the third stitched up the result as midfield pair of Baum and Blaszkow continued their super seasons. Baum added two majors to be one of the most influential players on the ground while Davies and Peake also stood out. Zac Pearson (three goals) and Tom Bradshaw (two) were the Sharks’ other multiple goalkickers. Ryan Kinnear and Declan McNamara kicked the only two goals for the Lions on a lowly day. McNamara, Nathan Powell, Cameron Lazar, Chandler Askevold-McDonald and Coel Hunter toiled hard in the defeat. Lions’ coach Darrell Panizza said turnovers early in the game had led to the floodgates opening but with two crunch games to come against Denmark-Walpole and North Albany he was looking forward to the remaining challenges. “We are probably batting in our league now but if we can win those two games we will have four wins for the season and, given where we are, that would be pretty acceptable,” he said. “There’s a big difference in standard between the top three and the bottom three so I think we are in a reasonable position going forward.”