GSFL 2025: Denmark-Walpole in the box seat for finals as they take critical victory over wasteful North Albany

Denmark-Walpole got the better of a wasteful North Albany, with a 19-point victory at McLean Park on Saturday in the Great Southern Football League competition. Shayne Zanetti received the Ben Napier Medal, awarded in memory of a talented young player who died in 2017, while Jaden Guidi will have his name inscribed on the Jono Woods Shield, named after the dual Kleemann medallist who died in 2023 and served both Magpies and the Kangas with distinction. Denmark-Walpole’s 11.6 (72) to 6.17 (53) win keeps them in the box seat for the finals. The Kangas were left lamenting poor kicking in front of goal with 17 behinds costing them a much-needed victory. Unfortunately, it was a day when the Kangas’ forwards passed when they should have shot, shot when they should have passed and fumbled when they should have marked. They needed goalposts as wide as the Wilson Inlet for the tally does not include the additional half-a-dozen or so efforts which went out on the full. The Magpies did not play well but fluttered into action in the fourth quarter, closing the door on a Kangas revival just as the momentum seemed to have shifted to the visitors. To everyone’s surprise given what had gone before, Brandon Woods took a comfortable mark on the three-quarter-time siren and booted a super major to close the gap to three points. However, the home side came to their senses and grabbed three majors in the final term to close out the contest. The first quarter was a stanza of turnovers and spilled marks, but the Magpies managed three majors to outscore the Kangas who bungled their way to one goal, five behinds and three more good chances which missed everything. That proved the blueprint for the afternoon, but the Kangas rallied in a better third quarter culminating in Woods’ effort which should have set things up for a rip-roaring final term. Reagan Hutchinson, Toby LeFort — benefiting from a 50m penalty — and Zanetti for his second, put paid to that idea. Hutchinson finished with a personal haul of five to lead the way for the home side. Nick Barrow, Kobi Keen, Pat Barnett and Drew Willcocks did well for the Kangas in defeat. Zanetti dominated for the Magpies and was backed up well by Guidi, Sam Finigan and Hutchinson. Kangas coach Brad Bootsma rued their missed opportunities. “You can’t win if you can’t shoot straight,’ he said. “We dominated the game but missed those last little connections. “I’ve never been involved in a game where we have been so much in control but lost by 19 points.” Despite missing key men Simon Barker and Tyler Stone after colliding against Mt Barker last week, the Magpies were better than their opponents in front of goal. Magpies coach Brad Nisbett told his side they had “won ugly” and not to rest on their laurels. “A win is what we needed but our decision-making was pretty poor,” he said. “They opened up the game and probably played the better football, but it was all pretty scrappy. “There was some really good play by us in the back line and I’m glad we stuck to it right through to the fourth quarter.”