GSFL 2025: Mt Barker cause early-season upset, knocking off injury hit reigning premiers in bruising affair

Reigning premiers Albany have been hit hard by injury in their first loss of the 2025 Great Southern Football League season. Mt Barker caused a major upset at Sounness Park, knocking off the previously unbeaten Sharks by five points on Saturday. The Sharks fell behind early on while also losing wingman Robbie Lee to concussion in the first term. Lee was a number of Sharks who didn’t finish the game in the bruising encounter. Lewis Bosch suffered a serious shoulder injury and Marlin Bennett has a broken ankle, while new recruit Ashley Ayles went down with a hamstring injury. The Bulls led at every change before the Sharks kicked the only three goals of the final term to give themselves a silly chance at a comeback win. However with no fit players on the bench in the second half the visitors went down narrowly after kicking their eighth goal on the final siren. “I was really proud of the character from our boys,” Sharks coach Roy Addis said. “To win the second half with no bench was a real positive. “I said the only thing we can do in the last is roll the dice and we did that. “Our focus now is to regroup and try and be competitive against Railways.” The Sharks at one point in the last quarter were reduced to 17 players with Harrison Hordacre and Ned Shepherd also not 100 per cent fit. Ruckman Keane Griffiths was awarded the Belt-Up Round ball after his dominant display around the ground and at stoppages while Jared Ballard, Camball McMahon and Daniel Patching all kicked two goals. The Bulls 20-point advantage at quarter time proved decisive as the Sharks played catch up for the remainder of the afternoon. The margin was 12 points at half time but Mitch Jackson kicked the sole goal of the third term to extend the home sides buffer to 19 by three quarter time. Majors from Hordacre, Cooper Sandy and Shepherd in the fourth couldn’t prevent the Sharks from going down 8.15 (63) to 8.10 (58). Bulls coach Gary Pope said his side’s strong start in the fast tempo game was important. “Our pressure and tackling was strong, especially early which set the tone,” he said. “We had a great first quarter but we kicked 1.8 in the second half so that is our issue at the moment, converting on goal. “They had a few injuries which set them back a bit and we know you can never give them an inch, and their second halves they come home strong.” Patching, Seb Ballard, Darcy Clarke and Darcy Wallinger were vital in the Bulls’ victory. Wallinger received a yellow card for the tackle on Lee with his head hitting the ground, concussing the 2023 Kleemann medallist. Young ball winner Jesse Owens was outstanding for the Sharks while Taj Williams, Bailey Taylor and Isaac Baum worked hard. Hordacre and Brett Peake booted two goals each.