GSFL 2025: North Albany power to first win as big forward returns, Mt Barker edge Albany to go clear in second

North Albany broke a lengthy winning drought after thumping rivals Royals in round nine of the Great Southern Football League competition on Saturday. The Kangas had not tasted victory since August last year but they proved too strong for a Lions side that featured former AFL player Josh Caddy. There were plenty of eyes on Caddy making his debut for the powerhouse GSFL club but the determined Kangas spoiled the party with a resounding 51-point win at Collingwood Park. It was their first win of the season and keeps their finals hopes alive, now just one game adrift of the fourth placed Lions heading into the final six rounds of the regular season. Caddy kicked three goals in his return to footy, having not played since August last year in Victoria. The day belonged to the Kangas however, with premiership forward Daniel Parker starring in his first game back for the red and whites. Parker who was one of the best key forwards in the competition for several years during a golden era for the Kangas, pulled the boots back on and kicked five goals in an impressive return. Just two points separated the two sides at quarter-time but the Kangas produced their best quarter of the season, booting seven majors in a clinical second stanza to blow the game open. Parker was central to that, as the powerful goal kicker booted four goals straight and celebrated in fashion with the vocal home crowd to lift the spirits of the previously winless side. Majors to half forwards Travis Conn and Brandon Woods and hardworking ruck Drew Willcocks around Parker’s dead-eye conversions gave the Kangas a 32-point half-time buffer. Caddy bagged a goal with his first kick in Lions colours in the first term and added another late in the second but all the momentum was with the home side. The dual Richmond premiership player marked and booted a terrific set shot on the boundary to start the third term but the Kangas kicked the next three through Conn, David Arthur and debutant Henry Smith. The Lions were still at chance at the final break after veteran Ryan Kinnear converted and then Cleve Humphries jailed a shot after the three-quarter-time siren and turned to rouse up the home supporters. But the Kangas faithful had the last laugh as their side kicked five goals in the final term to secure a famous win, 17. 11 (113) to 9.8 (62). Parker booted 5.1 but hobbled off in the third term with hamstring and groin soreness while Conn was lively in attack and finished with four goals. It was Parker’s first game since 2021 when he played two reserves games for the Kangas, and first league appearance since 2019. The 31-year-old played reserves for WAFL club East Fremantle in 2017 and is a dual Sean Plaisted trophy winner, having also spent time playing league for Mt Barker. Tough midfielder Matt Orzel was at his brilliant best around the stoppages and young pair Kobi Keen and Luke Pickering gave great drive across the four quarters. The Kangas had good players everywhere in their first win of 2025. Brandon Woods snared three goals and had some pivotal moments, Jyrin Woods was very effective around the ball and Willcocks dominated the ruck battle while Anthony Coyne also won plenty of possessions. Caddy finished with 3.1 from 11 disposals and five marks playing as a deep forward for the entire match but Kangas defender Tomas O’Farrell was not disgraced, lining-up on the 174-game AFL star. Seb Stanton, Humphries (two goals) and Cameron Smith were solid for the Lions but they had no answers after quarter-time. Mt Barker took a while to get into their stride but once they did, they overran a depleted Albany side to win by 46 points at Retravision Stadium on Saturday. The Sharks scored four goals in that opening stanza but didn’t manage another major after that, the Bulls finding their range and eventually taking control to win 11.12 (78) to 4.8 (32). Despite missing nine regulars through injury and illness and playing former WAFL player Morgan Davies, which forced premiership pair Harrison Hordacre and Taj Williams to the reserves, Sharks went ahead through Zac Pearson almost from the opening bounce. Ashley Ayles should have done better but kicked a behind while Davies, Isaac Baum and Clay Harrison added majors as the Sharks had the edge in a scrappy quarter. However, that opening spell was as good as it got for the home side as the Bulls pulled them apart in the second quarter, booting five majors and five behinds and could have had more. Camball McMahon, Dylan Gowdie, Jarrad Ballard, Dante Wiseman and Sam Lehmann grabbed the majors as the Bulls turned the tables and led by 12 points at half-time with the home side managing only a solitary behind. Wiseman scored the only major of the third quarter, but the Bulls were stronger in the contest throughout and growing in confidence. The final term belonged to Sebastian Ballard who had springs in his boots as he grabbed two fine marks and booted goals from both. Daniel Patching added two more and Darcy Clarke one as the Bulls romped to their seventh win of the season. Patching was superb for the winners along with Tristan Ballard, Darcy Wallinger and Darcy Clarke. For the home side Baum, Bailey Taylor, Ayles and Brock Anning toiled hard. Railways made it nine wins on the trot as star forward Hayden Parker filled his boots, in a 164-point belting of Denmark-Walpole. The Magpies fielded an extremely young and inexperienced league side but they were outclassed by premiership favourites the Tigers at McLean Park on Saturday. Parked booted 11 majors to take his season tally to 58 while Ryley Valli also starred as he tries to win back-to-back Kleemann medals. That pair did plenty of the damage in the 29.17 (191) to 4.3 (27) triumph, the Tigers booting 16 goals to one after half-time. Their side filled with teenagers, the Magpies were competitive early on and trailed by 25 points at quarter-time but the ladder leaders took control with an eight-goal second term. Parker was well supported by player-coach Bodhi Stubber (five goals) in the front half and Valli spent time forward as well to add three majors. Bailin Curtis, Jaxon Lombardini, Lorcan McNamara and debutant Beau Veldman were the other major goal kickers. Parker and Valli were joined in the visitors’ best players by Lombardini, Ryan Davies and Kane Shephard. The Magpies were best served by Tarik Hartfield, Stewart Davies, Simon Barker and Jaden Guidi while Tyler Stone kicked two goals.