GSFL 2025: Albany back on winners list after thumping Denmark-Walpole as star Morgan Davies makes his return

Albany bounced back well from two straight losses, fielding a much stronger side in round six of the Great Southern Football League competition on Saturday to thrash 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, Davies, Baum and Clark were terrific contributors for the visitors, who responded well after losses to the top two sides in the previous fortnight. Sharks coach Roy Addis said it was a “wonderful result” for the team. “I think we played well and adapted to the conditions in the wet,” he said. “It was a solid team performance overall, but we still have six players out to injury so we’ll just keep ticking along and doing our thing with new inclusions. “Eighteen out of the 22 players who were out for our side on the weekend have come up through the Sharks system of 16s and colts, so it’s great to see our work and their work over the years paying off in that way, and it shows we’ve got options for the season as well, so we’re not worried.” Simon Barker, Ryan Hick and Jaden Guidi (two) were influential for the Magpies and Tyler Stone finished with four majors.