GSFL 2023: Railways kick clear in the final quarter to notch another Anzac Day victory over North Albany

Railways charged to their sixth win in the past eight Anzac Day matches, getting over a determined North Albany to kick off their premiership defence with a 32-point win in front of a huge crowd at Tigerland on Tuesday. The Tigers were made to work hard in the special fixture, pushed by a fit and hungry Kangas outfit to complete round one of the Great Southern Football League season. Kicking against the breeze in the first term, the reigning premiers had to overcome a 20-point quarter-time deficit, but a dominant final quarter proved the difference in a wet and windy affair. Durable midfielder Dylan Schorer deservedly won the Anzac Day Medal after racking up a stack of possessions, laying tackles and kicking a goal in the 12.12 (84) to 8.4 (52) triumph. Classy midfielder and Kangas vice-captain Nathan Crudeli set his team on their way with the first goal of the contest, snapping from a pack to open scores. Reliable goal-kicker Graham Ross was busy early, booting the next three goals of the game to put the Kangas up by 26 late in the quarter. However, Tigers’ forward Jaxon Lombardini marked late in the term and put through his first of the match, a much-needed goal after the siren to trim the margin to 20 points. The Tigers regained control of the game as young talent Clay Michael snagged the first of the second quarter before Jayden Bootsma hit back to push it back out to 20. But five unanswered goals to the reigning premiers put them in the box seat as Logan Stubber begun to dominate in the midfield. Logan Stubber and company worked hard to set up Joel Want, who was leading well at half-forward and booted three goals in the quarter to help put his side up by 10 at the long break. The third quarter was as much about damage limitation for the Tigers as it was hitting the scoreboard, and they played the patient game perfectly. Towering Kangas youngster Lucas Ravenhill kicked truly to open the quarter, kicking towards the city end favoured by the wind but the Tigers kept finding answers as Schorer hit back with a snap of his own. The Kangas’ Travis Conn slotted the goal of the game, gathering just outside the 50m arc, shrugging a tackle before sidestepping another defender and booting a spectacular running goal from 50m out near the boundary, but it was a five-point margin heading into the last quarter. The reigning premiers kicked clear in the final term with Ethan Knee kicking two goals and Kane Shephard, Beau Ewen and Logan Stubber also hitting the scoreboard to help their side emerge victorious in another Anzac Day game. Tigers coach Mark Bayliss said the experience and composure of his side shone through late. “We had to hold them in third quarter as much as we could, I said to the players they might score three but if we can score two it will make a big difference for us in the next quarter,” he said. “They (Kangas) are a very improved side once again and I always thought they would come on from last year with all the young kids and a few bigger bodies which makes a huge difference for them. “It was a good contest the whole game and at any stage it could have gone either way but our blokes with a bit of experience probably came through in the end.” Schorer’s heroics were complemented by the midfield unit of Beau Ewen, Logan Stubber and Jayden Scott as well as swingman Bodhi Stubber, defender Mitch Green and Josh Duffield in the ruck. Kangas’ Nick Barrow was great in the defensive half. Crudeli, Jackson Cosh, Kobi Keen and Jarrad McDowall all made their mark in the losing side and Ross booted four majors. Kangas coach Brad Bootsma said he was proud of the intent but lamented lapses across the four quarters. “I think we jumped them early and couldn’t sustain the effort I suppose,” he said. “They are a quality side, I thought for us to be able to be in the game we would have had to play a good four quarters but we didn’t do that, we played two good quarters and were a bit inconsistent from there. “At the end of the day I was pretty proud of the boys’ effort, we took it up to them and showed we can match them if we play our good football and that’s what we have to be striving for. “We weren’t too happy with how it ended but some of the boys haven’t played together too much prior to (Tuesday) so that was their first hit-out. “We were up against a side that have won the last two premierships and are coached really well, play really well and move the ball well so I’m happy with the effort.”