GREAT SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

FOOTBALL

Onka Valley produced a decisive goal burst in the closing stanza to shake off the shackles of a spirited Mt Lofty opposition in last Saturday’s Hills Central Division A-grade football clash at Balhannah Oval.The hosting Valley Bulldogs added seven goals to one

to finally break clear of a persistent and gallant young Mountain Devils combination and eventually register a 20-11 to 13-11 triumph.With two wins from three outings, the Dogs ventured into

the contest highly fancied against the winless visitors, but from the outset, found themselves locked in a fluctuating battle.The Round 4 fixture was played with the intensity of a

finals encounter, with plenty of physicality during a torrid affair, while the large crowd were also treated to some spectacular high leaps, with Mt Lofty duo Brad Burch and David Abernethy just failing to grasp ‘mark of the year’ contenders.Both teams were again below full strength, providing an

opportunity for some exciting young talent to make their A-grade debuts.Brendan Smart celebrated his first senior game for Onkas

with a haul of four goals in a handy effort up forward, while teenage Devils Daniel ‘Speedy’ Gonzales and past Myponga Mudlark Hunter Bennett gained useful touches in their debuts for Mt Lofty.Following slow starts in the initial three rounds, Mt Lofty hit

the ground running to somewhat shell-shock the Doggies in term one.Utilising plenty of space, pace and numerous options

through the lines, the Devils sensationally booted five straight goals over the initial 11 minutes.Forwards Brett Pistola and Conor Healy were up and

about as focal points, and the constant attacks had the Dogs defence under early siege.Good sides have the ability to fight back, and Onkas

gradually won a greater share of the clearances and produced a strong closing eight minutes to claw back the Devils early advantage.A goal on the quarter time siren by Jesse Edwards

capped a good fight back by the Dogs as Mt Lofty’s initial ascendancy had been reduced to a 6-4 to 5-1 advantage at the first change.Both sides raised a major in the opening stages of term two,

as the contest developed into a flowing goal-for-goal affair, with each team matching the other on the scoreboard.A major to Healy tied the scores at 8-4 apiece midway

during the term shortly after Luke Nicholls had added to a current lengthy injury list for the Bulldogs, when he was stretchered off with a serious ankle injury.

Damien Green appeared to be relishing the opportunity of a midfield role, and his creative run and use of the ball provided opportunities for team-mates, while Edwards, strong marking Chris Shee and Aaron Galvin were others to supply consistent input for the home side.Some missed chances blotted Mt Lofty’s chance to open

a greater margin, but the Devils had held tough against a quality opposition to retain a tight 9-9 to 9-4 lead at the main interval.

Tough approachA bad Devils defensive clearance allowed youngster Smart

to kick the opening goal of the second half, before a brilliant tackling effort by Luke O’Brien eventually resulted in Pistola kicking the first of his two goals for the term, putting the visitors back in front.The game continued to be fought in tough fashion, and a

couple of flare ups typified the approach by both teams to the task.Zak Hausler and Edwards displayed skill to reap full reward

on the scoreboard, while Matt Gutink missed a chance to extend the Dogs slight advantage with his wayward shot after the three-quarter time siren.An entertaining game was still very much poised as Onka

Valley held a two-point advantage when the final term commenced, however, a different script from the previous trend of the match developed.As conditions became gloomy, the Dogs were able to slip

clear of the fading youthful Devils, who after a gallant effort for three terms, dropped off the pace.Hausler, Smart, Gutink and Green added majors, before

Dave Wescombe stamped his uncanny opportunist influence on the closing stages, bagging three consecutive goals towards the final 42-point margin.While Pistola’s fifth goal was the only counter by the

Devils, the visitors undoubtedly displayed the potential the club possesses as it continues a rebuilding phase under new coach Sean Nolan.Green arguably produced his bench-mark outing at

A-grade level for Onka Valley, while Shee, Galvin, Edwards and Wescombe were named other leading contributors as the Dogs jumped a spot to fourth on the Central ladder.Teenager Joel Van Paridon was acknowledged by Mt Lofty

officials for his efforts in restricting the output of Onkas dangerman Adam Klun, with Pistola, ruckman Adam Luitjes, ‘tough as teak’ Burch and Frank Clements also consistent performers.Onka Valley will meet Bridgewater in Round 5, while Mt

Lofty will aim to continue the positive signs when it hosts Torrens Valley.

By Ross Wall

An unbelievable bout of injuries threatened to derail the Hills Over 35 Superules football team in its battle with arch rival Blackwood last Sunday.The ‘ruckman’s curse’ struck

down Aleks Bojanic in the second term when he reached over the top of the pack to grab a mark but mutilated his ‘pinky’ in the process. Recruitment and team balance of the Hills team immediately came under the blow torch.While the Blackwood team

contained a paramedic who worked feverishly, but unsuccessfully, to reset the finger, the Super Tigers could only supply a lawyer to outline a possible lawsuit against T. W. Sherrin to a wincing Bojanic.At the same time, the long serving

team funeral director was enquiring about his team-mate’s suit size and the beer plumber was advocating the healing powers of well brewed hops.The ‘ruckman’s curse’ struck again

during the third term when Bojanic’s replacement, Neil Thomson, collapsed with a turned ankle.A nearby ‘wag’ inquired about

what he had turned the ankle into, which exacerbated the situation significantly.Seeking meaningful treatment,

Thomson demanded to know why the team had replaced a qualified GP and professional sports trainer with a funeral director and litigation expert since the turn of the century. Anthony ‘Dimmer’ Dimarzo did an

Adam Goodes, telling everyone who would listen about his hip flexor ailment, and his graphic detailing of the nature of the injury had him revealing a little more upper thigh than was desirable.Wayne ‘Chucky’ Seymour had the

‘wind taken out of sails’ with a late punch tackle, and Mark Jaensch bled for the team after an altercation with the same Blackwood antagonist. Richard Kleemann has torn ankle

ligaments, Shane Cunningham a vicious hamstring twinge, and Dale Wylie is still waiting for his seventh rib to reappear following a

bruising Round 1 encounter with an opponent’s head. Things appeared particularly grim

when Randall Weeks described how his back ‘popped’ during the second term, leaving him in extreme pain.However, Weeks played on,

kicking vital goals to help the Super Tigers stay in touch, and following intensive post-match ‘lager therapy’, reassured team-mates he would be available for the next match.Weeks also stated that he would

be fit for his main priority ... the ‘Ladies Night’ this Saturday evening at the Lobethal Football Club.Desperate for players to cover the

injuries, the Super Tigers drew from the Southern Cats, who had played in the preceding match.David Slattery and Mark Scholl ran

themselves ragged while a stray player named ‘Mutley’ kicked the final goal of the game to seal the deal for the Hills team.Weeks was outstanding while

Seymour, Matty Mayes and Jaensch worked hard around the packs.Dave ‘Runt’ Wuttke was impassable

in defence and Ben Lyons chased Andrew Watson – one of Blackwood’s leading players for many years – all over the ground.The ‘ruckman’s curse’ claimed a

third victim in Chris Hill, who was forced to take over the ruck duties in the final stanza.Post-match Hill explained that he

considered ‘extreme thirst’, brought on by excess running, an injury which required extra cans from the Esky to treat the ailment.The game was a good

advertisement for Superules in that it was well umpired and played in the right spirit with everyone wanting to get a kick but most players realising their limitations and working within them.This Saturday night’s progressive

dinner appears in extreme doubt following the injury to Bojanic’s ‘cooking finger’ while the Super Tigers hope to regain a number of players for their first home match of the season against Gawler at Lobethal in a fortnight.Hills 7-11 (53) d Blackwood 5-5 (35) Best: Weeks, Seymour, Wuttke,

Mayes, Jaensch, Lyon, SchmidtGoals: Mayes 3, Weeks 3, ‘Mutley’

1.

By Josh Marton

Another tight round of Great Southern Football League A-grade results has left punters with plenty to ponder as all but two of 10 sides remain in major rounds contention after Saturday’s spread of matches.Strathalbyn’s Roosters officially declared themselves contenders

at the other end of the spectrum – in line for the wooden spoon – after losing their fourth consecutive match against Mt Compass, with the Dogs sealing a 20-9 to 13-8 victory at home.A sickening clash which left young Mt Compass wingman Patrick

Acton being stretchered off late in the match was the only down side to the Bulldogs’ second and season-defining win against the Roosters, as the undermanned side led at all intervals.The absence of Mt Compass’ SANFL discards Tom Corbett

and Sam Baulderstone failed to impact anything besides the respectability of the Roosters percentage, as local midfielder Adam Hunter took an extra step in his development as a premier player within the competition in a best afield performance. Although Joseph Parsons wasn’t able to add a cheap goal to his

tally after Acton’s last-quarter courage resulted in a 50m penalty towards the Dogs goal square, the powerhouse forward rose to equal first on the goal kicking list when he nailed his seventh major after the siren.Parsons’ 22nd goal of the season was the nail in the Roosters’

coffin for the match – and potentially the season – as Strathalbyn again produced a scratchy brand of football appearing to lack confidence.Despite a few minimal glimpses of good form, a close to full

strength Roosters combination were unable to string enough quality movement together, with home-grown players such as Jordan Hall, Mark Tucker and Michael Vaninetti shining lights for the 2011 preliminary finalist. No longer can a McLaren Vale victory be considered as an upset

as the Eagles displayed they are a force to be reckoned with for the remainder of the 2012 season by entering the top four after a thrilling one-point win over Langhorne Creek at home. A late charge from the Hawks was denied by a controversial

grubber kick off the ground which was deemed to be struck just before the final siren ... gifting the Eagles a goal which contributed to their third victory.A classical Lachlan McGregor ‘hanger’ in the final term

resurrected a Hawks outfit which trailed for the entire match, shrinking a 15-point deficit with five minutes remaining to a last-minute lead.However, it proved too little too late for the reigning premier as

the Eagles deservedly claimed the premiership points with the final kick of the game. The efforts of midfielder Jarrod Kellock (five goals) and the

presence of ruckman Tom Johnson wasn’t enough to lift the Hawks from the bottom end of the ladder as they remain with a solitary one win. In other results, Victor Harbor stood tall in a narrow 9-13 to

10-6 loss against the Yankalilla Tigers at home, while fellow premiership contender Willunga handed out the first big thumping of the season when it travelled to Myponga and eclipsed the Mudlarks 19-16 to 4-4. The remaining Round 4 match proved that Encounter Bay have

finally reconfirmed pre-season hype as finals contenders with 13-9 to 8-8 win over Goolwa/Port Elliot at the Magpies’ nest.

Late burst earns tough win

Contenders step upInjuries blanket Superules win

Langhorne Creek will have played in more night matches than victories if it is unable to knock off an inform Mt Compass under lights on Saturday in Round 5 of Great Southern competition. The Hawks remain as one of only three sides that have failed

to win more than one match this season, and desperately need to swoop on the Dogs if they want to consider finals football. In a battle at the bottom, the other two winless teams –

Strathalbyn and Myponga – face off in what unexpectedly promises to be a tight contest, with the Mudlarks chances of making it two in a row against the Roosters becoming less unfathomable. This is truly Strathalbyn’s last attempt at redemption, and a

‘do-or-die’ attitude is applicable for a side which have already equalled its tally of losses from the previous season. The remainder of Round 5 promises to be a cracker and

another week of judgement for the tipsters on the Fleurieu Peninsula as the top teams slug it out.The Bays will need to fire from all directions to have any

chance of serving it up to Willunga during a trek up the coast to face the undefeated Demons ... as will Goolwa when it makes the daunting trip to Yankalilla.The clash between the Roos and McLaren at Victor Harbor

may determine fifth spot on the premiership ladder. GSFL A-grade ladder: Willunga 8, Yankalilla 6, Encounter Bay

6, McLaren 6, Mt Compass 4, Victor Harbor 4, Goolwa/Port Elliot 4, Langhorne Creek 2, Strathalbyn 0, Myponga/Sellicks 0.

Mt Lofty rookie Hunter Bennett (foreground) is locked up in a tackle by Onka Valley’s Chris Shee (left) as Mountain Devils Ben Lawson and

skipper Matt Stapleton (right) watch on during Saturday’s torridHills Central Division A-grade football clash at Balhannah Oval.

Simon Munn takes possession for Strathalbyn during the Roosters narrow loss at Mt Compass

in last Saturday’s roud of Great Southern A-grade football fixtures.