GSFLW 2025: Denmark-Walpole secure top two finish with win, season over for North Albany and Railways

Denmark-Walpole confirmed their ticket to the qualifying final with a win over Albany in the last round of the regular season in the Great Southern Football League Women’s competition on Saturday afternoon. The Sharks and Magpies kicked off Saturday’s triple header at Mt Barker’s Sounness Park, with the Magpies notching a crucial 18-point win to seal second spot and a finals double chance. The Magpies took no chances, putting through two early goals and kept the Sharks scoreless in the first quarter. The Sharks fought back in the second with three majors but the Magpies managed another goal to stay six points ahead at half-time. Another three goals for the Magpies in the third quarter widened the margin to 28 points, and despite hard work in the final 18 minutes the Sharks couldn’t catch up, handing the Magpies their seventh win of the season. Aurora Ewing booted two goals in the 6.10 (46) to 4.4 (28) triumph while teammates Erika Tharratt, Grace Dempster, Megan Dilly and Stephanie Dunlop were terrific. Emily Wray, Alethea Ball, Jeanette Gordon and Maddi Miller were the best players for the Sharks. The third-placed Lions will take winning momentum in the elimination final, taking down Railways by 16 points. The Tigers were ahead at three-quarter-time despite playing only 16 players, but they ran out of steam in the final term. The Lions turned it on in the final quarter to kick another three majors on their way to a come-from-behind win 6.5 (41) to 3.7 (25). Gracie Gibson was the star up forward, kicking four goals. The Tigers lost Nicole Mullally to a yellow card at the end of the third quarter, giving the Lions the edge as the Tigers couldn’t replace her for 15 minutes due to not having a bench. Jocelyn Gibson-Kungah, Narelle Humphries, Gibson and Nardia Humphries were outstanding for the Lions while the last-placed Tigers were best served by Abby Duncan, Angel Cameirao, Taiah Curtis, Kathryn Slattery and Amarlie Weinert (two goals). In the final game of the night, North Albany faced the home side but the Bulls recorded a 32-point win to get back on the winners list. The Kangas were scoreless in the first quarter but went on the defensive in the second, keeping the Bulls contained to their first quarter score of 23 points. The Bulls were able to shake them off and score another 18 points in the third quarter, while the Kangas could only manage behinds for the rest of the game. Sophie Richards finished with two goals in the 5.12 (42) to 1.4 (10) result and teammates Sarah Eisenberg, Evie Waddington, Saige Askevold and Charlotte Ballard were busy throughout the game. The Kangas’ best players were Emma Walker, Abbie Bootsma, Laura Archer and Jasmin Kennedy as their season came to an end. Both the qualifying and elimination finals will be played this weekend. The Bulls will host the Magpies in the qualifying final at Sounness Park on Friday at 6.45pm and on Saturday the Lions and Sharks clash in the elimination final at Retravision Stadium from 6.45pm.