GSFL 2025: Clinical Railways wallop Royals as seven-goal Parker tries to steal the show on Stubber’s big day

It was clearly Bodhi Stubber’s day, but Hayden Parker did his best to steal the show with a seven-goal haul as Railways thumped Royals in the Great Southern Football League on Saturday.

The Keep the Sheep Stadium was bathed in sunshine for Stubber’s 200th league appearance as the Tigers maintained their unbeaten run, registering their seventh win on the trot 25.9 (159) to 6.4 (40).

There was a brief spell at the end of the first quarter where the Lions pressed and should have scored more than the single behind they registered.

And for three quarters they hassled and harried as best they could, but were no match for the Tigers as Parker ran riot and player-coach Stubber, who booted six, was a giant among men.

The double act wearing the scoring boots were ably supported by Lachie Cale, Ryley Valli and Jayden Scott as the Tigers rampaged through the middle and up the wings, kicking goals at will.

Jayson Ford kicked four for Royals, and celebrated each one magnificently, but elsewhere the cupboard was pretty bare and in the final stanza they were completely overrun.

While Stubber enjoyed the victory, he suggested his side had not been at their best throughout.

“It was really good to get the win, but we didn’t play our game style in the first half,” he said.

“We train really hard, we have a game plan and putting it in place is the aim.

“It came together more in the third quarter and it’s really important that we can maintain that level.”

Lions coach Darrell Panizza knew his side had come up against the best.

“They are the best team in the league and are favourites for the flag,” he said.

“We had a lot of players out, but we have a lot of work to do.

“We are still in the top four and we have to make sure it stays that way.”

While the prolific Parker was a thorn in the Lions’ side, Panizza felt Mitch Lenegan had done a decent job, shutting him down for long periods.

“He had moments where he scored three and then didn’t do much, then scored three and was quiet again,” Panizza said.

Parker nabbed the Tigers’ first before Cleve Humphries replied from a set shot.

However, that was as close as it got as Parker converted again and Stubber booted his first, finishing off a Tigers move which sliced the Lions right through the middle.

Ford’s first goal brought the Lions within eight points but by quarter time Scott’s first had put the home side 13 points ahead.

Parker struck again 33 seconds after the centre bounce at the start of the second quarter, Mohit Jaggi got on the scoresheet soon after and then Beau Ewen busted his way through two pairs of flailing Lions arms and slotted the Tigers’ seventh major.

Further goals from Parker, Valli and Bailin Curtis were interrupted by Ford’s third but as the half-time hooter sounded the rampaging Tigers were 50 points ahead and looking unbeatable.

The third quarter really hurt the Lions who were outscored by eight majors to two.

Ford’s fourth might have been the pick coming after he broke free, bounced three times and finished with a flourish but Parker’s three goals extended the Tigers buffer to 87 points.

The final stanza was all about Stubber whose four majors were a lesson in accurate goal-kicking in front of a big home crowd.

Humphries may have had the final word with his major from the right pocket, but it was the Tigers who stayed on track for the flag and gave Stubber an afternoon to remember.

Midfield trio Scott, Valli and Cale were all driving factors in the result while Stubber and Lorcan McNamara were also influential.

The Lions were best served by Ford, Declan McNamara, Nathan Powell and Cameron Lazar.