GSFL 2025: Kangas coach hunts more consistency after his side outclassed by Sharks despite leading early

Reigning premiers Albany stormed to a second straight win in the new Great Southern Football League season at Collingwood Park on Saturday, impressing coach Roy Addis. Addis has been rapt with the strong spread of contributions during the first fortnight of the season, as the Sharks gear up for a grand final replay against Royals this week. A determined North Albany outfit led at quarter-time but the reigning premiers clicked into gear in the second term to set up their 73-point win. It was a sloppy and at times stoppage-heavy contest, but the Sharks made the most of their time in forward half after quarter-time to blow the home side out of the water. Six unanswered goals in the second term handed the Sharks control after a messy opening term in which both sides turned the ball over regularly. The Kangas led by four points at the first change but the Sharks booted 14 goals to two after that point, cruising to their second comfortable win of 2025. Bryce Blaszkow, Isaac Baum and Robbie Lee racked up possessions at will through the middle, while Brett Peake and Bailey Taylor combined for six goals in the 14.13 (97) to 3.6 (24) victory. “We knew it was going to be a challenge going into that breeze in the first and we created the pressure on ourselves,” Addis said. “I felt our ball movement did swing into gear a bit better and we had a pretty good spread across the board.” Mikael Philipps had the only major of a dour first term but the Sharks responded like a premiership team, strangling the Kangas with disciplined defence and hurting them with their spread through the middle of the ground in the second. Peake and Lewis Bosch converted before Lee kicked a wonderful goal on the run to give the Sharks control before two majors from Taylor and then Taj Williams gave the visitors a 35-point half-time lead. The Sharks piled on eight goals to two in the second half to make sure of the result, continuing their perfect start under new coach Addis. Williams, Blaszkow, Lee, Peake, Baum and Taylor were their side’s best contributors. Acting captain Kobi Keen was outstanding for the home side while Jayden Bootsma was terrific as an intercept defender. Seth Hambley was a strong contributor in the ruck and Travis Conn worked hard across half-forward, while the Kangas lost Jake Castle to a hamstring injury. Hambley and Sharks ruckman Cooper Sandy were yellow carded for rough conduct. Kangas coach Brad Bootsma said after another solid start, his side’s inconsistency let them down. “Our best is good but our worst is miles apart,” he said. “The challenge is to close that gap and even out the consistency. “We started well but unfortunately it was the same things, consistency and concentration and ball turnover that hurt us.”