Good Friday clash kicks off 2026 season

FOR the second successive season, the Limestone Coast Football Netball League has played a showcase fixture on Good Friday between West Gambier and South Gambier with the netballers joining the footballers for this first time as Malseed Park hosted a full program of football and netball matches.

The two clubs shared the honours in the top grade with South winning the senior football and West taking the points in the A Grade netball clash.

South had a strong start to the Good Friday clash and led by two goals at the first break, although given their domination of possession, would have liked to see an even bigger buffer.

It was in the third that the Demons stamped their authority on the contest, kicking three unanswered goals to go into the final quarter with a 28 point lead and with West struggling to find a way forward, powered to a 41 point victory.

Big man Mason Hein dominated the contest and ensured first use for his onballers, while the return of former star junior Sam Walker was triumphant with his influence on the contest, while the class of Todd Reid was also critical.

New recruit Jack Batty showed he will be a key for the Demons, racking up the possessions and finishing with two goals as Emerson Marks led allcomers with four majors for the day.

It was the usual suspects for West Gambier with reigning Brian Hennessy Medalist Lawrence Bradley-Brown, Daron McElroy and Michael Minuzzo leading the way.

West Gambier has started the 2026 with a strong victory over South Gambier, despite having a new look line-up built around the club’s young talent.

South Gambier certainly matched it with the Roos but could never quite secure the lead and in the final quarter a perfect 16 from 16 from the West shooting combination of Tahlia Bradley and Lara Murdoch sealed the deal and the eventual 17 goal win.

West led by three at quarter time, seven at the half and then nine going into the final stanza with the defensive efforts of Amy Cram and Chloe Perryman helping set up the win.

The duo’s pressure over the shot, strong rebounding and ability to hunt the interception proved pivotal with the transition speed of Tara Bryant and Swaye Lindner ensuring strong connection with Bradley and Murdoch.

Ruby Richter started the game on fire in goal shooter for South, netting eight from nine and her six straight in the third quarter also ensured the Demons stayed in striking distance.

Joirdy Bell had a great battle with Bradley and forced plenty of turnover ball by confusing the space and forcing the West frontline into error, while Mykaela Thiele and Ruby Milich also applied plenty of pressure and picked up deflections and interceptions that ensured the scoreline didn’t blow out, until late in the contest.

Megan Reid, who has returned to South after a season away, will be a key to South’s fortunes going forward with her experience and leadership and she was safe with ball in hand and worked hard defensively in a great battle with Bryant.

South would no doubt be looking to get more ball into the hands of Gracie Dalton.

The young goal attack took plenty of strong balls under intense physical pressure and her finishing at times from long range was impressive.

But in the end, the composure of Murdoch, in her first outing in A Grade as a goalie was impressive and if she spends more time in the goal attack role her connection with Bradley will only grow.

Bradley’s return to the top grade saw her net 32 from 37, including perfect shooting in the second and last quarters.

Round 1 of the LCFNL concludes this weekend with Millicent hosting North Gambier and Casterton Sandford headed to McDonald Park to take on East Gambier.

Mid South East football and netball kicks off this weekend, with the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara also starting its 2026 football and netball competitions on Saturday.