GSFL 2025: New Sharks coach impressed by challenge thrown down by Magpies side in opening round of the season

New Albany coach Roy Addis believes Denmark-Walpole will be a finals contender in 2025 after the reigning premiers started their new campaign with a hard-fought 52-point win on Saturday. The Sharks started their premiership defence and first game under Addis as head coach in winning fashion, overcoming a spirited Denmark-Walpole at Retravision Stadium in round one of the Great Southern Football League season. The Magpies trailed by 17 points at half-time but the Sharks booted 11 goals in the second half on their way to victory. Addis said the Magpies were “wonderfully competitive” in a good sign for the competition. “I knew the game against Denmark was going to be a real challenge and understand what they have recruited,” he said. “They were full of run and hard at the footy and super competitive. “I think they’ll be competing for the top four. “Our fitness and our ball use, sticking to our game plan got us through and we had really good spread. It was a good team effort.” Veteran Brett Peake in his fifth season with the Sharks starred with seven goals, while Zac Pearson was the host’s other major goalkicker with two. New recruit Ashley Ayles made his first appearance for Sharks in the 16.12 (108) to 8.8 (56) victory, while they also debuted youngsters Tom Bradshaw and Declan Reid. Ayles was superb along with Isaac Baum, wingman Taj Williams and midfielder Bryce Blaszkow. Reid was stretchered from the ground in the opening half after a heavy collision and taken to hospital. The club revealed later that he had a punctured lung and a hairline fracture in a vertebra. There were plenty of new faces for the Magpies as key signing Sam Holmes made a strong first-up impression with two goals and key position player Sam Finigan returned for the first time since 2011. James Charlesworth, who was a strong contributor for Avon Football Association side Beverley last year, booted three goals in his Magpies debut, while Matthew Clarke, Roc Hughes and Daniel Ryan and Nelson Tulip also played their first games. Magpies junior Tait Hartfield was back after a stint with Claremont and imposing ruckman Stewart Davies got to play against his former teammates. Club stalwart Tyler Stone kicked two majors as well to join Holmes and returning pair Finigan and Ashley Smith in the best players. “It was a pretty good effort,” Magpies coach Brad Nisbett said. “We’ll take some positives out of it; they were too slick in the end and hurt us in a few areas, so there is lots to work on. “We pretty much have a new side in. I think we had seven debutants and some guys that haven’t played a lot of footy.”