FOOTBALL: The Great Southern Football League association team defeated a very gallant and unlucky River Murray side by one solitary point on Saturday at Strathalbyn.
In one of the greatest matches played between the two proud associations the game was anybody's right to the last second, which excited and thrilled the crowd that attended.
From the opening bounce it was Dobson for Great Southern who was dominating the taps that were being largely won by Baylis from River Murray.
However Great Southern could not hurt their opponents on the scoreboard and when going forward River Murray had the brilliance of Joe Pedler and Trevor Rigney.
Rigney kicked two for the term, while Great Southern scored goals through McLeod and Hodge.
River Murray led by 14 points at the first change with the Great Southern defenders being far too loose.
The second term saw River Murray continue its dominance, which quietened the home crowd.
Baylis was unstoppable in ruck and the Pedler boys and Rigney were running riot up forward.
If not for the defensive work of Footner and McDonald, Great Southern would have been in dire straits.
Button was controlling the defence for River Murray and when Jackson and Girdham goaled the lead had blown out to six goals and Great Southern were on their knees.
However Hodge would not quit at centre half forward and kicked two goals and then there was another to Owen Love who was moved forward.
Rigney was now getting attention from Elliott and Great Southern had reduced the margin to 15 points at the long break.
Watson for Great Southern suffered a broken arm in this quarter, which placed the home side with their backs to the wall.
The third term saw a recharged Great Southern team led brilliantly by skipper Mitch Portlock.
Blum and McLeod were combining brilliantly in ruck to counter the domination of Baylis and the goals began to flow with two to Love and another to Hodge and Great Southern was remarkably in front.
Rigney was irrepressible and continued to pop up kicking two goals from magnificent leads and kicks.
At three quarter time the game was in the balance and it was what everyone at the ground wanted. Great Southern was up by 11 points at the last change.
The last term saw Great Southern miss some easy shots for goal and River Murray hurt them on the rebound with Button continuing to be a star and Puckridge and Liam O'Neil scouting the packs with venom.
Rankine was working hard on his wing for Great Southern while Portlock, Warren, Burdett and Dobson kept pushing the ball forward and Maxfield was being a nemesis of River Murray.
Goals to Rigney, Eckermann, Joe Pedler and Marchetti pushed River Murray to the lead, they were full of running and when Love came off with a shoulder after kicking his fourth, Great Southern looked gone.
Worse was to follow when the team's most consistent defender McDonald came limping off.
However the likes of Bailey, Footner, Rankine, Warren, Maxfield and Dobson stepped into the breach and fired the ball forward for Hodge to take another mark on a tight angle and 30 metres out from goal.
He coolly slotted his fifth and most important goal for the day to give Great Southern the lead with 90 seconds left on the clock.
River Murray fired forward once again and Rigney was awarded a mark 50 metres out from goal and the margin only one point the difference.
His set shot sailed across the face of goal and was spoiled by the resolute Great Southern defence and ran away by Jurek who cleared the ball to the wing.
The courageous Great Southern team ran down priceless seconds and when the siren sounded the home team was in front by one point in an epic association game.
Player of the match for Great Southern was centre half back Matt Footner and Luke Button was awarded best player for River Murray.
Others to do well were McDonald, Hodge (5 goals), Rankine, McLeod, Dobson and Love (4 goals).
For River Murray Baylis was best on ground in the first half, Rigney (6 goals), Joe Pedler, Eyre, L O'Neil and Girdham.
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