THE sixth placed Collie Eagles made the trip down the hill on Sunday to do battle with fourth placed Carey Park, at Kelly Park, in what was described as a season defining game for both clubs.
On a slightly windy but fine day for football, it was the Panthers who won the toss and decided to kick with a two to three goal breeze in the first quarter.
From the first bounce it was clear that Paul Rinder, who had dominated in the ruck the previous week, would again be a handful and with the inclusion of Dave Cowan, Daniel Graham and Tyler King in the middle, it was Collie who gained many centre breaks, allowing them to spend a large part of the quarter in attack, where young gun Brandon Wallam, playing his first league game, kicked the first goal of the game with his first kick.
Last week's best player, Jeb Swallow, was mopping up everything in the back line and with a further goal to Matt Michael, it was the Eagles who turned at the first break with a slender one point lead, 2.2 to 2.1. The second quarter was the defining quarter of the game, with the Eagles completely dominating Carey Park.
Rinder, in the ruck, continued to feed his on-ballers, who had dominated the first quarter, and with very little pressure being applied by the Panthers, the Eagles were allowed easy access inside their forward 50, where goals to Cowan (two), Tweedie, Rinder and Matt Michael, combined with superb defensive work from Swallow, Roney, Blackford and Motion, helped keep the Panthers scoreless for the quarter. This allowed the Eagles to set up a match winning 33-point lead at the long break, 7.5 to 2.1.
A major effort was needed by the Panthers in the third quarter with the breeze, but again an Eagles ruck and midfield dominance, led by Rinder the energiser bunny, Cowan, Graham, Tyler King and Brendan Marshall, who was starting to gather kicks, ensured that the ball was kept in the Collie forward line for the bulk of the quarter.
On the odd occasion the Panthers entered their forward line, the cool heads of Swallow, Roney, Motion and Keene made sure the ball was quickly dispatched back out of the danger zone.
The Eagles held Carey Park to two goals for the quarter, while adding four of their own, through Cowan, Malatesta and Michael (2), turning at the last change with a commanding lead 11.11 to 4.2. In the final term the Eagles went on their merry way with the breeze at their backs and with little resistance from the Panthers.
It was the small dynamo, Bignell, who had been quietly amassing kicks around the ground, who burst into action bagging three majors in quick time and with further goals to Michael who snared his fifth for the game, Cowan, with his fourth, and young Kyle Shanahan notching his first, that the rout was complete.
The backline continued its supremacy, ensuring Carey Park was held scoreless again, allowing the Collie Eagles to record a massive victory, 17.17 (119) to Carey Park 4.2. (26).
This completed a treble for the day for the club, with coach Daniel Graham's colts winning 13.7 to 7.6 and the reserves, well coached by Dave Lewis, comfortable winners 11.12 to 4.5.
Best players: Collie, P. Rinder, J. Swallow, D. Cowan, D. Graham, M. Michael and T. King. Carey Park, V. Blurton, T. Yarran, J. Coyne, B. Lawler and D. Stevens.
Goals: Collie, M Michael 5, D. Cowan 4, A. Bignell 3, B. Wallam, P. Rinder, A. Tweedie, B. Malatesta and K. Shanahan. Carey Park, A. Hill, J O'Mara, T. Yarran and J. Walton 1.0
