Augusta Margaret River won the opening game of the 2026, Dale Alcock Homes South West, South West Football League season, with a hard fought thirteen point win over Eaton at Glen Huon Reserve on Saturday.
Eaton got off to a great start with Marlion Pickett Jnr kicking the opening goal of the season at the four minute mark. After a spate of behinds by both sides, Sachi Radice kicked a good goal to put the Hawks in front by one point. Eli Hill would restore the lead for the home side moments later, with Eaton leading by five points at quarter time.
Eaton were on top in the early stages of the second term, with Jack Cox and Ben McGuire kicking goals in the first five minutes to give the Boomers a handy sixteen point advantage. The Hawks wrestled back the momentum midway through the quarter, with goals to Kaspa Donovan and Billy Goodwin, and the margin was quickly reduced to four points. Captain, Karl Collard, gave the home side some breathing space with a handy major, but in the closing minute of the first half, Hayward Medalist Jed Spence reduced the margin again.
In very warm conditions, it was evident the weather was taking its toll, with the Hawks doing all of the attacking to start the third. When Keelan Radice converted with ten minutes remaining, the Hawks led by twelve points, and it was extended further in the final minute with another goal to Anaru Teddy, with the visitors leading by a game high nineteen points.
The home side rallied at the start of the fourth with two quick goals, the second to Jack Cox, narrowed the margin to seven points, and the match looked destined for a thrilling finish. A late goal to Byron George gave the Hawks some breathing space, eventually winning by thirteen points.
Jed Spence and Kaspa Donovan played good games for the Hawks, while Jack Cox and Marlion Pickett Jnr played well for the Boomers.
The Hawks will play Donnybrook in round two at Gloucester Park next Saturday, while Eaton have the bye, and return after Easter with a match against the Lions, again at Glen Huon Reserve.
SCOREBOARD
Aug Marg River 1.5.11 4.8.32 8.11.59 9.13.67
Eaton 2.4.16 5.6.36 5.10.40 7.12.54
Goals: Augusta Margaret River – Billy Goodwin 2, Miles Bridgland 1, Kaspa Donovan 1, Byron George 1, Keelan Radice 1, Sachi Radice 1, Jed Spence 1, Anaru Teddy 1. Eaton – Jack Cox 2, Karl Collard 1, Eli Hill 1, Jayden Little 1, Ben McGuire 1, Marlion Pickett Jnr 1.
Best: Augusta Margaret River – Jed Spence, Kaspa Donovan, Quinn Donaldson, Zac Dronow, Billy Goodwin, Leroy Anderson. Eaton – Jack Cox, Marlion Pickett, Kaiden Aitken, Nicholas Hodgson, Ben McGuire, Jacob Pickett
Ground: Glen Huon Reserve
Umpires: Khye Skoda, Greg Rolfe
Crowd: 484
