Eaton have stolen victory from the jaws of defeat, when they defeated the Collie Eagles at Glen Huon Reserve on Sunday afternoon, in round seventeen of the Dale Alcock Homes South West, South West Football League season.
Collie led for all but the final 18 seconds of the match when Bailee Kent put the Boomers in front for the first time in the contest, giving Eaton their third win of the season. The match was played in very strong winds, rain and even hail, witnessed by only most diehard of fans.
The Eagles started brilliantly, kicking with a very strong wind, kicking three goals in the opening five minutes, Matthew Burton contributing two of them, with Paul Rinder the other. Leading by seventeen points at quarter time, the Eagles extended that margin to 24 points at half time, kicking two crucial late goals against the trend of play.
Kurt Donohue kicked the opening goal of the third term to narrow the margin, but the Eagles again replied late in the term, with Rinder kicking his second.
Leading by twenty points, the Eagles seemed in control, but Eaton never gave up, kicking four unanswered goals in the final term, with Bailee Kent kicking the winner, to sink the hearts of the Collie faithful in bitterly cold conditions.
Bailey Nylander continued his good season, gaining plenty of possessions, along with Jason Carter who kicked two goals. Teale DeAngelis played well for Collie, as did Paul Rinder.
The four point win gives Eaton their third win of the season, and they will host Augusta Margaret River on Sunday, while Collie will host Busselton also on Sunday.
SCOREBOARD
Eaton 2.2.14 2.8.20 4.9.33 8.10.58
Collie Eagles 4.7.31 6.8.44 7.11.53 7.12.54
Goals: Eaton – Jason Carter 2, Mekhi Yarran 2, Karl Collard 1, Kurt Donohue 1, Bailee Kent 1, Ben McGuire 1. Collie Eagles – Matthew Burton 2, Paul Rinder 2, Adam Bignell 1, Cameron Davidson 1, Teale DeAngelis 1.
Best: Eaton – Bailey Nylander, Jason Carter, Trent Ross, Tyrone Winder, Brendan Stemp, Mekhi Yarran. Collie Eagles – Teale De’Angelis, Paul Rinder, Luke English, Matthew Burton, Corey Holmes, Joshua Elliott.
Ground: Glen Huon Reserve
Umpires: Spencer Drummond, Michael Hearne
Crowd: 329
