Carey Park took until the final term to shake off a plucky Collie Eagles side at Kelly Park on Saturday evening, in round four of the Dale Alcock Homes South West, South West Football League season.
Carey Park started the better of the two sides in the opening quarter, but the Eagles hit back with goals to Kristian Caporn and Odinn Kirk, to lead at quarter time by two points.
The second quarter had a similar feel with both sides having periods of ascendancy, but the Eagles missed some shots in front of goal, which gave the home side an eight point lead at half time.
When Adam Bignell kicked a goal at the seven minute mark of the third term, the margin was back to three points, but it would also signify twenty consecutive seasons of the veteran kicking a goal in a League SWFL match, stemming back to 2007. Max DiLallo, who played a good game and would end the match with three goals, steadied the ship for Carey Park with a good goal midway through the term, and when Brian Hughes converted just before three quarter time, the margin was sixteen points.
Adam Bignell kicked the first goal of the final term to again narrow the margin back to ten points, but the Panthers rallied kicking the last three goals of the game to win by 29 points.
Taj Beauclarke and DiLallo played great games for the Panthers, while Mat Michael again was a standout for the Eagles.
Carey Park have moved to sixth on the ladder and are one of five teams with two wins through the first four weeks of competition. The Eagles have dropped to eight with the one victory and will face a red-hot Bunbury next Sunday, while Carey Park will face Augusta Margaret River at Gloucester Park on Saturday, who will be smarting after their big loss to Busselton.
SCOREBOARD
Carey Park 2.2.14 5.3.33 7.7.49 10.9.69
Collie Eagles 2.4.16 3.7.25 4.9.33 5.10.40
Goals: Carey Park – Max DiLallo 3, Taj Beauclarke 2, Brian Hughes 2, Connor Gadecki 1, Taj Houlahan 1, Brady Lenaghan 1. Collie Eagles – Adam Bignell 2, Matthew Burton 1, Kristian Caporn 1, Odinn Kirk 1.
Best: Carey Park – Taj Beauclarke, Max DiLallo, Jack McMahon, Jaxon Bell, Mitchell Russell, Kelvin Lawrence. Collie Eagles – Mathew Michael, Zac Pilatti, Adam Justice, Kristian Caporn, Odinn Kirk, Jaxon Pitts.
Ground: Kelly Park
Umpires: Lucas Billet, Aaron Andrews
Crowd: 607
