SWFL 2017 rd 2: Collie Eagles claim victory on Anzac Day

A short memorial service was held before the game with Alf Mainstone reciting The Ode before the Last Post and Reveille was played.

The game started with a dominant quarter from Collie.

Blair Malatesta scored three goals in the first term to get the away side off to a flying start.

But the momentum was short lived when he came off with a hamstring injury.

Just minutes into the game Corey Griggs was taken off the field with a bleeding head after a clash with Carey Park’s Shannon Spadaccini. He was quickly rushed to hospital for stitches.

Spadaccini was yellow-carded for the clash and forced to spend ten minutes on the bench.

But not letting themselves get distracted and with majors from Paul Rinder and Kyle Shanahan, the Eagles finished the first quarter with a 34 point lead over the scoreless Panthers.

Kicking with the breeze in the second term, Carey Park scored three quick goals thanks to impressive efforts from James Wallam and Jordan Yarran. 

The best the Eagles could do was two behinds despite plenty of forward 50 entries.

The game became scrappy at the end of the second quarter, with both teams working hard just to keep the ball off the ground.

The score at half time was 3.0.18 to 5.6.36.

Back to being hindered by the wind and unable to seal many scores, it was made evident in the third quarter that Carey Park hadn’t made the most of their term with the breeze.

Collie exploded out of the blocks with seven goals including two majors each from Jack Davidson and Joel Houghton and goals from Teke Vernon and Jayce Fontana.

The Panthers were kept on a leash, working hard in defence but unable to convert any forward 50 entries into points on the scoreboard.

The Eagles started the final quarter with a 62 point lead but let Carey Park crawl back just a little with three goals from Yarran, Benjamin Golowyn and Grant Van Veen.

Despite being disadvantaged by the wind, Collie were able to score two majors including another from Davidson.

The final siren blew on the Anzac Day match with the Eagles taking home a comfortable victory 14.8.92 to 6.0.36.

Collie will now host the South Bunbury Tigers in a grand final rematch on Sunday, April 30.