Boomers bound to first flag

The guns of Navarone shot down Busselton by 28 points in the South West Football League reserves grand final on Sunday.

Mobile Eaton Boomers on-baller Navarone Hill’s pacy legs and lethal, long raking left foot kicks were too much for the Magpies and won him the House Trophy for best on ground.

More importantly, however, it brought a historic first reserves premiership in the Boomers’ 55-year history.

Rank underdogs after a 20-point second semi-final loss to Busselton, the Boomers exploded after a tight first half to win 14.12 (96) to 10.9 (69) and bust the myth of some tardy fitness reports.

Typical of a grand final, the match was riddled with errors, most forced by fierce tackling on both teams with Eaton’s Shayne Edwards and Elliot Franklin leading a defence that dulled the deadly barbs of Busselton’s prolific goalkickers.

The top reserves goalkickers, Brock Monck (three) and Sean Trombetta (two), were unable to break free, while regular senior player Aaron Beckett was also held to just two majors.

Hill was busy on the day, helping Ryan and Jayme Osiejak and Daniel Quick to clear the ball from solid service of ruckman Nick Martin adding two goals of his own, while James Wallam kicked three.

Scott Wagner, Luke Strahan, burly Alex Trombetta, Beckett and Keegan Watson-Richards worked hard for the Magpies, who took an early lead after a nervous start with the first goal of the game posted by Beckett after 10 minutes.

Matt Mumme booted the Boomers’ first goal late in the term, which opened up a flurry in the final four minutes as Ryan Wellings and Monck put the Magpies in front before Osiejak got one back on the siren.

The Boomers kicked the first three goals of the second term to gain an edge before the Magpies regained the upper hand with two of their own, only for Eaton to take the advantageinto half-time with a goal after the siren as Osiejak, Wallam and a couple in quick succession to Luke Ramsay set the scene.

Eaton took control in the third term, sparked by a Wallam free from close range as it kicked away with five goals to one for the quarter.

With the Boomers bounding and Hill firing long left footers out of the midfield, the 31-point buffer was too much for the Magpies to make up, despite winning the quarter by a goal.