Collie defeat winless HBL

Tony Mirabella booted seven of Collie’s 12 goals to lead the Eagles to a 27-point victory over a scrappy Harvey-Brunswick-Lesechenault at the Collie Recreation Ground on Saturday.

Small forward Mirabella was the main difference between the two sides, providing the kind of reliable target up front that was missing for the Lions in the 12.7 (79) to 7.10 (52) Eagles’ victory.

Possession and inside 50s were evenly split but HBL’s young forward line was repeatedly out marked and had to work much harder to convert its opportunities.

Lion Tyler Gleadell and Eagle Mirabella kicked two goals each in rapid succession to begin the game and Gleadell had an opportunity to add a third but missed a tough set shot from 40m out on an angle.

At the opposite end of the ground Mirabella made no mistake after being awarded a free kick from a marking contest to send the Eagles into quarter time with a slender five point lead.

A beautiful running Matthew Bicknell major from right up against the boundary saw the Lions briefly edge in front but Collie responded with the next three goals as Matt Blackford, Travis Cleggett and Corey Griggs handed the Eagles the ascendancy through the middle.

The Eagles also kicked the first three goals of the second half, two to Mirabella, who eluded his man with ease all afternoon, to extend their advantage to 29 points before HBL cut the margin back with two majors of their own late in the third.

Propelled by classy midfielder Travis Obal and Jack Quinn HBL started strongly in the fourth but could manage only three behinds from hurried kicks in the scrambling forward line.

Obal was rewarded for his hard work with a running major from just inside 50 but it was not enough as Mirabella claimed his sixth and seventh goals and Alex Tweedie added another for good measure to steer the Eagles home.

Bicknell, Logan Hughes and Brendan Stemp were impressive in a losing effort for the visitors.

The victory moves Collie into fourth on the ladder while the Lions remain winless after three outings in ninth.

Tony Mirabella booted seven of Collie’s 12 goals to lead the Eagles to a 27-point victory over a scrappy Harvey-Brunswick-Lesechenault at the Collie Recreation Ground on Saturday.

Small forward Mirabella was the main difference between the two sides, providing the kind of reliable target up front that was missing for the Lions in the 12.7 (79) to 7.10 (52) Eagles’ victory.

Possession and inside 50s were evenly split but HBL’s young forward line was repeatedly out marked and had to work much harder to convert its opportunities.

Lion Tyler Gleadell and Eagle Mirabella kicked two goals each in rapid succession to begin the game and Gleadell had an opportunity to add a third but missed a tough set shot from 40m out on an angle.

At the opposite end of the ground Mirabella made no mistake after being awarded a free kick from a marking contest to send the Eagles into quarter time with a slender five point lead.

A beautiful running Matthew Bicknell major from right up against the boundary saw the Lions briefly edge in front but Collie responded with the next three goals as Matt Blackford, Travis Cleggett and Corey Griggs handed the Eagles the ascendancy through the middle.

The Eagles also kicked the first three goals of the second half, two to Mirabella, who eluded his man with ease all afternoon, to extend their advantage to 29 points before HBL cut the margin back with two majors of their own late in the third.

Propelled by classy midfielder Travis Obal and Jack Quinn HBL started strongly in the fourth but could manage only three behinds from hurried kicks in the scrambling forward line.

Obal was rewarded for his hard work with a running major from just inside 50 but it was not enough as Mirabella claimed his sixth and seventh goals and Alex Tweedie added another for good measure to steer the Eagles home.

Bicknell, Logan Hughes and Brendan Stemp were impressive in a losing effort for the visitors.

The victory moves Collie into fourth on the ladder while the Lions remain winless after three outings in ninth.

Scoreboard

Collie Eagles 3.2 6.5 9.6 12.7 79 def Harv-Bruns-Lesch 2.3 4.5 6.7 7.10 52

Goals:

COLLIE – T. Mirabella 7, A. Tweedie 2, N. Woods, J. Fontana, L. Kinsella.

HBL – T. Gleadell 3, M. Bicknell, T. Obal, C. Strano, C. Buchanan.

Best:

COLLIE – T. Mirabella, T. Cleggett, M. Blackford, C.Griggs, L. Motion, M. Roney.

HBL – T. Obal, M. Bicknell, Jack Quinn, B. Stemp, L. Hughes, Josh Quinn.