Magpies, Panthers' extra time thriller (pics & video)

It took more than four quarters of football for Busselton to end Carey Park’s season in an epic elimination final which went into extra time at Payne Park on Sunday.

Picture gallery from the game by David Bailey

With scores locked at 15.9 (99) at the end of the fourth quarter a goal to Josh Hewett in the first period of extra time and outstanding defence from the Magpies’ backline eventually gave Busselton a 16.12 (108) to 15.11 (101) win.

Right from the first bounce it was an extraordinary battle, with Busselton testing its patented run and carry against the Panthers’ pressure football for more than 120 minutes.

Carey Park burst out of the blocks early, forcing the Magpies onto the backfoot and kicking the first two goals to establish an early lead.

But Busselton got its running game going and found success handballing out to the wings in search of a free man who could deliver with precision inside the forward 50.

At quarter time the margin was just seven points in favour of the Panthers and the teams shared periods of dominance in the second before the Magpies took hold of the game and kicked the last five goals of the first half.

Aidan Fraser and Brent Snook looked dominant up forward and Carey Park had no answers for the marking targets, the lack of midfield pressure allowing the Magpies to deliver inside 50 seemingly at will.

Hayward medallist Nathan Bradbury turned back the clock in the first half, the veteran returning to the midfield and pushing forward with impact to have three goals by half-time.

The third quarter was a struggle but Busselton could have gained a larger lead if it was not for inaccuracy in front of goal with a number of easy set shots going begging.

The fourth started much like the third with the sides trading goals before Carey Park’s Reece Richardson came to the fore and took control of the game.

The former Perth Demon started to dominate the clearances and pushed forward with success to kick a goal before setting up captain Matt Martin with his fourth of the day.

Jordan Aitken gave the Panthers the lead with about three minutes to play when his left foot snap put Carey Park one point ahead.

With just a minute to go Busselton’s Jordan Eastwell had a chance to seal the result, but his high-stakes set shot from 45m went wide and neither side could score to win the game.

With 44 exhausted men wanting a result, the game was extended into two five minute periods of extra time and Hewett made sure Busselton would take on the Eaton Boomers next weekend when he ran into an open goal to score unopposed.

Check out the final moments of the Magpies extra time win. Video by Mitchell Woodcock

Scoreboard

Busselton 3.2 11.3 14.6 15.9 16.10 16.12 108 def Carey Park 4.3 8.4 11.7 15.9 15.9 15.11 101

Goals:

MAGPIES - A. Fraser 4, N. Bradbury 3, J. Hewett, R. Mrisch, B. Snook 2, S. Trombetta, D. McGinlay, J. Eastwell.

PANTHERS - M. Martin, J. Aitken 4, C. Garlett 2, D. Roche, A. Hill, R. Richardson, T. Wells, B. Lawler.

Best:

MAGPIES - D. McGinlay, A. Fraser, K. Hams, N. Bradbury, D. Lee, L. Lucas.

PANTHERS - R. Richardson, M. Martin, J. Aitken, D. Corbett, C. Garlett, B. Lawler.

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