SWFL: Hot Dogs snag Eagles

Bunbury moved into the top five for the first time this season after holding on to defeat the Collie Eagles by nine points on Sunday.

In wintry conditions at a heavy Payne Park, the Bulldogs led by three points at the final change and were let off the hook in the last term as the Eagles booted eight behinds.

The 9.7 (61) to 7.12 (54) triumph means Bunbury has beaten three of the top four teams in the past three weeks.

Collie hit the front mid-way through the last quarter when Adam Bignall booted the visitors’ fourth minor score.

Minutes later Jesse Gribble – who has had a blistering second half of the year – found Clinton Garlett to restore the Bulldogs’ advantage.

The Eagles kept driving the ball forward with players throwing themselves into the fray.

Collie were doing things the hard way, but reduced the deficit one behind at a time until they trailed by just one point, two minutes into time on.

But Gribble popped up again, and centred the ball to Shane Howison who marked and kicked truly on the siren to ice the win.

Earlier, teenager Liam Ryan impressed with his speed around the contests and booted the Eagles first two goals.

For the Bulldogs, Ethan Maguire – in his fourth game – read the play well while Cameron Lamonica was clean and composed across half back in his league debut.

Eagles ruckman Warren Atwell was promoted from the reserves in the absence of Paul Lindsay and did well in the contests.

He gave the Eagles control when Bunbury bigman Jacob Williams was off the ground injured for a brief period.

Collie slipped to fourth after the loss, and two rounds out from the end of the home-and-away season, neither side is guaranteed of finals action.

This weekend, Bunbury will take on the resurgent Harvey Bulls while Collie host last-placed Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault.

Scoreboard

Bunbury 2.2 5.4 7.7 9.7 61 def Collie Eagles 2.3 6.4 7.4 7.12 54

Goals:

BUNBURY – J. Adamson-Holmes, C. Garlett 2, J. Gribble, S. Miles, C. Thomas, E. Maguire, R. McDonnell.

COLLIE EAGLES – L. Ryan 3, A. Tweedie 2, B. Malatesta, J. Swallow.

Best:

BUNBURY – J. Gribble, E. Maguire, R. Sheehan, C. Lamonica, R. Hutcheson, J. Williams.

COLLIE EAGLES –T. Michael, S. Cox, C. Griggs, T. Cleggett, M. Roney, W. Atwell.