SWFL Match Report: Collie v Eaton

Collie Eagles made Eaton Boomers work for the four points on Sunday afternoon at the Collie Recreation Ground, but the Boomers were too classy for too long to run out 35-point winners.

The Eagles kicked five goals to three in the first quarter to give the reigning premiers a scare, but the Boomers were too good in the second half, winning 13.14 (92) to 8.9 (57).

In what was a scrappy affair for much of the game, a youthful Eagles side tried to outrun the Boomers across the field and at times, succeeded but both sides butchered the ball going forward and paid for it with missed opportunities.

Eagles' forward Matt Michael was too good for defender Cody Miller for much of the match, but his ability to kick just one goal from five reasonable shots was one of the reasons the Collie team could not apply scoreboard pressure.

Missing State representative Blake Piggott because of an injury picked up during Saturday's game, the Boomers relied on run from their younger brigade, with Landmark Carnival medallist Denholm King and rising star Gregory Humphries obliging.

King had a good duel for much of the day with fellow Landmark representative Jayce Fontana, who has made the move to defence in the latter part of the season.

The Boomers forward, though, won the day, with his footy experience allowing him to have a solid impact throughout the day.

The midfield battle was sublime, with the youthful exuberance of Travis Cleggett, Corey Griggs and Ashley Griggs giving Jace Cormack, Chris Atthowe and Josh Battaglia a fight for much of the match.

But Cormack (three goals) grinded his way into the game after a slow start and began to show his class throughout the second half.

Boomers captain Will Oelsnik had a terrific game in defence, marshalling his troops and setting up the defensive structures when they were in trouble from the Eagles' fast ball movement.

Curtis Bloxsidge was a clearance machine for Eaton, while his brother Kane had plenty of the ball but too often was wasteful with his disposal.

Collie's experienced players in Christopher Harry, Adam Bignell, Ashley Seeber and Shane Wright all seemed to get a lift from their younger teammates and, right up until the last term, an upset was well and truly on the cards.

But the Boomers kicked five goals to just two in the last quarter.