SWFL men’s: Collie stun Carey Park, Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault maintain top spot, Hawks grab first win

Collie stunned Carey Park to grab their first win of the South West Football League season by six points in a massive boilover at Collie Recreation Ground on Saturday. The Panthers could only manage four goals from their 23 scoring shots on the day, leaving an opportunity for the Eagles to steal a shock 7.7 (49) to 4.19 (43) victory in a low-scoring affair. A standout first quarter saw the Eagles put five goals past the visitors, allowing them to take a 20-point lead into the first break. Carey Park showed some attacking verve in the second term but could only manage a sole goal to go with their seven behinds. The visitors eventually managed to close the gap back to one straight kick but Collie’s Robert Chitty came up with the critical late goal which all but sealed the points for the Eagles. On Sunday, Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault maintained their position at the top of the ladder with a 30-point victory over Dunsborough at Dunsborough Playing Fields. A fast start for the Sharks saw them take a seven-point lead into quarter-time but the visitors’ quality eventually won out, stacking on nine goals to the hosts’ four over the remaining three quarters in the 11.15 (81) to 8.3 (51) victory. The Lions’ big stars again shone brightly, with Jarrod Humphries booting five more goals to give him a total of 20 through only three games of the season, while his sidekick Blake Offer chimed in with three to take his tally to 12. Ty Anderson and Connor Carbone were exceptional in the middle. Sunday’s other fixture at Gloucester Park saw Augusta-Margaret River also get their first victory of the year, defeating Eaton by 59 points. A 19-point margin separated the two teams at the main break but the Hawks blew the Boomers away in the second half, coming up with eight goals while limiting the visitors to only two, securing the 15.11 (101) to 6.6 (42) result. Matthew Bannister and Thomas McDonald finished with four goals each in the win, while Matt Vardanega continued his strong season.