Football: Goalsneak returns to form for Eagles (inc fixtures)

Collie Eagles coach Brett Earl has heaped praise on Blair Malatesta after the gun forward pocket found form against Bunbury last weekend.

The dangerous goalsneak was a livewire in the wet, booting 4.5 as the Eagles cruised to their fourth straight victory.

Malatesta had a quiet opening to the season, booting just five goals in six games before Sunday’s win.

Earl said Malatesta had been put on notice.

“Everyone (at Collie) is up for a bit of constructive criticism, everyone is up for a bit of ribbing,” he said.

“How he performed on Sunday was exactly what we want Blair to do every week — become our dangerous small forward.

“He’s capable of doing that. He kicked eight goals in the South West’s winning (Landmark Carnival) grand final.

“The kid can play football. It was very pleasing for everybody at the footy club to see.”

On top of Malatesta’s performance, bulldozing Collie ruckman Paul Lindsay added another dimension inside 50 and kicked two goals.

Lindsay, who joined the club in 2011, had previously been used exclusively at the stoppages, seldom going forward.

“We were allowed to leave Paul Rinder in the ruck — he was rewarded for his efforts over the past three or four weeks,” Earl said.

“Lindsay was happy to start down in the forward line.

“It just gives us another dimension (and proves) we’re not relying on him all the time.

“What a pleasure to have him starting at full-forward.”

Earl said his team, which will gun for a fifth consecutive victory when it takes on Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault this Sunday, was starting to rediscover its mojo from last season.

But the Eagles’ squad could be about to get better after Earl revealed former Busselton tall forward Jon D’Sylva had been training with the club for “several weeks”.

D’Sylva booted 33 goals for the Magpies last season and along with star spearhead Leigh Kelly provided Busselton with a premiership-winning attacking combination.

“We’ve had a bit of a talk to him,” Earl said.

“It would be fantastic if he signed up, but if he only wants to get fit and (eventually) head somewhere else it does give us another number on the track.”

Collie Eagles’ Blair Malatesta in action during last season’s grand final. The dangerous forward booted four goals last Sunday. PICTURE: DAVID BAILEY

Fixtures Round 8

8 Sunday, June 16

Boomers v Hawks (GHR, 2.30pm)

Magpies v Tigers (SSBP, 2.30pm)

Lions v Eagles (BO, 2.30pm)

Bulldogs v Bulls (PP, 2.30pm)

Panthers v Dons (KP, 2.30pm)