Football: SWFL Round 8 fixtures

A relieved Carey Park coach John Baggetta has hailed his side’s avalanche triumph over Donnybrook at the weekend as ‘‘the game we had to have’’.

A perennial powerhouse in recent seasons, the Panthers had been erratic up to Sunday’s match but made a statement when they blew Donnybrook out of the water to record a 178-point victory.

‘‘It was the sort of game that we needed to have if that makes sense,’’ Baggetta said.

‘‘We’ve managed now to get a couple of games into some blokes and with no disrespect to Donnybrook I think the game came at a good time for us.

‘‘We got some good cohesive footy together and we’ve just got to make sure that we keep it going this week and going forward.’’

The win lifted Carey Park to sixth on the table, two wins outside the top five.

While the Panthers might be in uncharted waters after seven rounds, Baggetta was upbeat as to his side’s chances of continuing to improve when they travel to play Collie this weekend.

‘‘You don’t have to be a Rhodes Scholar to look at the ladder and realise that if we get four points this week, depending on what happens between Eaton and Margaret River we could be playing for fifth spot the week after,’’ Baggetta said.

‘‘We’re only a third of the way through the season. We’ve just got to maintain and build on or momentum and we’ll soon get towards the serious part of the season.

'‘If we’re doing the right thing then we’ll play a part (in the finals).’’

Baggetta praised the role that developing utility Braden Lawler had played so far in 2011 since stepping up to play consistent league football.

He also acknowledged developing midfielder Roydon Blurton, who played his first full league game against the Dons, as a name to look out for in weeks to come.

Round 8 Fixtures

Sunday, June 12

Augusta-Margaret River v Eaton Boomers, Gloucester Park

Collie Eagles v Carey Park, Collie Rec Ground

Donnybrook v Harvey Bulls, VC Mitchell Park

Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault v Bunbury, Brunswick Oval

South Bunbury v Busselton, Hands Oval