Pies seize first win as Eaton crash

Busselton took advantage of some poor kicking by the Eaton Boomers to win their first game of 2016 by 24-points at Boyanup Oval on Sunday.

The Boomers dominated the first half, but kicked 15 behinds and just three goals for the half, leaving the door ajar for Busselton to come back and win 9.13 (67) to 4.19 (43).

Eaton kicked seven behinds before their first goal and never in any quarter were they able to kick more goals than behinds.

Busselton looked behind the pace in the first half, with their only goal to half-time coming in the opening minutes. But after the main break the Magpies began to use the ball better and the Boomers’ tackling pressure lapsed, giving the visitors the chance to kick five goals in the third term.

Brendan Cribb (four goals) got into the game thanks to some good work by midfielders Matt Welburn and Jackson Arbon, while small forward Luke Hutchins (two goals) was lively.

Busselton coach Steven Lester said Cribb had got more comfortable playing league football as the season had gone on.

“That was the best game he has had for sure,” he said. “He is a confidence player and when a few things fell his way, he got some confidence.”

Boomers coach Glen Dehring played Michael Russell up forward and was rewarded when the returning defender scored two goals by half-time. Dehring would have been pleased with his side’s pressure around the ground in the first half, as well as the performances of Sam Harris and Will Oelsnik, who were their side’s best for the day.

Lester said his side would get confidence from the win.

“I said to Glen Dehring that they left the door open and lucky we got our act together in the third quarter,” he said.

“We allowed them to run and take the game on.

“But in that third quarter we lifted our pressure and we took the game on.

“This will give us a leg up going forward, knowing how to win games of footy.”

The Boomers’ day was also soured by an injury to Harris, with the midfielder looking to have hurt his shoulder minutes before the final siren.