Panthers on the prowl as Eagles beaten

Carey Park continued their fantastic start to the season with a solid 17-point win over the Collie Eagles at Kelly Park on Saturday.

Despite missing the three Humphries brothers, the Panthers were able to defeat the Eagles in the wet 9.9 (63) to 6.10 (46).

Last week’s heroes Riese Wilkey and Eli Hill again played well, kicking five goals between them as they troubled the Eagles’ defence on multiple occasions.

In spite of the blustery breeze and wet conditions, the depleted teams put up an entertaining spectacle with the Eagles’ contingent of Mat Michael, Joel Leeson, Teke Vernon, Jesse Ramshaw and ruckman Jared Debenham working over-time to keep the quick Panthers at bay.

But the Carey Park mosquito fleet of Ryan Bennell, Hill, Jaxon Bell, Dylan Garlett, Fabian Hart and Jake Thurston were the perfect foil for the powerful boots of Tim and Jordan Yarran.

The two evenly-matched teams were missing a number of players, but still managed to kick two goals in the first quarter.

Bennell’s big 60m goal and Wilkey’s first helped the Panthers lead by two points at the first break.

With the breeze their backs, the Eagles fought back to lead the Panthers by five points heading into the second half, with Aaron Elari slotting a set shot and Blair Malatesta bagging the goal of the game with a sprint to the long ball out of defence, a swivel and a 40m snap to kick the first of his three goals for the game.

With the aid of the breeze the Panthers pulled away from the visitors in the third term.

Wilkey booted two goals for the third term, with Jordan Yarran and Jeff Carter also getting on the scoreboard.

The Eagles spent the last few minutes of the third term in their forward half, which set the tone for a fourth-quarter fightback.

Eagles forward Luke Slater slotted long set shot to start the quarter, while Malatesta kicked two goals and Leeson bagged one as the Eagles closed the gap to just four points, before Hill and Blake Helgaland wrapped it up for the Panthers with late majors.

Scoreboard

Carey Park 2.1 3.3 7.7 9.9 (63) def Collie Eagles 0.2 2.3 2.6 6.10 (46)

GOALS: Carey Park - R. Wilkey 3, E. Hill 2, R. Bennell, J. Carter, J. Yarran, B. Helgeland. Collie Eagles - B. Malatesta 3, A. Elari, L. Slater, J. Leeson.

BEST: Carey Park - T. Yarran, J. Thurston, F. Hart, J. Bell, D. Garlett, D. Garlett. Collie Eagles - J. Debenham, B. Malatesta, J. Leeson, J. Ramshaw, C. Griggs, M. Michael.