Busselton Magpies swooped on an injury ravaged Collie Eagles on Saturday at Sir Stewart Bovell Park, securing their second win for the season.
The addition of former AFL star Ryan Crowley wasn’t enough to get Collie over the line.
Neither side were able to put their best team on the field with Busselton going without captain Aidan Fraser and live-wire Jed Kemp.
The match was all Busselton from the first bounce, with the Maggies getting three inside 50s in the first ten minutes.
These opportunities weren’t wasted and the home side led 3.2 (20) to 1 behind.
Crowley was involved early, and was taunted heavily by the Busselton crowd.
He was grounded by a huge tackle, to the delight of onlookers.
Busselton’s hard-bodied tackles were continually rewarded with holding the ball calls by the umpires.
The Pies went into the second quarter leading 4.3 (27) to Collie’s two points.
Busselton’s Jackson Arbon slotted a goal in the opening moments of the second quarter.
This was followed by smooth play from the dominant Pies, with Ethan Bowman feeding Steven Cameron, who marked on the line for an easy major.
Collie finally got their first goal in the second term from Mathew Michael and then Luke Slater split the posts from a tight angle.
Busselton were leading 6.3 (39) to 2.2 (14) when a high tackle resulted in a free kick and 50 metre penalty for Collie.
Blake Shanahan capitalised on the opportunity and scored, bringing the margin within 20 points.
Busselton full forward Cameron responded with another goal.
A desperate smother from Matthew Blackford wasn’t enough to stop the next goal for Busselton.
The ball ended up in the hands of Magpie Bailey Sanford, who kicked Busselton’s eighth.
Going into the major break, Collie trailed Busselton 3.2 (20) to 8.3 (51).
Things didn’t improve for the visitors with Cameron scoring again within the first minute of the third.
Eagle Jayce Fontana returned the favour but it was soon back in Busselton’s possession and Cameron bagged another.
There was a slight surge from Collie when Busselton’s Zack Conroy gave away a free kick to Blair Malatesta.
A 50m penalty then went against Busselton for language and Malatesta kicked the six points.
A goal late in the third after much contested possession marked the swing back to the Magpies.
They led going into the fourth 11.6 (72) to 5.3 (33).
Collie managed to get the first goal in the final term but Busselton’s dominance continued.
Even clumsy moments went the Pies way.
Confusion between team mates resulted in Cameron missing an easy mark, the spoils were luckily crumbed by Liam Creighton, who snapped a goal.
Eagle Mathew Michael returned the favour only for it to end up back in Busselton’s forward line with Cameron taking a strong grab before kicking another.
Cameron finished with seven, helping his team to a final margin of 16.11 (107) to Collie’s 7.7 (49).
His brilliant showing was supported by Reegan Mrsich, who again, had four goals to his name.
Eagle Mathew Michael led his sides goal scoring with three, while Malatesta, Fontana, Slater and Shanahan all finished with one.
Just two weeks ago, the Eagles were soaring at the top of the ladder.
Their second loss in two weeks, after last week’s defeat by Donnybrook, brings them down to seventh.
The win has seen Busselton rise to sixth.
After this weekend’s general bye, Busselton will face Carey Park and Collie will take on South Bunbury in round five.
