Hawks collect a homeground win over Panthers

Augusta Margaret River have won a one point thriller over Carey Park at Gloucester Park on Friday afternoon in the ANZAC day clash for the 2025 SWFL premiership season.

The round four match up would be the third one point result in four rounds, after South Bunbury defeated Carey Park by a point in round one, and Harvey Bulls defeated Collie Eagles in round two by the same margin.

After it rained for a good portion of the Reserves fixture, the League match was played in fine, yet overcast conditions with a handy breeze blowing to the town end of the ground.

In a dour opening quarter, Billy Goodwin kicked the only goal of the term at the six minute mark, as the Panthers held the Hawks well while kicking with the breeze.

In stark contrast the second quarter saw four goals in the opening six minutes, with Goodwin snapping truly to give the Hawks a thirteen point lead.

The lead was extended further when Byron George snapped a goal deep in the pocket, and when George kicked his second in three minutes courtesy of a free kick and a fifty metre penalty, the Hawks would lead by 25 points.

The Panthers first goal came at the six minute mark of the second quarter through Brady Lenaghan.

The match then tightened up as the Panthers started to get more possession, but they weren’t able to convert their opportunities.

Eventually the visitors got some value for effort with Jackson Hill kicking a long range goal and shortly after Zane Verhaaf marked at the top of the goal square and all of a sudden the margin was just six points.

Scores were level when Hill converted an advantage play, but Max Spyvee would put the Hawks back in front with an impressive goal on the run from deep in the pockets.

Hill would kick his third of the term, with the ball in the air as the siren sounded, with the home side leading by a point at half time.

Spyvee showed his class again in the third, kicking the opening goal of the third term from deep in the right forward pocket, giving the Hawks an eight point buffer.

Both defensive lines were on top, as the ball went from end to end, with Brian Hughes taking a good mark, and the subsequent goal reduced the margin again to two points.

Leading by three points at the final change, it was goal for goal in a pulsating final term with Jackson Hill putting Carey Park back in front.

Spyvee kicked his third of the match at the eight minute mark, putting the Hawks back in front.

The Hawks had several opportunities to extend the margin further but missed some absolute sitters, only to see the ball transfer to the other end of the ground, with Lenaghan putting the Panthers in front yet again.

The ball lived in the Hawks forward fifty in the final ten minutes of the match, with the Panthers defensive line standing tall.

A free kick from a ball up, gave Kieran Yakas an opportunity to put the Hawks back in front, and when he duly converted, the Hawks were back in front – the sixth lead change of the match.

In a thrilling final four minutes, neither team could score, as the Hawks held on for a one point victory, their second of the season after defeating Collie Eagles in round one.

Aug Marg River 9.10.64 def. Carey Park 9.9.63

In other matches, Donnybrook were impressive in their 106 point win over Harvey Bulls at VC Mitchell Park.

South Bunbury overcame another slow start to easily defeat the Dunsborough Sharks by 86 points at the Dunsborough Playing Fields.

Bunbury took down Busselton in another thriller at Sir Stewart Bovell Park on Saturday night, claiming the win with just three points between the two sides in a heartbreaker for the Magpies.

And Brendan Tingey kicked a career high nine goals, as Harvey Brunswick Leschenault defeated Collie Eagles by 36 points at the Collie Recreation Ground.