Panthers leap to ladder top

Brookton-Pingelly have established themselves as genuine premiership fancies, holding Williams to only two goals in a huge 69-point victory on Sunday in Pingelly.

The Panthers fought their way through an arm-wrestle in the first half to claim a dominant 13.9 (87) to 2.6 (18) victory, earning them top spot on the UGSFL’s ladder after five rounds.

Both sides could manage only one goal each in the first quarter.

Leroy Jetta (five goals) opened the scoring for Brookton-Pingelly early in the term while Williams, which controlled much of the ball during the first quarter, couldn’t make the most of opportunities in front of goal, spraying a number of kicks out of bounds.

Leading 1.2 (8) to 1.1 (7) after the first break, the Panthers slowly started to apply scoreboard pressure throughout the term.

Williams still managed to lock play in between their half-forward line and the wing on the pavilion side of the ground, but Cameron Jetta finally made the breakthrough for the Panthers with a goal midway through the term.

Callan Eddy, Matthew Dean (one goal) and Dylan Kirk won plenty of the ball for the Panthers during the second quarter, as the home side began to capitalise across the ground, finishing with a 4.2 (26) to 1.1 (7) lead at half-time.

Brookton-Pingelly’s defence held firm in the third quarter, holding off multiple Williams’ inside-50s.

The game continued to produce plenty of intercept marks for both sides, but the Panthers made the most of their opponents’ inaccuracy by foot, again converting three unanswered goals in the third term to hold a comfortable 7.5 (47) to 1.4 (10) advantage at the final break.

Brookton-Pingelly added another six goals to the Cats’ one in the last term.

Troy Bassett (two goals), Zachary Beckman, Leroy Jetta, Kirk, Dean and Eddy were the Panthers’ best. Ryan Pearce, Ben Battley and Thomas Vellios were the stand-outs for Williams.