Rampant Boomers a test for Magpies

Busselton will rely on defensive pressure to topple league leaders Eaton Boomers in the South West Football League on Sunday at Sir Stewart Bovell Oval, with the Magpies looking for their first win of the season.

Eaton boast league-leading goal kicker Jarrod Humphries, who has kicked 15 majors in the first two weeks.

The Boomers sit clearly on top with 279.25 percentage points after a 103-point thrashing of the Carey Park Panthers in round 2.

Busselton coach Steve Lester said the start to the season did not get any easier, with the two best teams in the competition and the form team in the competition their first three matches.

“There’s a bit to consider — we need to stop Josh Bowe and Graham Jetta in the middle to limit the supply to Jarrod Humphries up forward,” he said.

“I’m confident in our backs standing up, HBL and Donnybrook can score heavily, so if our defence can stand up again that will help us, but we need to control the footy.”

The Magpies put in two gallant performances against reigning premiers Donnybrook last round and Harvey Brunswick Leshenault in round 1, but could not get over the line in either match.

“We’ve had enough of the footy but we haven’t been clean enough and made good enough decisions, but there’s no wholesale changes,” Lester said.

“We’ve got to back our guys in to get going.

“If we give them too much space they will cut us up so our pressure around the ball is key.”

Eaton Boomers president Darren Demarti said they would look to move the ball quickly to capitalise on their potent forward line.

“We need to play our defensive style because we have a couple of guys who run well off half-back and move the ball fast from defence,” he said.

“Up forward Carey Park matched up on Jarrod Humphries well, but that allowed Brandon Jetta to get free so either one of those guys will step up.”

The pressure is on the Magpies, who risk a 0-3 start, to turn their season around against one of the most talented sides in the league.

Kick off in the league is 2.30pm on Sunday, colts will play at 9am and reserves start at 11.05am.