The first of a whole series of matches that will shape the final five will take place on Sunday, when Bunbury host Harvey Brunswick Leschenault at PC Payne Park, in the final game of round sixteen of the Dale Alcock Homes South West, SWFL season.
The last time the two teams met in round five, it would be one of the games of the season, with the Lions getting home by ten points in a high quality match at Brunswick. This time the match is at Payne Park, with Bunbury second on the ladder and Harvey Brunswick Leschenault are third.
Despite both teams appearing to be safe in the top five, a Bunbury victory will almost certainly book a home Qualifying Final, but a loss will open the door again for the Lions to join Bunbury on equal points. A loss for the Lions will see them remain third, but they will then only be a game clear of the chasing pack.
Bunbury will face Eaton, South Bunbury, Donnybrook and Augusta Margaret River in the weeks after Sunday, which will see all four matches shape the finals, while the Lions have a crucial match against Carey Park followed by the bye, a match against Eaton and finishing with South Bunbury.
Lions coach Derek Hall said on SEN, “Can’t give away big starts to good sides”, in reference to the Lions slow start against Busselton in last Saturday’s match, where the Lions gave up the first six goals of the match. Hall also hinted that Jarrod Humphries may return for the match should he get through the final training session, after the exciting forward broke his hand in a match in June. If he does return, fans may be witness to a forward shootout between Humphries and Joel Houghton of Bunbury who leads the competition’s goal kicking.
The League match commences at 3.00pm, with the Colts and Reserves matches also having major consequences for the finals make up of those competitions as well.
Match Details
Colts 9.45am, Reserves 11.40am, Women’s 1.30pm, League 3.00pm
Coverage
Live Scoring PlayHQ (Colts & Reserves), SEN App, 621am & 1494am for League