Bunbury and Donnybrook will play in this Sunday’s, Dale Alcock Homes South West, South West Football League Preliminary Final, both searching for the one remaining spot in this years Grand Final.
The two teams made it to the Preliminary Finals in very different ways, with the Dons losing to Busselton in the Qualifying Final, before an extraordinary third term in last Saturday’s First Semi Final sunk South Bunbury. Bunbury meanwhile, finished as minor premiers, went down to Busselton by a point in a thrilling Second Semi Final.
Last weekes finals were also very different. The Dons win over South Bunbury was a dour affair, with a multitude of stoppages along with being very physical, particularly in the first half, while the Bulldogs loss to Busselton in comparison, was a free flowing match, with plenty of run and handball.
The two sides are no strangers to meeting in finals, having met seventeen times, with only rivalries between South Bunbury and Bunbury (21), and South Bunbury and HBL (20) having more finals match ups. Bunbury have won nine finals opposed to Donnybrook’s eight, while at Hands Oval, the Bulldogs have won seven of the twelve contests at the venue. Bunbury have won both the contests this year, the most recent by 28 points, on a day Donnybrook kicked 4.17 (41). The last time the two sides met in a preliminary final was only two years ago, when Bunbury defeated the Dons in a thriller by three points.
The prize for the winner is a Grand Final against Busselton, who themselves are looking for Grand Final redemption after last years heart-breaking one point loss to South Bunbury, while for the loser, they will finish officially third in season 2026.
The League match on Sunday commences at 2.30pm at Hands Memorial Oval.