Bunbury have made it into the 2024 Dale Alcock Homes South West, SWFL Grand Final after a thrilling finish to the Preliminary Final with the Bulldogs winning by three points over a gallant Donnybrook.
In a tense final term, the Dons had two very difficult shots at goal in the last ninety seconds which both missed, as Bunbury held on before 2218 fans. The lead changed six times, and scores were level on three occasions in the contest.
The new Grandstand added to an electric atmosphere in a pulsating Preliminary Final, with the first nine minutes going without a score. Cooper Clarke-Dehring would eventually kick the opening goal at the ten minute mark from a set shot to put the Dons in front. Harry Creasey who gained a multitude of possessions put the Bulldogs back in front, and moments later the lead was extended when Joel Houghton received a free kick. Clarke-Dehring played a great game for the Dons, and converted a set shot to again reduce the margin, while on the stroke of quarter time, Cooper Nitschke kicked truly to give Bunbury a small lead at the first break.
Bunbury dominated the second quarter, keeping Donnybrook goal-less, however, the Bulldogs did only manage two goals, both to Fraser Gilchrist. giving Bunbury a twenty point half time lead.
What ever Coach Shane Bolton said to his charges at half time certainly worked with the Dons not only erasing the deficit, but opening a lead when the Dons kicked five goals in thirteen minutes. Kyle Potter set the ball in motion converting from the goal square, before Clarke-
Dehring kicked his third of the afternoon, after taking a strong mark. Trent Brown kicked a goal from the middle of last week which brought the crowd to life, as the Dons trailed by a point. When Clarke-Dehring goaled again the Dons were back in front, and that became eleven points when Brandon Jetta ran into an open goal. Bunbury weren’t done with and after getting their hands on the ball and making some attacking moves of their own, Denholm King goaled reducing the margin. Cooper Nitschke levelled scores at the 25 minute mark of the term, and when Baiden Parsons snapped a great goal on the stroke of three quarter time, the Bulldogs were back in front.
With only a quarter to play for the loser, the final term was a thriller. Jeff Smith snapped a good goal to put the Dons back in front, but Harry Creasey bobbed up again to kick his second, returning the lead to the Bulldogs. Joel Houghton put the dogs eleven points clear at the seventeen minute mark, and it looked like the Dons resistance was done. But when Jy Bolton converted a set shot in time on, the margin was back under a goal. Creasey kicked his third at the 23 minute mark and that again looked like it would be the sealer but the Dons came again, and when Ben Frazer goaled with 90 seconds remaining, the new stadium building was in full voice.
In a thrilling finish, the Dons had chances to snatch victory, but both shots missed, and the Dons were on the attack again when the final siren sounded, in the closest Preliminary Final since 2018.
Bunbury will now play South Bunbury in the Grand Final, while the Dons finished third, and although not the result the Dons would be after, considering they didn’t play at VC Mitchell Park all season, it was certainly a season of merit.
MATCH CENTRE
Bunbury 3.3.21 5.6.36 8.7.55 11.9.75
Donnybrook 2.0.12 2.4.16 7.8.50 10.12.72
Goals: Bunbury – Harry Creasey 3, Fraser Gilchrist 2, Joel Houghton 2, Cooper Nitschke 2, Denholm King 1, Baiden Parsons 1. Donnybrook – Cooper Clarke-Dehring 4, Kyle Potter 2, Jy Bolton 1, Trent Brown 1, Ben Frazer 1, Brandon Jetta 1, Jeffrey Smith 1.
Best: Bunbury – Xavier Williamson, Harry Creasey, Mackenna Taylor, Jethro Barraclough, Dylan Heasman, Baiden Parsons. Donnybrook – Sam Perkusich, Cooper Clarke-Dehring, Trent Brown, Clayton Giblett, Beau Luzi, Jy Bolton.
Ground: Hands Memorial Oval
Umpires: Talen Guthrie, Khye Skoda, Braden Surran
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 2218
It was a desperate last few minutes at Hands Oval – Photo courtesy of Wayne Hislop