The Solahart Reserves Grand Final promises to be a close one, when Bunbury and Harvey Brunswick Leschenault play in the 2026 Reserves Grand Final at Hands Memorial Oval.
For most of the season it would be Harvey Brunswick Leschenault and Carey Park on top of the ladder, dominating the opposition, but Bunbury defeated Carey Park and the Lions to make the Grand Final first, leaving the top two sides at the end of the home and away season to battle it out in the Preliminary Final to play the Bulldogs.
Both sides have high quality full forwards with Joel Houghton at one end for Bunbury and Jarrod Humphries at the other for the Lions.
The last time the two sides met, the Bulldogs won by fifteen points in a very low scoring match with just ten goals kicked. The Bulldogs kicked six and Joel Houghton kicked four of those, several from long range.
The Lions bounded back on the weekend for a twenty nine point win over Carey Park, with Humphries kicking two clutch goals to give the Lions the advantage, setting up the second semi final rematch.
Aside from the two genuine full forwards, both sides have plenty of players who can kick goals, and also influence the match. Jordan McGinley recently won the Times Medal for Fairest and Best Player in the Reserves competition and is sure to get plenty of close checking from the Lions on Saturday.
Both teams also have strong defensive units down back, with the Lions defence the most miserly in the competition, with Bunbury ranked second.
Randall Hodgson mops up plenty of the ball in the defensive line for the Bulldogs and will be a key player, as will Keegan Williams who has plenty of League experience as well.
When it comes to League experience both sides have at least seven players who have played League football, while the Lions having been in last years decider do have many players who know what its like to play in a Grand Final.
Bunbury won the Second Semi Final, the Lions won the two matches during the home and away season, firstly by 42 points at Brunswick Oval, and then at Payne Park by 10 points.
The Lions have played in twenty two grand finals for fifteen victories, while Bunbury have played in sixteen grand finals for nine wins. The two sides have never played in a Reserves Grand Final.
The last eleven Reserves Grand Finals have been decided by twenty one points or less and of those eleven, four have been by seven points or less, and one was in extra time, giving all the hallmarks of another close Grand Final. Bunbury last won the pennant in 2021, while Harvey Brunswick Leschenault last tasted glory in 2020.
