It took until the end of the final home and away game of the season, to determine the final order of the top five, when South Bunbury and Bunbury played out a thrilling derby at Hands Memorial Oval, in the final game of round twenty one of the Dale Alcock Homes South West, South West Football League season.
The match had a finals like atmosphere, with 1044 people in attendance in a match the ebbed and flowed, with both sides have periods of ascendancy.
Dylan Heasman kicked the opening goal within the first two minutes of the match, but that would be the only joy for the quarter as the Tigers struck back hard. After a frenetic opening ten minutes, Jace Cormack kicked an excellent goal, which was followed shortly after by Tyson Lane. Blaine Johnson would kick his first of the afternoon closing in on quarter time, and when Owen Scott converted right on quarter time, the home side led by eighteen points at quarter time.
Bunbury needed a swift response at the start of the second quarter which they got from Jett Woods, but a minute later Jay Wright bobbed up with his second goal of the season to extend the margin back to eighteen points. Baiden Parsons took a strong mark to reduce the margin to eleven points midway through the term, but Johnson and Shaun Crane kicked two goals in three minutes for the Tigers, giving the home side a game high 23 point lead.
The Tigers seemed to have all of the momentum, and with Busselton defeating Collie, Bunbury needed to get back in the match or lose top spot on the ladder, which would also have meant playing the Tigers again next weekend in a Qualifying Final.
Parsons, Haydn Busher and Heasman combined to kick three goals in five minutes to reduce the margin to five points, but a late goal to Jay Wright would give the Tigers some breathing space at the final break, leading by eleven points.
With plenty at stake for both sides, the intensity went up and so to did the mistakes. Aidan Clark kicked a great goal from the boundary to reduce the margin to three points, and shortly after Harry Creasy put the Bulldogs back in front for the first time since the two minute mark of the opening term. Tyson Lane had an opportunity to put the Tigers back in front but hit the post, one of seveal posters on the day. Busher would capatilise on an error midfield to give Bunbury an eight point lead, and control of the match. With time slipping away, Tom Gorter went forward and kicked the Tigers tenth goal of the match, and with four minutes remaining, the margin was just one point. The two sides have never drawn, despite playing 201 encounters against one another, and it would not be a draw today either, with Aidan Clarke capitilising on a costly turnover in the final minute, with Bunbury coming from 29 points down in the second quarter to win one of the games of the season.
Both sides gave their all and were physically spent at full time, with Bunbury having the luxury of a week off, finishing on top of the ladder. South Bunbury finished fourth on the season, and will face HBL in an Elimination Final on Sunday at Hands Memorial Oval.
SCOREBOARD
Bunbury 1.1.7 4.3.27 7.4.46 11.7.73
South Bunbury 4.1.25 8.2.50 9.3.57 10.5.65
Goals: Bunbury – Baiden Parsons 3, Haydn Busher 2, Aidan Clarke 2, Dylan Heasman 2, Harry Creasey 1, Jett Woods 1. South Bunbury – Blaine Johnson 2, Jay Wright 2, Kevin Chitty 1, Jace Cormack 1, Shaun Crane 1, Thomas Gorter 1, Tyson Lane 1, Owen Scott 1.
Best: Bunbury – Kye Wright, Haydn Busher, Baiden Parsons, Aidan Clarke, Trae Field, Jaymin King. South Bunbury – Alex Brook, Owen Scott, Thomas Gorter, Shaun Crane, Kade Szyszka, William Pedley.
Ground: Hands Memorial Oval
Umpires: Aaron Andrews, Spencer Drummond, Khye Skoda
Crowd: 1044
Dylan Heasman celebrates after kicking the opening goal of the match. Images couresy of Jon Gellweiler.