Busselton prove too good for Bulls, jump into SWFL’s top five

Busselton have jumped into the top five for the first time this season, managing the difficult conditions better on their way to a comfortable victory over the Harvey Bulls. The Bulls’ forward line, which boasted the league’s two leading goal kickers ahead of the round, struggled to take marks inside 50 given the persistent rain during the 11.10 (76) to 5.2 (32) defeat. For the Magpies, three-time best and fairest Mitch Tenardi had a second consecutive quiet game, but the load was carried by former skipper Daniel McGinlay and Jaxon East, who combined for four goals. The first term was entertaining despite the rain, as fresher legs in the midfield helped both sides win clean breaks from the middle. The Magpies led by 10 points at quarter-time after Aiden Fraser ended the quarter with his first goal of the game. The home side maintained their advantage during the second term thanks to an impressive intercept-marking display across half-back by Jacob Ness and the efforts of Zac Pethybridge, who had the tough assignment on leading goal kicker Brad Holmes. The conditions made life difficult for Holmes and fellow tall Brandon Jetta and without Braden Fimmano on the ball, avenues to goal dried up for the Bulls. A scoreless third term meant they managed just seven points in the middle two quarters of footy. Jetta was brought into the ruck to start the final term in a bid to bring him into the game, but the Bulls were already six goals down at the final change. The visitors did manage two goals in the final term, including a second goal for Holmes to take his season tally to 24. East finished with three goals, as did small forward Aiden Fraser, while Kester Decke looked the best of the tall forwards for either sides, finishing with two. The Bulls face two injury concerns this week, with new recruit Kaine Ah-Chee leaving the ground in the third quarter with what looked to be a left knee injury, while 19-year-old ruckman Kane Johnston, who missed last week’s win over Donnybrook with a knee injury, was also brought off prematurely.