Home

SWFL 2022: Augusta-Margaret River fly high to secure consecutive flags

Justin FrisBunbury Herald
Hawks coach Matt Jamieson and skipper Lincoln Adams returned to the top of the premiership summit on Sunday.
Camera IconHawks coach Matt Jamieson and skipper Lincoln Adams returned to the top of the premiership summit on Sunday. Credit: Justin Fris/South Western Times/South Western Times

Augusta-Margaret River coach Matt Jamieson knew something special was required when he ran out to address his players for the final time during Sunday’s nailbiting SWFL grand final at Hands Oval.

Held to a paltry 1.6 (12) up until three-quarter-time against South Bunbury, the Hawks at times resembled a shell of the side which had outplayed the Tigers over their past two encounters.

There would be no ranting or raving from Jamieson though — just a few words of encouragement.

There is no way a team as good as this will stay with 1.6 in a grand final, he said, as Hawks supporters around the team huddle listened intently.

Jamieson said if his players were able to get the ball back on the outside and not on the inside like South Bunbury wanted, things would turn.

“As long as you play the way I ask and for each other, we will get there,” he added.

Thirty minutes later, the dream of back-to-back premierships at Gloucester Park became a reality, with the Hawks holding on for a 5.7 (37) to 4.9 (33) win over a devastated South Bunbury.

In a cruel twist of fate, the Tigers — who were brilliant at blunting the Hawks’ effectiveness all day — were ironically beaten at their own game in the final 90 seconds.

Throughout the absorbing contest, South were able to turn the game into an arm-wrestle, with repeat stoppages becoming the norm.

By essentially bottling up proceedings, the speedy Hawks were unable to generate their usual rhythm in the corridor.

However, a lengthy pause in the third term following a head injury to Hawks stalwart Jake Rodgers (which required an ambulance), coupled by the Tigers’ apparent intent to play a tad conservative early in the final term, both appeared to shift slices of momentum to Augusta-Margaret River.

Three goals in 19 minutes put the Hawks within a point of the Tigers, which set things up for a grandstand finish.

Ben Taylor capped off a marauding run into the forward line with a centimetre-perfect shot from 45m out, which sent everyone wearing green-and-gold on to cloud nine.

With a slender lead in their pockets, the Hawks were then able to control the clock, generate stoppages and deny South at the crucial moment.

It was a bitter way for the Tigers’ 125th anniversary season to end on the field, especially given how many quality players — including Pike medallist Jace Cormack, Shaun Crane and Tim Sutherland — all left nothing in the tank for their club.

However, the Hawks players, who by some of their own admissions could not even believe how the game ended, simply found a way to win when hope looked gone, and etched their names in SWFL history in the process.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails