SWFL: South Bunbury one win away from another grand final after beating Bunbury in first qualifying final

South Bunbury are one win away from another South West Football League grand final after beating Bunbury by 23 points in the qualifying final at Hands Oval on Saturday. A rematch of 2024’s season decider saw the reigning premiers — who only missed out on the minor premiership and a bye in the first round of finals due to a marginally-inferior percentage to Busselton — given a stern examination by the Bulldogs. But despite not quite hitting top gear, the Tigers displayed the knowledge of a team which has succeeded when the stakes are at their highest to secure a 13.9 (87) to 9.10 (64) victory, their eighth in a row over their cross-town rivals. In what has been a theme of their dominance under Julian Burgess, the winners produced an effort which had few poor performers. Veteran Jace Cormack continued some hot late-season form to be among their best, while the returning Tom Gorter and Rocco Versace were at the heart of a stout defensive effort which saw them surrender only three second-half goals. In attack, Kade Wallrodt (four goals), Jay Wright and Tyson Lane (both two) ensured they did not miss the absent Blaine Johnson too badly. Veterans Haydn Busher (two goals) and Kane Mitchell battled hard for the Bulldogs around the ball but their side could not match the depth of contributors boasted by their opponents. Ahead by 13 points at the final break, the Tigers were able to further extend their lead in the early stages of the final term through Ethan Nordahl, who swooped on a loose ball from an inside-50 stoppage and snapped truly. A perfectly-executed Jett Woods set shot from deep in the pocket sparked Bunbury’s hopes of a comeback but their attempts to further cut the gap were cruelled by lacklustre skill execution amid some frantic Tigers’ pressure. After Wallrodt soccered his third goal of the second half to all but seal the result, the Bulldogs’ day was summed up by Mitchell trying to take a late set shot from directly in front and only 20m out too quickly and misfiring. Bunbury did produce a blistering opening to the contest which spearhead Baiden Parsons was at the heart of, kicking their first goal of the day from the intersection of the 50-metre arc and boundary line and quickly following up with another after beating Ben Horsman in a one-on-one contest. But the hosts awoke from their slow start to respond by closing out the quarter with four unanswered goals — the best of which came when Kade Szyszka picked up the ball in their back half, ran the better part of 100m and finished off his six-bounce effort with a goal from close range. The intensity of the contest lifted appreciably in a physically-testing second term, which saw several spot-fires resulting from tackles that were too high or lingered too long. Bunbury were generally in the ascendancy and kicked three of the quarter’s four goals, including one near the half-time siren from Busher which saw them re-claim a three-point half-time lead. South Bunbury took back the advantage in the first minute of the second half after Cormack sprung himself loose with some brilliant footwork and spotted up Lane, who floated his set shot through the major opening. The teams traded goals throughout the duration of a third term capped off by Mackenna Taylor seizing on a loose ball and finishing brilliantly from the boundary at one end, only for Wallrodt to do the exact same at the other to restore his side’s buffer. Earlier, Bunbury’s colts side book a clash with undefeated reigning premiers Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault in the second qualifying final with an 11-point win over the Tigers. The reserves contest saw Carey Park beat a Bunbury side featuring Joel Houghton — a two-time leading goal-kicker in the league competition playing his first game at any level since round 14 — by 29 points to lock in a date with the Lions.