Derby redemption and minor premiership on the line for Bulldogs in final day blockbuster against Souths

For South Bunbury, their derby clash with Bunbury on Sunday is a chance to “step out of the shadows” cast upon them by their ladder-leading rivals, according to club legend and senior coach Stephen Bilcich. The league’s most successful club of the past five years are chasing a second consecutive minor premiership and standing in their way on the final day of the home-and-away season are their oldest and most fierce rivals. South Bunbury might have been the little brother in this footballing relationship over the past half decade, but the Tigers also have their own premiership aspirations to attend to — chasing elimination final hosting rights. “We have been in their shadow a bit over the last decade or so, so we are working towards getting out of that,” Bilcich said. “That is certainly our aim.” While the four points are critical, eyes and ears at Payne Park will also be peeled to the happenings just 3km away, at Kelly Park. WATCH THE DOUBLE-HEADER LIVE HERE FROM 1.30PM SUNDAY Sitting just 2.67 per cent ahead of minor premiership challengers Augusta-Margaret River, who face Carey Park just 50 minutes prior, the Bulldogs must win by a significant enough margin to make sure of top spot. The staggered start means by about the mid-way point, the Bulldogs will know exactly what needs to be done. Bulldogs coach Jamie Nani said he would let the game play out until which time he got a clear idea of their equation. “We will let it go for a period of time,” he said. “Margaret River will finish a lot earlier than we will, so we will potentially have an idea of where we sit and how much we’ve gotta win by potentially at half-time of our game. “But the focus is winning the game.” He said coming off last year’s nine-game season, a week off would be a nice chance to freshen up for bigger assignments ahead. More SWFL “The minor premiership would be a little tick, but you don’t get a trophy for it,” Nani said. “Having a week off to freshen up would be good, we’re back to an 18-game season after a shorter season, so a week off would help anyone. The Tigers’ threat lies in their towering forward-line, which at almost all times includes two talls, a resting ruck and dangerous mid-sized forward Cody Nelson — all of which are serious aerial threats. Nani said his side was better placed to deal with the imposing forward line than they were when they lost the season’s first derby match-up, and stressed the importance of a team defence. “We call it a back seven ... because we rotate one through there off the bench as well and they have been outstanding for a long period of time,” he said. “Souths got us with height last time, we had a few of our key backs out, so it’ll be handy to have all these guys play this weekend to counter South Bunbury’s talls. Kane (Bumann) is that bigger body that can play on the resting ruck which we didn’t have last time.” But Bilcich has a bit to contend with at the other end too, with brothers Jayen and Patrick Farrant combining for eight goals at the weekend, and former Brisbane Lion James Hawksley and premiership defender-cum-forward Travis Justins also looming as attacking threats. The transformation of best and fairest winner Rocco Versace from bustling midfielder into athletic key defender has been as effective as it was surprising, and it could mean he finds himself on Patrick Farrant on Sunday should the high-flyer be stationed forward. “We were up and down in terms of form and I just wanted to settle our backline and I think Rocco does his best work down there,” Bilcich said. “He has a steady head, he certainly has better skills than people give him credit for and they will suffer because of it. “It depends where Farrant plays because he hasn’t always played full forward or centre-half forward either.” The Tigers will know by Saturday night whether a fourth-place finish is still on the cards — needing Busselton to drop their game with Collie. Ethan Nordahl’s day finished early with a hamstring concern against Eaton on Saturday, but he is still a chance to play the derby, while the Tigers could welcome back former captain Matt Giacci, who missed the last two games with a soft tissue injury. Both will undergo fitness tests tonight. The two sides will also play for the seventh edition of the Syd Jackson and Max McGuire Cup.