SWFL 2022: South Bunbury to face Bunbury in blockbuster Syd Jackson/Max McGuire Cup

South Bunbury’s clash with Bunbury on Saturday is set to be a match of monumental proportions as the 2022 SWFL season reaches its crescendo.

Old rivalries and bragging rights aside, the Tigers and Bulldogs both head into the Syd Jackson/Max McGuire Cup needing a win to keep their minor premiership aspirations alive with just two games to play in the season.

For South Bunbury, the side tipped by many to be the premiership favourites before the season began, a big win on Saturday will put them in good stead for a first-place finish.

The Tigers are level on points with reigning premiers Augusta-Margaret River — who have a bye this weekend — but find themselves in second place, less than half a percentage point behind the Hawks who sit on top.

South Bunbury have a bye next week which means this will be their last outing before the finals series.

Meanwhile, Bunbury sit in third on the ladder and four points off the pace.

But the Bulldogs — who were on top of the ladder in the early stages of the season — have a game in hand.

Bunbury are due to face AMR next week, meaning a win this week and next could see them leapfrog the Tigers and Hawks and clinch the minor premiership.

The Bulldogs will take confidence into Saturday’s match knowing they went the distance against their old rivals when they last met in round 10.

Bunbury took the win in that match at Payne Park in one of the classic games of the season 11.10 (76) to 11.9 (75).

Bouncedown will be at 2.10 pm at Hands Oval on Saturday, with the two teams playing for the Syd Jackson/Max McGuire Cup.

The cup, which was first played in 2015, was named after South Bunbury legend Syd Jackson and Bunbury hero Max McGuire and sees their former sides battle it out each year.

Jackson played just 34 games for South Bunbury from 1960 to 1962 and won two Hayward Medals at age 17 and 18, while McGuire won the 1968 Hayward Medal, three best and fairests and premierships with Bunbury in 1961, 1962 and 1970.

Bunbury have had the wood over the Tigers in the Jackson McGuire cup, winning five of the seven games to date.

The Bulldogs defeated Souths 9.13 (67) to 8.6 (54) in last year’s fixture, while the closest match came when the Tigers took the win 7.6 (48) to 6.10 (46) at home in 2016.