SWFL 2022: South Bunbury’s bid for four straight SWFL flags to begin against Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault

The greatest team the South West Football League has ever seen begins a new campaign and its bid for a fourth consecutive premiership on Saturday. Not since Busselton’s remarkable colts dynasty of the early 2000s has a team won as many premierships consecutively, and the Tigers have all the pieces in place to reach the summit again. And the Tigers are raging hot favourites to start their season on the right note when they meet Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault at Hands Oval on Saturday afternoon. Master coach Max Jetta has returned to lead the group, which looks set to retain stars Bethany Bond and Charli Wicksteed despite WAFLW stints at Swan Districts earlier this season. Premiership heroes Kate Fielding, Maddy Obal and Gemma Wharton are also among the names to sign on for another year, with the rare historical feat within touching distance. Wicksteed looms as a Nola Marino Medal favourite after a dominant start to the WAFLW season in black and white, while a three-goal display against West Perth proved Beth Bond hasn’t lost her goal-kicking touch. Steadfast defender Amber Boyd’s experience has been added to the club’s leadership group, headed up by Bond, and the full-back will be a handful for opposition forwards again. Last year’s cellar dwellers, the Lions endured a difficult and draining season, winning just three games. Finding avenues to goal — which proved to be their Achilles heel in 2021 — will be tested again on Saturday by the Tigers’ defence, which was the league’s most measly last year.