SWFL men’s: Bunbury close out regular season with 24-point win over inaccurate Augusta-Margaret River

Bunbury closed out their South West Football League regular season with a 24-point win over Augusta-Margaret River at Gloucester Park on Saturday. In a see-sawing affair which saw the lead change hands 11 times over the course of the afternoon, the hosts were left to rue an inaccurate day in front of goal, with the deadeye visitors running out 15.5 (95) to 9.17 (71) winners despite having three fewer scoring shots. The costly loss has seen the Hawks slip down to fifth on the ladder, surrendering their hosting rights for the elimination final to Donnybrook, with the Bulldogs ensconced in second regardless of the result. The competition’s leading goal-kicker Joel Houghton returned from a back issue which saw him make an early exit from the Bunbury derby loss and miss last week’s win over Donnybrook in fine style, slotting another five goals to take his tally up to 75 for the season, 16 clear of South Bunbury’s Blaine Johnson in second. The Bulldogs were also able to find other avenues to goal in the form of league debutant Zeke Walker and typically defensive-minded midfielder Harry Creasey, who both slotted three majors. Only five points separated the teams at the final break but the Bulldogs quickly extended their advantage to 17 points early in the final term courtesy of quick goals from Jethro Barraclough and Walker. In the story of their day, the Hawks held the upper hand around the ground but could only produce five straight behinds in their efforts to close the gap, with Jack Hick, Max Spyvee and Jake Rodgers among their stars to miss the major opening, before late goals from Houghton and Xavier Williamson sealed their fate. Augusta-Margaret River started fast, opening the afternoon by kicking three of the first four goals while their zone defence picked off attacks with intercept marks at the other end. Houghton was able to find the seams in the hosts’ structure as the day progressed to create one-on-one opportunities, though he did miss a simple shot from the top of the goal square in the first term. His value outside his own scoreboard impact was evident in a third-term passage of play where he drew the entire Hawks’ defence in while gathering a ground ball, leaving Dylan Heasman unmarked to tee up Creasey for his third goal. Creasey started the second term by sending his side the wrong way from a stoppage but made amends by kicking two goals late in the quarter to ensure his side took a one-point advantage into the main break. Ruckman Kieran Yakkas, Spyvee and Rodgers were the best performers for the Hawks, who will now hit the road for the elimination final against Donnybrook next weekend.