SWFL men’s: South Bunbury finish unbeaten regular season with two-point win over Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault

South Bunbury completed an unbeaten 2024 regular season in hard-fought fashion at Hands Oval on Sunday, being pushed all the way to the final siren in a thrilling two-point win over Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault. The Lions came as close to beating the ladder-leaders as any side this year in one of the games of the season, but the Tigers did just enough to hold on for their 18th straight victory in a 9.15 (69) to 9.13 (67) result. Spearhead Blaine Johnson led the way for South Bunbury with four critical goals, while Tom Gallaway stood tall in defence and Mitch Bain and Lachlan Riley were strong through the middle. In the absence of their own full forward Jarrod Humphries due to injury, young gun Bronson Martin stepped up with three goals for Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault, with the brilliant Ty Anderson (two) nearly hauling his side over the line. The Tigers will now enjoy a bye in the first round of the finals, while the third-placed Lions will meet second-placed Bunbury in a qualifying final at Payne Park for the right to take on the minor premiers with a grand final place on the line. The ball was stuck inside the Lions’ 50-metre arc for the final minute but some untimely free kicks and the smattering of bodies meant they could not fashion a genuine chance to score, with the siren blowing after a free kick for the Tigers from the game’s last stoppage to the relief of their faithful. Leading by two points at the last break, the hosts had the visitors camped inside their half in the opening stages of the final term but were unable to capitalise on their scoring opportunities. After four missed attempts at goal, Kade Wallrodt stepped up to coolly slot a set shot and give the Tigers some breathing room, but Xavier Milner marked unopposed at the top of the goal square only moments later and converted to give the Lions a quick answer. Ben Horsman was then infringed in an inside-50 ruck contest and calmly converted the free kick to settle South Bunbury’s nerves, but the brilliant Anderson responded only seconds later to again tighten the gap inside one straight kick. Another Tigers free kick — this time for late contact on Jace Cormack as he won the centre clearance — gave downfield recipient Richard Bourne a chance to ice the game, but he pushed his kick across the face. Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault quickly transitioned the kick-in to the other end, where Will York won a free kick of his own after being taken in a high tackle, but he was barely able to sneak his snap from an acute angle in for a point. In the first term, Riley kicked the opening goal and Bourne’s intended pass for Kevin Chitty from the pocket somehow floated through the major opening to give the Tigers a quick start, but the Lions proved they were ready for a contest with the next three goals, including two from Martin. The Tigers came up with the next three goals to take an 11-point lead into the first break but the Lions again refused to lie down, responding with the next two. A late goal from Johnson looked certain to give the Tigers a lead at the main break but the resumption of play saw the brilliant Anderson burst from the middle and slot a major on the stroke of the half-time siren to give his side a three-point advantage. An arm wrestle of a third term saw both sides kick only one goal, with Milner’s second cancelled out by an important finish from Johnson as the clock ticked into red time.