SWFL Match Report: AMR v Harvey Bulls

Augusta-Margaret River Hawks were able to hold off the fast-finishing Harvey Bulls on Sunday at the Harvey Recreation Ground to record a hard-fought five-point win in the South West Football League.

The Hawks came to life in the third term, kicking four goals in the premiership quarter on the back of an outstanding display by playing-coach Hamish Shepheard for the 9.7 (61) to 8.8 (56) win.

The first half was played more like an Auskick match rather than a battle of two premier SWFL teams, with most players following the ball wherever it went and causing mass congestion.

But after half-time, the Hawks opened the game up with hard running and superb skills for a 16-point lead at the final break. The quarter could have been much different, however, with Bulls midfielder Dan Leishman missing two early easy shots early that could have given the home side a two-goal lead.

Shepheard and fellow player-coach Ben Gerrans were the instigators of the Hawks' win - both running hard and using the ball with precision to give their teammates the best opportunities.

Bulls recruit Michael Genovese tried to tag Shepheard in the second half but his size and speed was too much and the former Fremantle Docker-listed player added three goals to complete a quality all-round game.

Bulls ruckman Andrew McDougall had an interesting duel with counterpart Daniel Atkinson, with both leaving each other alone unless there was a ruck contest.

McDougall often sat deep inside his defensive 50 metres, where a number of contested marks and third-man up spoils stopped the Hawks from goaling.

Atkinson, on the other hand, preferred to run the field and be an extra option throughout the midfield - but he was left in no man's land on a couple of occasions and could not hurt the Bulls on the scoreboard.

The game will also be remembered for a number of hard player clashes and big contests - two of which left Augusta-Margaret River's Brodie Bramich and Harvey's Robert Fryer with yellow cards.

But there were also some fantastic moments of skill, including a miracle left foot goal from Hawks forward Mitch Gerrans, who was clearly inspired by Shane Warne's ball-of-the-century when he curled one off the deck from deep in the pocket.

Young Bulls player Kelly Greives took mark of the day when he rose up to clunk one on top of Atkinson at the true centre-half forward position.