SWFL Match Report: Donnybrook v S Bunbury
Donnybrook surged to the top of the South West Football League ladder after running over a gutsy South Bunbury to win 15.6 (96) to 10.11 (71) at Hands Oval on Sunday in a game marred by injuries to both sides.
An eight-goal second half by the Dons to the Tigers' one turned an 11-point deficit into a 25-point win.
Tigers had the best of the opening term, with Matt Wilkinson bagging a couple of goals and Saylin Stein and Leigh Conway also one each, to outpace the bigger Dons.
Shaun Crane, Jaxon Bell, Damon Bell and on-baller Chris Andrew also did good work and there were small signs of a major upset.
Jeff Smith took a clever mark for the Dons half way through the quarter from a rare Dons sortie inside 50 for the Dons second to be within 21 point at the break.
Simon Parry goaled to start the second term but Ben Jerez was finding plenty of space and the ball and had the quick reply.
The Dons were now starting to get into the game with their physical strength and Milan Kokir raised their spirit with an excellent snap.
The Dons were served a major challenge as Reece Gardiner , playing well, goaled before the Dons were penalised when a defender kicked the ball bounced around the goal square, from which Leith Dower kicked the Tigers ninth.
At 27 points down, the Dons' day went bad when Jeff Smith injured a groin in a simple marking contest to take no further part in the game but Kris Clarkson and Curtis Gugliemana scored valuable goals to reduce the deficit to 13.
Hayden King was strong in defence while Simon Parry, Gugliemana, David Roche and the side's bigger players all lifted their game.
Parry was damaging around the ground and effective in goaling.
The final quarter was an anticlimax, with the Dons regularly adding goals.
Leith Dower, Jaxon Bell, Ben Jerez, Corbin Chambers, Reece Gardiner and Connor McCamish were all solid and gave glimpses of a bright future for South Bunbury.
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