Tigers eye weekend clashes

South Bunbury Football Club will eagerly await the result of Sunday’s clash between the Eaton Boomers and Bunbury, to see who is their main challenge on their way to a grand final.

After finishing on top of the table after an 11-game winning streak, the Tigers now have the week off and wait to see who will play them in the second semi-final.

Coach Alan Crane said he was delighted with his player’s season.

“I am happy we did enough in the home and away season to finish where we did, ” he said.

“Our mission was to bank enough points to play in the finals.”

Despite their dominant form, the break couldn’t have come at a better time for South Bunbury, with a number of players carrying niggling injuries into the finals series.

First choice ruckman Wes Lammie is still in doubt for the rest of season with a serious knee injury and Crane admitted he was unlikely to play next week.

Key forward Brynn Francis returned to the side against Augusta-Margaret River, after missing a week with a lower leg injury and looked in ominous form when he kicked eight goals.

Fraser Millar is set to also benefit from the week off as he has been nursing a corky through the last few rounds.

Livewire half-forward Guy Piggott is in serious doubt to return at all this finals series, with a knee injury keeping him from playing most of the season.

Crane said he wasn’t bothered who the side played next Sunday.

“I don’t think it really matters, but the finals series is wide open, ” he said.

“Last year we had the one side which is a class above, but this year anyone on any given day can have a crack at it.”

The Tigers have not won a South West Football League premiership since 2002, when Stephen Bilcich coached South Bunbury to an upset 74-point win over arch rivals Bunbury.

Last year’s finals series didn’t go well for the Tigers, who downed the Augusta-Margaret River Hawks by 18 points in the qualifying final, before being well beaten by eventual premiers the Eaton Boomers in the second semi-final and then the Collie Eagles by 24 points in preliminary final.

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