SWFL 2022: Stage set for first night game at Gloucester Park when Augusta-Margaret River host Eaton Boomers

The stage is set for a monumental first night game at Gloucester Park on Saturday when reigning premiers Augusta-Margaret River play host to SWFL hopefuls Eaton Boomers. AMR were supposed to see the new lights switched on in round one but will now have them unveiled for the second half of their clash with the Boomers, which begins at 4:30pm. The Hawks head into the match in second place while Eaton finds themselves in fourth — a welcome change after taking out last year’s wooden spoon. The Boomers are one of only three undefeated sides to remain at this stage of the competition after beating the Harvey Bulls and Donnybrook, as well as having two byes. AMR are yet to have a week off, and have shown they will still play a large role in the finals having not lost a game since round one’s grand final rematch with Busselton, where they were downed by 21 points. Hawks coach Matt Jamieson said the match against the Magpies was an early wake-up call to his side which showed them going back to back was not going to be a “walk in the park”. “We had a pretty ordinary first-up performance, but I think have rectified that pretty quickly,” he said. “I think that was probably just not respecting our opponent and thinking after last year’s grand final it was just going to be a breeze and a walk in the park, but footy is a great leveller. “It was a bit of a smack in the face round one, but the boys have been pretty solid since.” Jamieson said the new-look Eaton Boomers were still a “bit of an unknown” for AMR, but appreciated every side would be on the hunt for the Hawks. “It is a little bit of an unknown with Eaton . . . They have recruited some good players,” he said. “Everyone is going to be looking to play their best footy against us as the reigning premiers, so you have to respect every team, irrespective of where they are on the ladder.”