SWFL 2023: Five things we learned from round five

1 - Dunsborough’s success across all grades is good for the entire SWFL community

The 657-strong crowd at Dunsborough Playing Fields were treated to a brilliant inaugural league victory by their Sharks on Sunday against the Collie Eagles.

Aside from their first ever league win, the women’s team won their second game in a row. This was equally significant — as last season, the women’s team was held scoreless 10 times, due to many of the players having never picked up a football before the campaign.

2 - Concerns are growing about the Collie Eagles’ long-term outlook

From the moment I began covering SWFL, travelling up the hill has been one of my favourite assignments.

Like many football followers, I’m concerned with the present on-field plight of the Collie Eagles.

One win across four grades heading into round six is not good for the club, town or long-term health of South West football.

In 2020, the Eagles were one game away from a league grand final. Now they are winless and enter Sunday’s home game against Augusta-Margaret River having been thrashed by new club Dunsborough on Sunday.

I hope they can turn things around.

3 - The HBL women’s team have worked incredibly hard in recent months

They might not have won against Donnybrook, however the Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault women’s team will cause a few headaches for rival teams this season.

Claire Brown was one of several Lions players who played very well against the Dons, along with Riley Brine and Lauren Patane.

The Lions have not played finals since the good old days when Brittany Gliddon, Logan Cristaldi and Shauna McGuiness wore the maroon and gold — but this may change soon.

4 - Different interpretation of rules continues to infuriate players, coaches and spectators

Having umpired football for several years prior to full-time employment, I’m well-versed on how tough it is.

If you ask what players, coaches and spectators ideally want from umpires, it would be consistently enforcing rules of the game with a common-sense approach to handling disputes of any nature.

5 - I’ve never been so amazed and impressed by defence like this!

The desperation in defence by the Busselton women’s team on Sunday against Bunbury left me speechless in the best kind of way.

Even with the win confirmed, Rennie Meadmore’s defenders didn’t rest and patrolled the half-back line as if their lives depended on it. To not concede a point in four games is a remarkable effort and proves if you remain committed to a goal many things are possible.