SWFL 2023: South Bunbury women’s coach Berend Kaaks ‘excited’ to lead new-look side into comp against Collie

Ahead of his first season donning red and white, Berend Kaaks says he is excited to lead South Bunbury back into the South West Football League women’s competition.

South Bunbury’s new-look women’s side will take the field for the first time when they take on the returning Collie Eagles at Collie Recreation Ground on Saturday.

Saturday’s twilight match under the newly upgraded lights will mark the first time the Tigers take the field for a women’s match since the former three-time premiership team withdrew at the midway point of the 2022 season.

Kaaks told the South Western Times the Tigers will be expecting to take a full side into round one, which was always the primary goal.

“It’s a tough process building a side from scratch, a process a couple of other clubs have gone through in the last 18 months and it’s fantastic to now see almost every SWFL club with an active women’s side,” he said.

“2023 could definitely be a fascinating season with two new teams and a lot of movement throughout the league.

“The focus for us in the early rounds will be continuing to learn to play together and build our connection as a group.”

For Collie, Saturday will be the first time the Eagles have fielded a women’s side since the shortened 2020 season after struggling to find the numbers for the past two years.

The Eagles will be led by head coach Matt Stevens and captained by Te Kanakana Jack-tui.

Kaaks said it was “fantastic” to see Collie back in the women’s competition.

“They’ve got a coach who understands the competition and a core of players wo have played in the SWFL, so I’m expecting a side who are prepared as well as a new side can be,” he said.

While the off-season has brought on a lot of player movement between clubs, Kaaks has predicted that reigning premiers Busselton Magpies would likely go into the new season as favourites.

“Busselton appear to have kept much of their squad so they probably deserve to go into the season as favourites but I wouldn’t even try and predict how the rest of the ladder could pan out,” he said.