SWNFL 2022: Action-packed season slated for new South West Netball Football League season

With the South West Netball Football League set to start their 2022 season this weekend, journalist Carly Laden takes a look at each club going into the new season.

Bunbury

After just missing out on making appearances in all five grand finals last year, the Bunbury Bulldogs are set to come back with a vengance in 2022.

While Bunbury took out the 16-and-under and the reserves premierships, the Bulldogs will be looking to replicate their dominant performances across all grades.

Since holding trials in early February, the Bulldogs have been hard at work building up their fitness during preseason training before they launch their season against Carey Park at the South West Sports Centre.

Bunbury’s masters team will look to avenge their grand final loss on Friday while the rest of Bunbury’s teams will take on the Panthers on Sunday.

Busselton

After missing out on back-to-back premierships in the league competition, Busselton are set to swoop into the 2022 season hungrier than ever.

Busselton will be looking to replicate their commanding presence in the league, 18/U and 16/U competitions as well as improve on their form in the reserves competition after becoming the club’s sole team to miss out on the finals.

The Magpies were quick to get the ball rolling during the off-season, taking to social media to announce their 2022 squads in November after holding trials in late October.

Busselton’s league team will start their season hosting a grand final rematch against Eaton at the Geographe Leisure Centre on Sunday, their reserves team will travel down the highway to clash with Augusta-Margaret River on Saturday, while the 18/U and 16/U teams will start their season with a bye.

Carey Park

Despite pulling off a historic three-peat in the masters competition, Carey Park will return to the South West Netball Football League eager to improve on their form.

The Panthers’ formidable masters team was the club’s sole finals representative in the competition last year, with Carey Park looking to improve on a less-than-ideal 2021 campaign.

After holding two trial sessions in December and January, Carey Park’s squads have been hard at work at preseason training with Graham Jones at the helm for the league team once again, Jenny Evans coaching Reserves, Jasmin Brown coaching the 18/U team and Jo Hill heading up the 16/U team.

The Panthers’ masters team will begin their 2022 campaign with a grand final rematch against Bunbury at South West Sports Centre on Friday while the rest of Carey Park’s team will take on the Bulldogs on Sunday.

Eaton

Reigning premiers Eaton Boomers will be hoping to pull off a potential back-to-back premiership when they return to competition for 2022.

Last year proved to be the year of the Boomer with Eaton pulling off a stunning league premiership victory over Busselton, defender Kasey Joy taking home the Testrow Medal and the club earning the Champion Club award for exceptional team performances across the grades.

Since announcing their 2022 junior squads late last year and in January for their senior teams, Eaton have been preparing for the new season with team-building exercises and scratch matches with other clubs.

The Boomers’ league team will start their 2022 campaign by hitting the road to Geographe Leisure Centre where they will meet Busselton in a grand final rematch on Sunday, their masters team will take on Harvey at South West Sports Centre on Friday, while their Reserves, 18/U and 16/U teams start with a bye.

Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault

After missing out on finals across the SWNFL’s competitions, Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault will be looking to improve their form in 2022.

While the Lions proved a formidable side throughout the season, the club just missed out on finals appearances, lighting a fire within the club going into the new season.

Since announcing their 2022 squads in December, the Lions have been holding fitness sessions and team building through beach volleyball sessions.

HBL’s league, reserves and 18/U teams will open their season with matches against South Bunbury at South West Sports Centre on Saturday, while their masters team will take on the Tigers on Friday.

South Bunbury

After missing out on grand final appearances, a new-look South Bunbury is set to shake things up in the new season.

Although the Tigers made finals appearances in the reserves, 18/U and 16/U competitions, South Bunbury was ultimately pipped at the post last year.

Since the conclusion of the 2021 season, South Bunbury had undergone an overhaul, revealing several new faces joining the league squad as well as announcing their 2022 squads for the club’s other teams across the grades in late December.

The Tigers will open their 2022 season on Saturday with matches against Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault at the South West Sports Centre for the League, reserves and 18/U competitions on Saturday, masters on Friday, while the 16/U squad start with a bye.

Other clubs

Along with the league’s contenders, other clubs within the SWNFL will be looking to prove themselves as contenders in 2022.

Although Blackwood Ravens would not be returning to the league competition, they will be coming back to the 18/U and 16/U competitions, starting their campaigns with a bye.

Augusta-Margaret River will return to the reserves competition with a round one match against Busselton while their 16/U team starts with a bye.

After aligning with Collie Eagles, Mercy-Leschenault-Collie will expand their presence with teams joining the reserves and 18/U competitions, along with their return to the 16/U competition.

Donnybrook will also be making their SWNFL debut with a team in the Reserves competition, going up against fellow debutants MLC in Collie on Saturday.

Harvey Bulls will also make their return to the masters competition, hoping to improve their semifinalist status from last year.