With such a hotly contested 2022 season, there were several reasons fans kept coming back for more each weekend.

Here, Justin Fris takes a look at five of the best SWFL matches this year.

1 - Round 20: Augusta-Margaret River 9.8 (62) defeated South Bunbury 7.8 (50) at Gloucester Park

Regardless of your fanatical persuasion, every person who attended this game left Gloucester Park in no doubt Augusta-Margaret River and South Bunbury were the two best teams in the competition.

Following a lively start by the Hawks, South Bunbury fought back in the second term and briefly hit the front, before a quick goal to Harry Taylor put the home side back in front.

Both sides threw everything at each other in an absorbing, physical game, although Augusta-Margaret River were able to orchestrate a handy 12-point buffer midway during the final quarter.

Then a forgettable lapse in concentration from Blake Piggott resulted in a reversed free-kick, and sapped all the visitors’ momentum.

Despite the final result, both sides were able to take plenty from the game, and predicted to make the grand final.

2 - Round 9: South Bunbury 13.8 (86) defeated Donnybrook 11.6 (72) at VC Mitchell Park

Whenever these two sides lock horns for the Dr Ern Manea Cup, you can expect a massive afternoon of action — however, add the importance of the Chris Sheehan memorial game and anticipation inevitably reaches fever-pitch.

Another added storyline to this game was the fact South Bunbury coach Julian Burgess, who won a premiership at the helm of Donnybrook, coached against his former club for the first time.

Riding the wave of these emotions, the Dons put in one of their best performances of the season, with South Bunbury having to find an extra gear on the stroke of time-on in the final term to pocket the four premiership points.

3 - Round 15: Bunbury 6.12 (48) defeated Harvey Bulls 6.7 (43) at Payne Park

On a grey day when annoying initial spots of rain eventually turned into a downpour, the Bulldogs and Bulls fought out an absolute beauty in trying conditions.

Heading into the game, the Bulldogs had lost three on the trot and things looked ominous at the 20-minute mark of the second term.

Aside from trailing by 20 points, the unthinkable — this impressive Bunbury side being held goalless in a half of football — was suddenly staring them in the face.

However, two goals in as many minutes deep in time-on gave the Bulldogs life and this momentum carried them through for the remainder of this gripping contest. Defensive lynchpin Kane Bumann was best afield after doing a brilliant job on Bulls spearhead Brad Holmes.

4 - Grand final: Augusta-Margaret River 5.7 (37) defeated South Bunbury 4.9 (33) at Hands Oval

South Bunbury are likely to forever wonder how this game got away from them, as Augusta-Margaret River came from the clouds to pickpocket their premiership dream in the final minutes of the 2022 grand final.

Perched on 1.6 (12) at three-quarter-time, Hawks coach Matt Jamieson told his players there was no way they would finish with such a scoreline in a grand final and urged them to play a brand of football which worked for them, not South Bunbury.

With the game delicately poised in the dying seconds, a majestic run and carry goal from Ben Taylor ensured the Hawks secured back-to-back flags.

5 - Round 10: Harvey Bulls 10.5 (65) defeated Carey Park 9.8 (62) at Harvey Recreation Ground

The Bulls entered their round 10 home clash knowing they had been on the wrong side of a series of close results over the Panthers.

With new recruit Harley Bennell providing an added degree of polish to Mark Pink’s hard working unit, the home side immersed themselves in a fierce dusk-skied arm wrestle.

A brief lapse in the third term almost cost the Bulls dearly, with Carey Park turning for home with 12-point lead in their pockets.

However, with their loyal supporters urging them on from the outer, Pink’s men rallied late to leave the Panthers facing a dejected Saturday night trip back to Bunbury.