Bridgetown Bulldogs win back-to-back premierships after classic 2021 grand final clash with Boyup Brook Roos

The Bridgetown Bulldogs capped off their stellar 2021 Lower South West Football League season with a classic grand final win against Boyup Brook to claim back-to-back premierships, 12.10 (82) to 9.9 (63). The league’s top two sides this year faced off at Rea Park in Manjimup on Saturday afternoon, with both clubs well represented in the crowd as plenty of supporters made the journey to cheer their team on. The Roos had appeared to be Bridgetown’s Achilles heel this season, as they were one of the few clubs who got the best of them, winning two out of their three clashes, including a crucial semifinal win. Playing in neutral territory in near-perfect conditions, the Bulldogs burst out the gates in the opening term, kicking four unanswered goals. The Roos managed just five behinds for the first quarter which gave Bridgetown a 19-point lead at the first break. Boyup Brook were able to reset and opened up the second term with an electric goal on-the-run from Lewis Mead, sending the crowd into pandemonium as they got their first for the match. Bridgetown’s Will Masters retaliated with a goal for the Bulldogs which certainly got his teammates fired up. Boyup Brook’s Angus Campbell then missed a tough shot on goal from the boundary but followed it up with a classy finish shortly after, seeing a loose ball in the goal square and sliding through to convert for another major. The sides continued to trade goals back and forth throughout the quarter, including an impressive running snap from the pocket by Campbell and a long-bomb from outside 50m by the Bulldogs’ Brett Wilson. However, the biggest moments of the second term were the major casualties, which were Bridgetown captain and star ball-winner Hugh Mitchell, who was rattled by a knock to the head in a contest, and Roos’ speedster Benjamin Cabassi, who injured his collar bone and had to be stretchered off the ground, unable to return to the game. Despite Boyup Brook starting to find their scoring rhythm, the Bulldogs kept the margin at 19 points heading into half-time. Luckily for Bridgetown, Mitchell was able to return to the field after the major break, but that was also when the Roos went on a rampage which was kicked off by key forward Alex Tweedie. Another two quick goals and the Roos were back within three points and as the three-quarter time siren sounded, so did the Boyup Brook cheer squad after watching their side fight their way back into the game. There was now just one quarter left to play and barely anything separating the two teams, as has been the story all year. Bridgetown opened the last term with a behind, but young small forward Darcy Craven found himself in a dangerous position not long after, kicking a half-volley goal off the ground for another six points. The Bulldogs backed this up with a strong mark and goal from key forward David Johnston and another by Craven with a clean pick-up and snap. As players started to fatigue, two crucial free-kicks were given away by the Bulldogs which gifted Boyup Brook’s Michael Mcleod and Gray Cowan easy goals. The crowd held their breath with just a few minutes remaining, as every single contest and effort could potentially decide the game. It felt like the Roos had the momentum in their favour and luckily for them, Johnston missed a set shot from the boundary and his fellow forward Jordan Jupp came from the ground after a big collision. With just two minutes to go the ball found itself in the Roos’ forward half but a free-kick to Bulldogs ruckman Conor McCamish in defence all but sealed the game. One last goal from Wilson and the siren blared, with Bulldogs players, coaches, friends and fans storming the field to celebrate one of the most magnificent premierships and seasons in the club’s history with a final score of 12.10 (82) to 9.9 (63). Following in the footsteps of his brother Kyle in 2019, Brett Wilson was named the Harvey Giblett medallist for best on ground in the grand final. After the game, Bridgetown coach Ray Masters described the win as an “absolutely out of this world feeling”. “We did it the hard way and all credit to Boyup Brook, they never gave in ... they kept coming and coming at us but we managed to find a way,” he said. Despite coming close on a number of occasions throughout the years, this was the first time Bridgetown had won back-to-back league premierships.