SWFL men’s: Donnybrook through to semifinal with 72-point elimination final win over Augusta-Margaret River

Donnybrook sailed through their first test of the South West Football League finals at Boyanup Oval on Saturday, ending Augusta-Margaret River’s season with a dominant 72-point elimination final victory. In front of their biggest crowd of the year at their adopted home ground, the Dons built a brilliant performance on the back of frantic defensive pressure, sending a message to the competition’s top three sides in an 18.10 (118) to 7.4 (46) smashing. But the win may have come at a cost, with young star Cooper Clarke-Dehring failing to feature in the second half because of an ankle concern, having already kicked four goals in the first. Veterans Jeff Smith (six goals) and Ben Howlett (four) proved the value of experience for the winners, with the pair defying their combined age of 77 to kick most of their side’s goals. Max Spyvee battled hard through the middle for the Hawks but lacked support, with Sam Perkusich and Jordan Falco strong around the ground for the hosts. Garry Moss returned the Hawks to the finals in his first year in charge but that was as far as they got in a streaky season. They had finished in fifth, despite runs of five and four consecutive wins through the middle stages of their campaign. The start of the game was marked by a succession of tough contests, but the Hawks took the physicality too far in giving two consecutive 50m penalties away, allowing Archer Coates to slot the opening goal of the day. Kicking with the wind, the Dons were dominating around the ground but struggled to find the major opening, with Coates’ goal the only one from their first six scoring shots. Late in the term, Clarke-Dehring announced his arrival on the finals stage, converting three set shots and celebrating in style after each to give his side a 28-point quarter-time lead. Will Cassidy started the second term by kicking the visitors’ opening major, but Howlett quickly responded, with a pair of late goals from Smith boosting Donnybrook’s half-time advantage to 40 points. The visitors attacked the second half with a renewed intensity but were hurt by their inability to find a target with the final kick of their offensive chains. At the other end, it was a case of no Clarke-Dehring, no worries for Smith, who slotted three of the Dons’ five majors in the third term to boost their advantage beyond 10 goals. After the hosts opened the final term with another four quick goals, the Hawks responded with four of their own, but the game proved too far gone.