SWFL 2023: AMR keen to build winning streak, Busselton to celebrate stalwart’s huge milestone

Like many coaches, Augusta-Margaret River coach Matt Jamieson has to do a bit of juggling at this time of year.

With injuries, work and personal commitments, squads need to adapt. However Jamieson is confident the Hawks will be able to extend their winning streak against Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault on Saturday at Gloucester Park.

“Losing Beau (Morgan) just before the game against Collie Eagles on Sunday and having three guys double up? It probably wasn’t ideal — due to it being the weekend of the GTM festival, FIFO rosters and injuries,” he said.

“We’ve been hit a little bit harder than we would’ve liked at this time of year, but that’s footy.

“HBL have obviously been a little bit unlucky with some of their results. They have been in a lot of games and lost a few tight ones.

“They will obviously be hard opposition on the weekend, however we love playing against them.”

The Hawks and Lions share one of the biggest club friendships across the SWFL, with both clubs always going above and beyond with fellowship when playing away from home.

Meanwhile at Sir Stewart Bovell Park, Busselton will be looking to celebrate a huge milestone in style when they host South Bunbury.

Busselton stalwart Jackson Arbon will run out for his 200th league game as the Magpies look to extend their undefeated streak to a seventh win.

Since starting out with the Rovers in the Busselton District Junior Football Association in 2008 and then getting into the South West Junior Football League the following year, Arbon has enjoyed a long-standing career with the Magpies.

Arbon got a taste of football at league level in 2010 while he was still playing colts and junior matches, going on to become a mainstay for the club.

He also enjoyed a stint in the WAFL, playing 14 games for East Perth colts, as well as several South West representative team appearances over the years.

It comes following the Magpies’ dominant performance against Harvey Bulls last weekend, brushing the Bulls aside by 72 points in the wet to record their sixth straight win for the season.

South Bunbury are set to return from a bye and will likely step up to the challenge set by Busselton after pulling off convincing victories over Eaton, Dunsborough and Carey Park in recent weeks.

On Sunday, Carey Park will be looking to shake off last weekend’s three-point loss to Donnybrook and show plenty of resilience when they host Dunsborough at Kelly Park.

While the Panthers put up a valiant effort at VC Mitchell Park and led for most of the contest, they were put under pressure when the Dons turned it around and stormed home.

Although the Panthers sit in fifth place on the ladder with a 4-2 record and Dunsborough sit in eighth place, the Sharks simply cannot be counted out.

The competition’s newest team has certainly made people sit up and take notice in recent weeks on the back of a 76-point win over Collie in round five and drawing level with Bunbury last weekend.

An upset victory over Carey Park would see Dunsborough starting to take big scalps in the competition.

Meanwhile, Bunbury will be keen to continue building form when they travel to Glen Huon Reserve to take on Eaton, who are chasing their second win of the season after pulling off a thrilling 8.13 (61) to 8.11 (59) win over HBL last weekend.