Bush and ‘Burbs: Fremantle Dockers champion David Mundy inspires Dunsborough Sharks to historic SWFL victory

Age has seemingly not yet wearied David Mundy. The Fremantle games record-holder made his first football appearance in Western Australia since last year’s elimination final win. In his Dunsborough Sharks debut — 18 years after his Fremantle one — Mundy kicked a goal and brought that famous calm presence to an otherwise scrappy midfield affair. It inspired the Sharks to just their second senior victory — 8.7 (55) to 4.8 (32) over Eaton — half-way through their maiden season. “I was very nervous coming in, but I think that is good,” Mundy said post-game. “The boys really welcomed me, the club has really welcomed me and I had a great day. “The first year for the men in the South West footy league is significant for Dunsborough and this football club... to be part of that history now is significant for me. “I was just coming down to slot in, I didn’t want to be the big ticket, I just wanted to play my role and I thought I did that.” The landmark day for the newborn country club had the coastal town abuzz with a paying crowd of 1303 - plus more than 1000 kids - clambering for a view of the Dockers champion - including emerging West Coast star and Shark product Reuben Ginbey. Inarguably the biggest name to hit the league since Glen Jakovich in 2008, Mundy started forward on another famous WA footy name, former South Fremantle defender Ben Rioli. But it wasn’t long before his cool head and clean hands were called on at the coalface. Mundy was the go-to man at almost every stoppage he went to. As an inspired Sharks side stretched out to an early lead, the 37-year-old spent the bulk of the second term as the deep forward. That’s where his big moment came. Latching onto a misguided Eaton exit kick, Mundy shirked a set-shot from just outside 50, instead dancing round the man of the mark and unleashing from 40 to bring the brimming home crowd to their feet. It was met with a rousing reception, a chorus of car horns and the boyish cry of “kick another one, Mundy” from the crowd. “As soon as I marked it the crowd was getting into me to have a crack,” he said. “I almost got myself into trouble, I didn’t know what I was doing, it was nice it went through.” The dynamic Rioli’s footy nous was backed in against the star attraction and he won the ground-ball battle, which meant the Sharks’ service had to be spot on. Former Eagle Pat McGinnity — Dunsborough’s captain for the day — was their best in midfield as they built an advantage on-ball. Then the man of the hour turned it on in the last. With a 10-point advantage at the final turn, Mundy lifted and his teammates went with him. A set-shot mid-way through the final term could have been the sealer. His booming inside-50 which eventually finished with Shark Cameron Dean was. Then protecting a lead he swung behind the ball, delivered trademark pin-point handballs and watched as Darcy Reader and Chris White’s third major put the cherry on it. As for whether it will be a one-and-done appearance in blue, Mundy says: “never say never”.