Busselton and Bunbury will both be aiming to end a long drought during SWFL reserves grand final

Regardless of which team stands on the dais after the grand final, one of the SWFL reserves competition’s longest premiership droughts will be broken on Sunday. Busselton last held the flag in 2000 after beating Carey Park, and came agonisingly close to glory against reserves juggernaut Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault in 2019 when they lost in extra time. The Bulldogs have not featured in the final fixture since their 2007 loss to South Bunbury and have not been premiers since they beat Collie Eagles in 2005. WATCH PIES AND DOGS LIVE AND ON DEMAND FROM SUNDAY Bunbury coach Mark Docking said his side were ready to play in a grand final again. “We are pretty excited and really looking forward to the challenge,” Docking said. Busselton finished third on the ladder but won two of their three games against the men in yellow and black this year. The two sides last met in the qualifying final in a disappointing match for the Bulldogs, who finished the season second on the ladder. Bunbury only managed one goal for the day as Busselton ran away with a 6.11 (47) to 1.6 (12) win. Hands Memorial Oval will play host to a sea of black and white after Busselton secured spots in all three grand finals at the South west’s home of football on Sunday. Docking said the Bulldogs could not get overawed by the crowd. “We are certainly confident, but we go in with a lot of respect for Busselton,” Docking said. “They are a very strong club and have all grades in (finals) . . . they could throw anything at us. “We can’t control what they (the crowd) do or what they bring, we just have to focus on ourselves and make sure we come ready to go.” Docking said the match-up should make for an even contest and a high-scoring affair. “We are both pretty strong through the midfield and both have some pretty dangerous forwards that, on any given day, can kick a good score,” he said.