Cameron makes Hay to hand the Bunbury Bulldogs their first SWFL reserves premiership since 2005

Bunbury’s Cameron Hay is making a habit of standing up for his side in big games. The small forward — whose side won the SWFL reserves premiership at the weekend — was awarded the Don Punch MLA Trophy after a three-goal performance in the match, just one year after kicking four goals in Bunbury’s league victory in 2020. The 29-year-old played seven games in the reserves throughout the season and said his form had not been good enough to stay in the top side. “I probably needed it, my first few games were all right but I had dropped off through the season,” he said. “Every now and then you have to get dropped and find some form; it helped.” “I kicked a few more goals and got my confidence up.” Hay said he was honoured to win a flag for the club regardless of what team it was in. “It is just as good as a league premiership, the boys wanted this more than anyone else, and I am just so thrilled and so proud to be a part of it,” he said. The highlight of Hay’s game came when he won two forward 50 free kicks in as many minutes and converted both. He had the chance to make it three after the second goal when he received another shot from an indiscretion from Thomas Begley but missed. The three shots from Hay got the scores back to level and he said it swung the momentum in his side’s favour. “That was the turning point before half-time to get us back in to the game because we were down by two goals,” he said. Hay said he had been fortunate to play a big role in his club’s last two senior premierships. “I just take my opportunities when the arise, I don’t get many chances in league as a small forward, but when the time comes, that is when I shine,” he said. Hay said his purple-patch gave him “deja-vu” from last year’s grand final. “I was more focussed on getting us in front (at half time), but Ii was thinking in the back of my mind ‘hopefully I am on for a big game and another win’” Some of Hay’s teammates told him last year he was unlucky not to be a Pike Medalist after being named second best-on-ground. “A few of the boys said to me they thought I was in with a shot, but I wasn’t really thinking about it,” he said. “To get (best on ground) this year with the reserves means a lot,” he said. Hay said his league teammates had supported him in his absence from the number one side. “They backed me in 100 per cent coming back to the reserves, (they said) just back yourself, hold your head up high and things will go your way,” he said.