Family ties for Bunbury coach in big derby clash

Aside from having the responsibility of plotting the downfall of reigning premiers South Bunbury on Saturday at Hands Oval, Bunbury women’s coach Glenn Obal is also faced with another dilemma. How to quell the influence of daughter Maddy who is an integral part of the Tigers line-up. “She has already been talking to her mother,” he said. “Worried that her dad may be up to no good on Saturday. But I have got more than her to worry about in the game I think.” Obal believes although both clubs have a lengthy rivalry, they share common ground in the women’s competition. “They remind me very much about what Bunbury were like when the competition started,” he said. “They are professional, they seem like they want to be there playing, along with the fact they have more than one good player on every line.” Like the Tigers, the Bulldogs enter Saturday’s derby unbeaten, on the back of a hard-fought victory against the Eaton Boomers, which was played in atrocious conditions. “I was impressed,” Obal said. “As I said to them afterwards, it was a wet day, but I was still impressed that they tried to play dry weather football. “They tried to share the ball through handball, so hopefully in drier conditions that will be able to pay off. “Getting it down to Courtney (Bayliss) was also the plan as well, while having a few around her.” Obal will need big games from Ruby Mahony and Carly Allen, who is hopeful to play despite a nagging knee issue. At Glen Huon Reserve, an impressive Busselton will aim to remain unbeaten when they take on the hard-working Eaton Boomers. Although they do not have a win to show for their efforts, Boomers coach Craig Bourne appears to have instilled a tremendous amount of belief in his group. Having said that, they will have to be at their very best to match it with the Magpies, who breezed past Carey Park in the second half last week. The Harvey Bulls will travel to Kelly Park and face off against the Panthers. Bulls coach Adrian Kirk is likely to benefit from the return of several star players, who played WAFLW reserves last week.