SWFL 2022: Finals berth on the line for Harvey Bulls ahead of crucial clash with Busselton Magpies

With one last shot at securing a SWFL finals berth this weekend, it will be do or die for the Harvey Bulls.

The Bulls are set to travel down to Bovell Park this Saturday, where they will take on the Busselton Magpies in the final round of the 2022 home and away season.

For Harvey, fifth on the ladder with a 8-9 record, it will be one last chance to secure their first finals berth since 2017.

After a record 104-point win over Carey Park last weekend, the Bulls will need to back up their dominant performance with another win and hold off the Eaton Boomers and Donnybrook.

Harvey Bulls head coach Mark Pink said the squad knew they had to win last weekend and would need to try and secure a win once again this weekend.

“Even before last weekend, we knew we had to win,” he said.

“We didn’t really focus on percentage because percentage may well not come into play and it looks like that is going to be the case again this week.

“It is documented that (Busselton) have lost to Donnybrook and Eaton in previous rounds and we’ve beaten both of those competitors, so we’re going in reasonably confident.”

Pink said while the squad was excited about the prospect of playing in the finals for the first time since 2017, the players would need to control their own destiny and get there first.

“As far as we’re concerned we need to win because Donnybrook can make up the percentage and Eaton probably should beat HBL, so if either of those are the case, we’re out,” he said.

“We’re all pretty excited.

“We believe if we win on the weekend, we can cause a bit of damage but we’ve got to get there first.

“We’ve enjoyed the journey this year but hopefully we’ve still got a few more games to go.”

Meanwhile, Busselton will be looking to end their regular season on a high before turning their attention to next weekend’s elimination final.

The Magpies are fourth on the ladder with a 11-6 record and will be keen to bounce back from their 13.6 (84) to 9.16 (70) loss to Eaton Boomers last weekend.

As it stands, Busselton are in a prime position to make their third consecutive finals appearance to avenge their heart-breaking 2021 grand final loss, but have missed out on avoiding elimination final status after previously finishing in second on the ladder last year and in 2020.

The Magpies and the Bulls last met in round 11, where Busselton pulled off a convincing 10.14 (74) to 5.4 (34) win over Harvey at Harvey Oval.