SWFL men’s: South Bunbury coach Julian Burgess wants his team to stay grounded amid brilliant start to season

South Bunbury coach Julian Burgess says keeping his team grounded is his main focus amid their sensational start to the South West Football League season. After crashing out at the preliminary final stage last year, the new-look Tigers have started their 2024 campaign in an utterly dominant fashion, providing another showcase of their quality with a 92-point demolition of then second-placed Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault at Brunswick Oval on Sunday. They sit two wins clear on top of the ladder, having not yet lost a game and winning seven of their nine contests by a margin of at least 10 goals. Speaking after his side’s big win over the Lions, Burgess said he had been pleased with the attitude of his charges but he wanted to see them maintain their hunger. “From week to week, we’ll keep challenging them. We don’t want to be cocky,” he said. “I’ve got to keep challenging them to get better. That’s my challenge as a coach.” South Bunbury are the last of the competition’s 11 clubs to have a bye, with Saturday’s clash with Eaton marking their 10th consecutive game before they enjoy a weekend off. Burgess said he had been happy for his side to keep up their momentum through the early stages of the season. “A few of the old blokes are ready for a break, (Shaun) Crane, (Jace) Cormack, Tom Gorter,” he said. “Those guys that have been holding us up all year, they deserve a break. It’s probably come at a good time.” Mitch Bain, who joined from Swan Districts over the summer, enjoyed his best game for the club in the weekend’s big win, kicking three goals and being awarded the match ball for the best player afield as part of Think Mental Health round. Burgess hailed the influence of Bain, who won the Prendegrast Medal for the fairest and best player in the WAFL reserves last season, as “awesome”. “We really wanted that inside player to come to the club, that’s why we actively went and got him,” he said. “He’s just a good bloke as well. The guys that we’ve got in, across the board, have been great for the club.”