SWFL women’s: Bunbury coach Stephen Bilcich says little will change for Bulldogs in lead-up to grand final

Bunbury coach Stephen Bilcich says little will change for his side as they head into the South West Football League women’s grand final against Busselton at Hands Oval on Sunday. The Bulldogs have been the competition’s form side in the back half of the season, having tasted defeat only once since June and winning their two finals by a combined margin of 111 points. Bilcich said he had been happy with how his side had improved over the course of the season and he would look to keep things largely the same for the season decider. “We won’t try to change too much, I wouldn’t think. We’ll try to keep everything fairly simple for everyone,” he said. “We’ve been at a pretty good level for quite a while. The team’s been pretty stable, which always helps. I think everyone’s fairly comfortable with where we’re at. “We’re expecting it’ll be a tough contest, especially after watching the prelim on the weekend, both teams looked pretty good.” Bunbury smashed the Magpies by 70 points in the first qualifying final earlier this month and got over the same side in last year’s season decider, but Bilcich said his message to his side would have nothing to do with past glories. “I don’t really look back on that stuff,” he said. “I’m still trying to work out where I’m going to head in regards to (the message). “I’ll just try to keep us all on the same page and not let us get ahead of ourselves and not be too distracted with other outside noise.” The Bulldogs were massively bolstered mid-season by Poppy Stockwell joining the club fresh off an impressive season with WAFLW club South Fremantle which saw her emerge as a potential AFLW prospect. Bilcich said the 20-year-old — who has also represented WA as a cricketer — was a coach’s dream. “That was one out of the blue for us, it wasn’t like we were chasing anybody,” he said. “She’s a friend of Kloe Bassett’s and was looking for a game and we had room in our points because everyone’s a local player. “She’s been very quiet, unassuming, but it’s been a very smooth transition into our side, that’s for sure.” As well as Stockwell, Bilcich’s daughter Ebony has also returned to local level since the conclusion of her State league duties, with Bilcich saying coaching her was a dream come true. “It’s been one of my goals, to coach Ebony, not just tell her what she’s doing right and wrong as a dad,” he said. “She’s like the other girls, does what you tell her, so she’s great.”