Thanks for joining us for the Bunbury Mail's live coverage of what was an exciting day for WA football fans.
WAFL heavyweights Swan Districts and East Perth played out a first-versus-third clash at Bunbury's Hands Oval and we were there with live updates and photos of all the action. See how it unfolded below.
6pm: East Perth celebrate their win with a rousing rendition of their club song in the changerooms after the match and posted the video to their Facebook page.
You can watch it below but be warned as there is some strong language in this one.
5:05pm: East Perth's win means they move a game clear on top of the WAFL ladder from Subiaco who had the bye in Round 20.
Swan Districts miss out on a chance to draw level with Subiaco and are now only a game clear of fourth-placed East Fremantle.
East Fremantle 9.11 (65) accounted for West Perth 7.6 (48) which ended the Falcons' hope of playing finals football this season.
Claremont kept their chances of a finals four spot mathematically alive with a 17.8 (110) to 10.13 (73) win against Perth but would need to win all three of their remaining games, hope East Fremantle lose their two remaining games and make up 16 percentage points to make it.
The other game of the round was a thriller with South Fremantle pipping Peel Thunder by a solitary point - 13.17 (95) to 14.10 (94).
4:45pm: The officials disagree with our footy writer though, handing out the Terry Waldron best-on-ground trophy to East Perth's Brendan Lee who is a former Busselton Magpies and Essendon Football Club player.
4:39pm: The final siren sounds and it's a comprehensive win for East Perth 14.22 (106) to 11.5 (71).
Bunbury Mail football writer Justin Rake gives Callum Sinclair the three votes as his best on ground for a dominant display in the ruck for East Perth.
His team mate Brendan Lee, who was the leading possession-winner on the ground with 31, gets two votes while Swan District's best player Graham Jetta who had with 27 disposals, including 23 kicks, gets one vote.
4:37pm: Dylan Main ices the game for East Perth with his first of the day, which extends the Royals lead to exactly 40 points at the 27 minute mark of the final term.
4:34pm: Another goal for Swan Districts through Jesse Manton but it's too little, too late for the Swans with East Perth still holding a comfortable 34 points lead.
It could be a lot more as well if the Royals had kicked straight with East Perth booting 13.21 so far. Joshua Smith has been the main culprit with just three goals from eight scoring shots.
4:28pm: Swan Districts got a glimmer of hope with a second goal from Matthew Rogers but it was immediately snuffed out by East Perth with a reply from Joshua Smith.
That is Smith's third goal of the day and he's the equal top scorer along with team mate Will Maginness who also has three.
4:20pm: Andrew Elstermann has been taking video from today's game and we've put together some of his clips in to a short package for you.
Have a watch of the VIDEO below:
4:17pm: Will Maginness kicks another goal to effectively seal the match for East Perth. That is his third major for the day.
East Perth's Brendon Lee has been the leading ball-winner on the ground so far with 28 possessions followed by team mate Jacob Brennan with 25 and Graham Jetta for Swan Districts with 24.
4:15pm: A goal from Tony Notte reduces the deficit for Swan Districts but East Perth have a 29-point lead and it seems a tall order for the Swans to win from here.
4:10pm: Two quick goals to East Perth to Will Maginness and Callum Sinclair in the final term looks to have killed the game off.
West Coast Eagle-listed Sinclair has been the dominant ruckman on the park today with 25 hitouts. The next best is Nathan Blakely with 10.
4:05pm: At three quarter time East Perth lead Swan Districts 9.14 (68) to 7.4 (46). Our football writer Justin Rake reports that East Perth took control of the game in that quarter and have a comfortable lead heading in to the last term.
He says Josh Smith and Fraser McInness are working well up forward for the Royals.
3:53pm: The goals seem to have dried up in this game although it's not because of a lack of trying from East Perth. They have kicked 2.5 since halftime and lead by 11 points 20 minutes in to the third quarter.
The score currently is East Perth 8.14 (62) leading Swan Districts 7.3 (45).
3:41pm: We're back underway in the second half here and both sides have kicked an early goal in the third term.
Ricky Cary boots his second of the day for Swan Districts while Joshua Smith becomes the first multiple goalscorer for the Royals.
3:15pm: At halftime Swan Districts trail East Perth by seven points with the score unchanged from our previous update.
Former Busselton Magpie Mitchell Howlett (11 possessions) and Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (8 kicks, three marks and a goal) have been good for East Perth while Graham Jetta (17 possessions), Kirk Ugle (11 possessions) and Jarrad Blight (11 possessions and a goal) have been the standouts for Swan Districts.
3:05pm: East Perth have had the better of the play in the second quarter but their inaccuracy is hurting them with 10 shots on goal for only three majors to Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, Paul Johnson and Will Maginness.
This saw them them open up a 13 point lead over Swan Districts at the 24 minute mark of the second term however, they were immediately pegged back a couple of minutes later.
Swan Districts on the other hand have had just five scoring shots but three of them have been goals to Jarrad Blight, Ryan Davis and Matthew Rogers.
The score at the 29 minute mark of the second quarter is East Perth 6.9 (45) to Swan Districts 6.2 (38).
3pm: Bunbury Mail journalist Andrew Elstermann has taken this video of Swan Districts fans in the crowd before the match ready to cheer their team on the victory.
Have a watch below.
2:45pm: East Perth have had an inaccurate start to the second quarter, kicking four straight behinds before Paul Johnson was able to kick truly to extend their lead.
Former Busselton Magpies player and Essendon draftee Brendon Lee is starting to influence the game and is now the Royals leading possession winner with 11 disposals.
2:39pm: There's no further score and so East Perth hold a one point advantage at quarter time. Brant Colledge, Fraser McInness and Joshua Smith hit the scoreboard for the Royals while there were goals to Aidan Anderson (2) and Ricky Cary for Swans.
Bunbury Mail football writer Justin Rake reports that it's impossible to pick a winner at this point.
He also says local Carey Park boy Graham Jetta is finding plenty of the football for Swan Districts. He has 9 possessions so far - six kicks and three handpasses.
2:34pm: A goal from Joshua Smith gives East Perth the lead by a point at the 26 minute mark of the first quarter.
Justin Simpson for Swan Districts is still the leading possession winner on the ground with 11 disposals while Craig Wulff and Jacob Brennan have six each for the Royals.
2:26pm: Nearing the end of the first quarter and Swan Districts lead 3.0 (18) to 2.1 (13). Aidan Anderson is the only multiple goalscorer so far Swans with two majors.
2:18pm: It hasn't taken long for East Perth to get up and running with West Coast Eagles-listed player Brant Colledge getting their opener and fellow Eagles squad member Fraser McInness kicking their second goal shortly afterwards. Scores are level at the 12 minute mark of the opening term.
2:15pm: Make that two! Swan Districts have kicked the opening two goals of the game through Aidan Anderson to take an early lead in the match. Justin Simpson from Swan Districts is the dominant force early in the game with seven possessions in the first 10 minutes.
2:10pm: Swan Districts have kicked the opening goal of the game to take an early lead.
2:05pm: And we have bouncedown in the WAFL clash in Bunbury. Stay tuned to this page for score and play updates every 10-15 minutes.
2:03pm: East Perth have won the toss and will kick to the Southern end of the ground.
Bunbury Mail football writer Justin Rake is tipping East Perth to win this match by 22 point but we want to know who you think will win? Vote in our poll below.
2pm: Bouncedown is not far away and Bunbury Mail football writer Justin Rake reports there is a crowd of about 650 people at Hands Oval for the match.
He says the atmosphere is pretty loud and all the fans seem excited to watch WAFL football in Bunbury.
1:45pm: South Bunbury have trounced Donnybrook who failed to register a score after halftime. The final score was 25.21 (171) to 1.0 (6) in the Tigers favour.
We're now only 20 minutes away from the bouncedown in the WAFL match between Swan Districts and East Perth.
1:30pm: The entry fee for the WAFL match today is $15 for anyone interested in going down to watch.
1:10pm: South Bunbury have extended their lead against Donnybrook in the reserves match at three quarter time, booting six unanswered goals.
The score now is South Bunbury 17.13 (116) to Donnybrook 1.0 (6).
12:45pm: It's halftime in the reserves match between South Bunbury and Donnybrook. The Tigers are comfortably in control of the match and lead the Dons 11.9 (75) to 1.0 (6).
So far there's a crowd of about 250-300 people at Hands Oval and our journalist on the scene, Andrew Elstermann, is reporting it's perfect weather for football with the main game of the day between Swan Districts and East Perth set to kick off in around an hour and a half.
12.40pm: The final scores are through for the first game of the day with the South Bunbury colts side defeating Donnybrook 21.18.144 to 2.4.16.
12.30pm: A huge crowd is expected at the recently redeveloped ground for the contest with a number of former South West players lining up.
The crowd will also have the opportunity to meet home-grown Olympic BMX rider Lauren Reynolds who will be signing autographs.
Last week, WAFL manager Cameron Knapton said the WAFL was looking forward to the game in Bunbury as part of an ongoing commitment to taking games to regional areas.
“Football is crucial to the social fabric of our communities, particularly in regional areas and the WAFL is committed to taking high quality games to the country to ensure this continues,” he said.
“We also hope these games inspire another talented young players to pursue the game at the highest level.
“Thanks must go to the South West Football League for their efforts in organising the games at a local level.”
SWFL general manager John Vidos said the league was looking forward to the game and hosting two clubs that have strong connections with the local competition.
“The link between Bunbury and Swan Districts goes back more than 40 years while East Perth has very strong connections with the Busselton and Augusta-Margaret River clubs,” he said.
“Former Swans players from the South West include stars such as Mick Grasso, Peter Old and Brad Shine along with current players Kirk Ugle, Graham Jetta and Connor Blakely.
“East Perth captain Brendan Lee is from Busselton while Kyle Anderson and Stephen Payne are both from Margaret River.
“It will certainly be great to see all of these players back in action in the South West.”
The game kicks off at 2.30pm and will be followed by South Bunbury and Donnybrook contesting the inaugural Manea Cup.
