The road to the 2016 SWFL grand final | photos

Both sides have been brilliant this year and in very different ways. 

Here is a look back at how they got to this point and our predictions for this weekend. 

The sides have met three times this year and split the points two games to one. 

The first encounter was round three with South Bunbury kicking five goals to one in the opening term.

They continued to dominant the contests and added eight goals to two in the second half to lead 13.5.83 to 3.3.21 at the main break. 

Collie kicked back a bit in the third term to trim the margin by two goals but the damage had already been done. 

By the final siren, the Tigers had secured the points 16.13.109 to 9.8.62. 

Goal Kickers: South Bunbury: L. Kohlmann 3, A. Tsalikis 2, D. Stein 2, J. Deschamp 2, R. Bennell 2, J. Wilson 2, C. Andrew, D. Bull, M. Thompson. Collie: J. Rodgers 4, C. Griggs 2, J. Miller, C. Garlett, O. Coffin

The pair then met over the hill in round 12 and again it was South Bunbury who took the win. 

The Tigers got off to a good start, kicking the only two majors of the term. 

In wet and windy conditions, the Eagle fought their way back into the contest well to trail 3.6.24 to 2.5.17 at half time. 

South Bunbury added two goals in the third term while the Eagles struggled for accuracy in front of goal. 

A solid last term got the Tigers home 8.6.54 to 4.12.36. 

Goal Kickers: South Bunbury: G. Piggott 4, L. Kohlmann 2, A. Tsalikis, K. Cadman. Collie: C. Davidson, J. Rodgers, P. Rinder, R. Saunders.

South Bunbury finished the season on top of the ladder and had a rest in the first week of the finals. 

Meanwhile Collie took on HBL and upset the Lions by three points to go through to a semi final clash with the Tigers. 

Jayce Fontana kicked the first goal of the game for Collie after being awarded a 50 metre penalty and his teammate Michael Florio quickly made it two.

Anthony Tsalikis kicked the first goal of the second term for the Tigers before Collie piled on four straight – two to Adam Bignell and one each to Jarrod Miller and Paul Rinder.

Things got worse for the Tigers when Kyle Hams was sent off with a yellow card and Mason Hislop was stretchered off to an ambulance with a leg injury.

A third goal to Bignell saw the half time score favour Collie 8.4.52 to 3.5.23.

Collie picked right back up where they left off in the third, adding goals from the boots of Travis Cleggett and Miller for his second.

At the final change the Eagles led 12.5.77 to 7.8.50.

Fontana kicked the first goal of the last term for Collie on the back of a 50 metre penalty for being slung to the ground after taking a strong overhead mark.

Kohlmann kicked his second and Jack Deschamp got onto the goal kickers list but it was too little too late for South Bunbury.

At the final siren, Collie led 13.8.86 to 10.11.71 to book their place in the decider.

Goalkickers: South Bunbury:  A. Tsalikis 2, D. Wilkinson 2, L. Kohlmann 2, J. Deschamp, G. Piggott, L. Dower, D. Harper. Collie: A. Bignell 3, J. Miller 3, J. Fontana 2, T. Cleggett, B. Shanahan, P. Rinder, M. Florio, C. Griggs.

Both teams lost their last grand final appearance – Collie in 2013 and South Bunbury in 2014 – and will be keen to atone. 

Collie got under the Tigers guard a fortnight ago with a fast start and plenty of pressure. But something tells me South Bunbury won’t make the same mistake twice. 

With the home ground advantage and a number of players with experience and cool heads, I’m tipping the Tigers but I think this game will be very close. 

South Bunbury by 9 points.