The Busselton colts team didn’t make the same mistake twice as it romped to a dominant 47-point win over Augusta Margaret River to qualify for the grand final next week.
It was the second time in the space of three weeks the Magpies had travelled to Hands Oval to take on Augusta-Margaret River and they were hoping to put in a stronger effort than the 28-point defeat they suffered in the qualifying final.
It was pivotal for Busselton to start strongly but it was Augusta-Margaret River that fired the first shot of the game, with Cody Rodgers slotting his first before a long-range set shot from Alistair Wood somehow cleared the pack at the edge of the goal square and bounced through.
However, going behind early seemed to fire the Magpies up as they kicked three of the next four goals in the quarter, including a nice dribbler from tight in the pocket by Joshua Lee, to go ahead by two points.
Hawk Charlie Wrigglesworth had a chance to take back the lead after the siren but missed the set shot, with the Magpies reaction sparking a wrestle between the teams during the break.
With the intensity going up a notch in the second quarter, the Magpies were more determined to win and it showed.
They kicked the first four goals of the term to take control of the match.
The Hawks showed moments of poor discipline throughout the term, while the Magpies’ key forwards began clunking a number of big-pack marks and eventually took a five-goal lead into half time.
Within 30 seconds of play restarting Rodgers slotted his second, before Jake Davis kicked the Hawks’ second straight to make the game interesting.
But Busselton weathered the challenge and responded with two of their own before a late goal from Davis brought the margin to four goals at the final change.
With the game on the line, Lee stood up and made sure the Magpies would be playing next week with a three-goal last quarter.
The Hawks were blown out of the water and found themselves almost nine goals down before they were able to get forward and snag two late consolation goals.
Lee finished with four goals for the Magpies, while Luca Kiefer and Ryley Broadbent chipped in with two apiece.
The win means Busselton will now travel to Hands Oval again this weekend to take on Bunbury in the 2018 South West Football League colts grand final.
Bunbury booked its place in the decider the previous week with a three-goal win over Augusta-Margaret River in Donnybrook.
Busselton and Bunbury played each other twice during the season with both teams claiming a win.
Eaton Boomers moved through to the reserves grand final with a 12.13.85 to 4.3.27 win over Carey Park.
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