Bulls grab grand final spot

The biggest upset of the WKFL season could not have come at a better time for the Bulls, who sent the Bidyadanga Emus home in straight sets to book their spot in the all-Broome grand final.

Despite finishing the home and away season undefeated and topping the 2019 ladder, the year came to a devastating end for the Emus in the preliminary final on Saturday, as Kurt Hunter booted a goal right before the siren to seal a five-point victory for the Bulls.

The Emus came out firing in the first quarter, with Isiah Stevens and Courtney Thomas both booting goals for the side.

Benjamin Daniels got one on the board for the Bulls, who trailed by four points at the first break.

The Bidyadanga side kept the pressure on in the second, despite an early goal from 50m out by Hunter, with Stevens and Angelo Thomas kicking goals to extend the lead to 10 points at half-time.

But the Bulls made their charge in the third quarter, with Aaron Hitchcock, Ben Sarsfield, Aidan Fraser and Hunter all booting consecutive goals to go into the final break with a comfortable 15-point advantage.

The battle to get into the grand final was on in the do-or-die final term, with Selwyn Hunter quick to get one on the board for the Emus, followed by another by Aaron Thomas.

Hundreds of community members watching at Haynes Oval were ecstatic as Stevens kicked a mammoth goal from 50m out to put the Emus in front by one point with just four minutes to go.

The Bulls failed to capitalise in front of goal in the final quarter, but all hearts stopped when Hunter took a mark from 40m out and lined up for a goal with a minute left on the clock.

The full-forward held his nerves and nailed the Bulls’ only goal of the quarter to book their spot in this weekend’s grand final and bring the Emus’ season to a crushing end.

Awaiting the Bulls on the grand stage are the Cable Beach Greenbacks, who also upset the Emus last week to qualify.

The town’s biggest sporting match of the year will be played at Haynes Oval on Saturday, with bouncedown at 2.30pm.

The two sides have clashed twice this season, with the Greenbacks dominating them in both meetings.