It took a few twists and turns to get here, and at quarter time in the Preliminary Final Imperials were looking set to crash the party and play a Grand Final at their home ground, but we have eventually arrived at a Retravision Manjimup Reserves Grand Final between the two sides that have led the way for most of the season. The teams that finished 1st and 2nd on the ladder have qualified for Saturday’s decider and will meet for the sixth time in a Reserves decider.
What can we expect in a game that could well be the hidden treasure of Grand Final day at the Manjimup Recreation Ground?
Head to Head
The teams have met on three occasions in 2025, with Deanmill coming out on top in two of them.
Round 2 – Deanmill 1.4.10 def. by Bridgetown 6.11.47
Round 15 – Bridgetown 7.3.45 def. by Deanmill 11.10.76
2nd Semi Final – Deanmill 8.6.54 def. Bridgetown 7.8.50
In a similar oddity to the Tyrepower Manjimup League match up, the sides spilt their regular season contests 1 – 1, with both teams winning away from home. While Deanmill hold an advantage in matches between the two sides, Bridgetown can take heart from being the only side to defeat Deanmill in 2025, as well as the close fought 2nd Semi Final at Rea Park. The margins have become closer with each match, from 37, to 31 and then the 4 point thriller in the 2nd Semi Final.
Big games at Reserves level can often come down to available personnel and Deanmill were missing several of their key players in the Round 2 clash, with Leading Goalkicker, Jonty East, selected for the League game that day, as well as 2024 Retravision Medal winner Jacob Henry, David Markotis, and Co-Captain Jack Kilrain all absent. For their part in the Round 15 reverse, Bridgetown were missing Captain, Mitch Baldock, as well as Retravison Medal Runner Up, Mitchell Clothier. With the sides closer to full strength in the 2nd Semi Final, we got an absolute cracker of a game. The 4 point margin ultimately came down to Deanmill’s strong first half and slightly higher efficiency in front of goal, with the Bulldogs actually having one more scoring shot for the day. At the first change, each side had three scores on the board, but the Hawks led 3.0.18 to 0.3.3.
History
The two teams meet for the sixth time in a Reserves Grand Final, with it being the fifth meeting in the last 11 years, going back to 2014. Previous to 2014, their only other decider was back in 1964.
Most recently, Bridgetown did the double over the Hawks in 2019 and 2021, either side of the COVID non season. Since 2021, one or the other of the pair has been present in every Reserves decider, but they have avoided each other until now.
Deanmill enter Saturday’s game looking to add to their 11 Reserves flags in the LSWFL, while Bridgetown will look to add one to their current collection of 9. Head to head in the previous five meetings, it’s the Bulldogs who have the edge, with a 3 – 2 record thanks to their success in 2015, 2019 and 2021.
‘Big Game’ Blair Fowler will be one to watch on Saturday. With seven goals in the 2024 Reserves Grand Final, Fowler claimed the Doc Ryan Medal. Flying a little under there radar however are his previous two 2nd Semi Final performances, with five goals this year against Bridgetown, matching his five goal performance in the same game last year against Kojonup. Put all your focus on Jonty East at your peril.
Photo Courtesy of Three Waters Digital
Key Players
Deanmill
Jonty East – only two players cracked the 20 goal mark in the Retravision Manjimup Reserves in 2025. East was not only one of them but kicked over 50 en route to the Leading Goalkicker title. Missed the Round 2 clash, before kicking 5 goals in the Round 15 win over the Bulldogs.
Blair Fowler – a fantastic foil for East in the forward line and capable of taking a game by the scruff of the neck himself. Was Best on Ground in the Hawks’ crushing 99 point Grand Final win last year and kicked 5 goals in the 2nd Semi Final win, when East was unusually quiet on the scoreboard. To beat this Hawks team, the Bulldogs will likely need to keep BOTH the key forwards somewhat under control.
Bodee Reeve – has played an almost even split between League and Reserves in 2025, as well as representing the region in the Great Southern Colts Carnival in June. His hard running off the wing often results in him creating danger at ground level around the goals.
Jacob Henry – the 2024 Retravision Medal winner once again had a superb season as one of the leading ruckmen in the competition. First use in the midfield is likely to be crucial in this game and Henry’s presence in the middle is a huge plus for the Hawks.
Travis Clark – another powerful runner at this level who loves to hit the scoreboard, averaging a goal a game throughout the season.
Bridgetown
Mitchell Clothier – class player who was a narrow Runner Up in the Retravision Medal, remarkably polling in all 8 games he played at Reserves level, with top votes in six of them.
Toby Ward – the quick and agile forward will be one to watch for the Deanmill defence, with Ward kicking 5 goals across his two clashes with the Hawks this season.
Connor McCamish – polled well in the Retravision Medal and could well be the key to limiting Henry’s impact on the game. Where McCamish is deployed will be a major point of interest when the teams line up on Saturday.
Mitch Baldock – amongst the Bulldogs’ best in almost every game he has played this season, the skipper will be crucial to Bridgetown ‘s ability to get on top in the midfield as they did in the 2nd half of the 2nd Semi Final and again in the Preliminary Final win over Imperials.
Thomas Clynch – took a couple of big grabs in the Preliminary Final and kicked a pair of important goals, including their first and only in the opening term when it looked like Imperials were set to take the game away.
Mitchell Clothier in action in the Round 15 Tyrepower Manjimup League clash against Deanmill. On Saturday, Clothier will be an important player as the Bulldogs aim to repeat their recent odd numbered year successes from 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Photo Courtesy of Mad Dog Moore Media.
The Big Questions
The day itself and Deanmill’s involvement in all three games. The ultimate intangible that can work in mysterious ways. With Deanmill having a very busy day ahead of them, what impact will it have on their Reserves? Will League selection impact player availability? Will the result of the Colts Grand Final impact the players’ head space as they head out to face the Bulldogs? Clubs with multiple teams in Grand Finals can be anything from inspired, to distracted, to deflated by their other teams’ presence and results on the day – how will Deanmill respond in 2025?
Deanmill’s Reserves record in recent years. Is it a positive aura, or a millstone? Did they shake the monkey off their back in 2024 or does it still linger? Last year Deanmill finished undefeated on top of the ladder, won the 2nd Semi Final by 45 points and the Grand Final by a record 99 point margin. Could hardly have been more emphatic. From 2018 to today however, Deanmill’s win / loss record in Reserves competition is 89 – 23. Five top placed finishes on the ladder including this year and twice in 3rd place across seven seasons. Last year it converted to a flag, comfortably. Domination of the competition across a solid period of time, but one that so far has ‘only’ been converted to a single premiership. Hawks’ fans will be hoping that the 2024 conversion is the start of translating regular season dominance into flags.
Will Hugh Mitchell play? From an individual availability perspective, it doesn’t get much bigger than a two time Tyrepower Medal winner and his potential presence for a Reserves Grand Final. Played in the Lower South West’s successful Country Championships campaign in 2025 and was a consistent performer yet again this season.
Who can put together four quarters? Bridgetown gave away a big scoreboard advantage in the 2nd Semi Final, before coming over the top and almost snatching the game in the final moments. In the Preliminary Final, the Bulldogs were 17 points behind early before they had registered a score, or even put together a threatening chain of possession. In the crucial Round 17 match with Kojonup, Bridgetown jumped out to a 19 point advantage at half time of a low scoring game, before Kojonup roared back into the contest in the second half and narrowed the Bulldogs’ lead to a point by the final siren. In Round 15, Bridgetown gave up a 29 point half time lead to Deanmill before the second half was a 5 goal apiece affair, with a 31 point final margin. Bridgetown will have to play at the level they have shown they are capable of for four quarters if they are to take down the powerful Hawks combination.
No chance of me trying to pick a winner for this one, but once again our guest writer for the Grand Final Program has been braver than me. My only tip for this game, is that for neutrals, this game could well be the surprise highlight of the day.
For all the latest scores, goal kickers and best players – the Lower South West Football League has it’s home on PlayHQ HERE.
