Magpies fall short

Busselton Football Club could be short of big men to match up on South Bunbury’s tall targets this Sunday.

The Magpies are aiming for their sixth straight win as the competition resumes after a two-week break, but face a testing road trip against the third-placed Tigers.

Busselton coach Greg Hodson said they were waiting for a fitness test on tall defenders Lance Lucas (hamstring) and Joe Budiselik (ankle). This could make it difficult to cover South Bunbury’s threatening forward line led by Brynn Francis, Hodson said.

“They’ve got three good tall forward players and a really good midfield as well, ” he said.

“We’re not going to go in super defensive but we need to make sure our match-ups are right.

“With Joe Budiselik and Lance Lucas being tall defenders for us it makes it hard if those two are not going to come up.”

Busselton will be without captain Daniel McGinlay for the match after he was selected in the WA Country Football League State team to take on South Australia.

Defender Brad Kearney will also be missing with concussion, while forward Dave Whitehead has yet to recover from a hamstring injury.

But the Magpies gain onballer Damian Lee, forward Aidan Fraser and young gun Mason Hislop.

The Tigers won by 19 points last time the sides met, but Hodson said that wasn’t a big factor in Busselton’s preparation.

“They were always going to be a top three or four side, ” he said.

“But we’re in good form, there’s no denying it.

“We need to get out of the blocks early and make them worry about us.“Hands Oval is where all the finals are played and we need to be able to play good footy there.”

The Magpies are fourth on the ladder and after South Bunbury they take on Donnybrook, Eaton and Bunbury in the next month.

Hodson said it was important they knock off one of the three big Bunbury sides to shore up their finals spot.

The bounce is at 2.30pm.

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