SWFL 2022: 10 memorable moments in 2022 for the Busselton Football Club

It was an unforgettable year for the Busselton and Dunsborough Sharks football clubs, with a number of memorable moments across all senior grades which left the Magpies faithful coming back for more. Here, Justin Fris takes a look at some of your club’s best moments. 1) Busselton women’s team winning the grand final under the guidance of Rennie Meadmore The fact Rennie Meadmore coached Busselton to a women’s premiership in her first season is impressive enough as it is — however when you factor in she became a mother for the first time during the season on top of it the achievement is even more significant. A great communicator, Meadmore was able to return to playing a few months into motherhood, which appeared to give her teammates an additional level of confidence. A few days after the grand final win, the Magpies coach confirmed she would coach again in 2023, with Katie-Jayne Grieve and Kate Fielding her assistant coaches. 2) The emergence of Dunsborough’s colts team as a genuine contender On the back of success in the juniors, many people expected the Sharks to hit the ground running in the colts competition. Sure enough, Paul Dean’s men gave their SWFL rivals plenty to think about, with an early season win over colts powerhouse Bunbury putting everyone on notice. A finals appearance in their first season was a massive tick and is likely to be built on next season. 3) Beth Beckett’s emergence as one of regional WA’s best female footballers Beckett had already achieved a lot in football before deciding to give WAFLW a crack with East Fremantle, however her inaugural season as a Shark was something to behold. A tenacious utility who is equally effective up forward or in the midfield, Beckett’s numbers (in particular disposals and tackles each game) were extremely consistent and a real asset for her team, who played Claremont in the grand final. Following her WAFLW commitments, the mother of two returned to Busselton and played a sterling role in the premiership victory. 4) Daniel Delaney’s commitment to building a dynasty at Sir Stewart Bovell Park He achieved success at colts level, and now Daniel Delaney is bringing this high level of excellence to the Magpies’ league team. Although a loss in the elimination final against the Harvey Bulls was a sad way to end a good season, the Magpies hit the ground running during the off-season, which no shortcuts being taken in a bid to return to the top of the SWFL’s premiership summit. 5) Mick Sherry’s support to younger teammates while on duty in the reserves A Hayward medallist, Sherry’s contribution to football in South West has been significant, therefore it is no surprise to learn about the positive things he has been able to achieve at the SWFL’s newest club. Although results were a bit of a mixed bag for the Dunsborough reserves, Sherry reminded everyone that he has lost little of his impressive skill level which has wowed fans for more than a decade. 6) Liam Creighton’s reputation as one of the SWFL’s most electric forwards Liam Creighton is the kind of player who is worth the price of admission alone. An electric talent who does not need a lot of space to make things happen, Creighton possesses not only a tremendous goal sense, but also an aerial ability which can take your breath away. 7) Katie-Jayne Grieve’s Nola Marino Medal-winning season. The former AFLW on-baller had an incredible year, peeling off 10 best-on-ground performances — a competition record. Aside from making positive decisions under pressure, Grieve led by example for her younger teammates, which played a massive role in the team reaching the grand final. 8) The emergence of Dunsborough’s inaugural league squad for 2023. Many believe the Sharks could be in for a challenging inaugural league season, however they have already taken steps to indicate that they are not there to make up the numbers. The acquisition of coach Daniel Wiseman — a former premiership-winning coach assistant under Julian Burgess — and former West Coast Eagles utility Patrick McGinnity is likely to get Sharks supporters up and about. 9) The continual improvement of several women’s team players. Although the depth of talent among the women’s team has never been questioned, a number of players built on their impressive skill-sets throughout the 2022 season. One of the biggest stand-outs was Shelby Atherton, who was a pillar of strength along the half back line — with a SWFL women’s team selection at Country Week a fitting reward for her hard work. Another player who never played a game was Katrina Shrewsbury, who is arguably one of the competition’s fittest midfielders. 10) Positive game day culture at Sir Stewart Bovell Park A committed club committee at the Pies has ensured a cohesive nature throughout all senior teams, which is regularly on display at all home games. Leading the way is the women’s team, who routinely all sit together as a group pre and post-game. Aside from this, all teams hang around for the after-match presentations, which has improved fellowship off-field.