Bulldogs hungry for another reserves premiership in Mugambwa's farewell

SOUTH Fremantle has been the dominant reserves team all season and now coach Tony Walters is looking to finish the job in Sunday's grand final against Swan Districts in what will be Paul Mugambwa's final game with the Bulldogs.

South Fremantle's league team might have not made the finals since 2011, but the reserves have again delivered an outstanding 2015 season to have a chance of winning a second premiership in three years with Walters as coach.

The Bulldogs finished the home and away season with an 18-2 record to be four games clear as minor premiers earning them a break in the first week of the finals ahead of a second semi-final against Subiaco.

That saw South Fremantle come away with a commanding 47-point victory to move straight into the grand final while Subiaco and Swan Districts did battle in the preliminary final last Sunday at HBF Arena.

It was Swans who proved too good for the Lions winning by 61 points to now set up Sunday's grand final at Domain Stadium.

Walters can't fault the Bulldogs' preparation with them having won eight straight games since losing to Swan Districts in Round 14, and he's looking forward to them performing in the grand final.

"The second semi was good. I thought we got off to a fantastic start, we played really well as a team and I thought our pressure especially on Subi was really good early. That resulted in some goals and from there we held our own for the rest of the game, and played some good footy," Walters said.

"It would have been good to keep playing, but winning form is good form and we were happy with the break because we had some sore boys after the Subi game. We have had three pretty hard training sessions since then and now we'll lighten off a little and get them ready for Sunday."

The only problem for Walters coming into the grand final is now at the selection table with one position opened up from the second semi-final with ruckman Josh Branchi going out injured, but Matthew Gundry, Kaiden Matera, Bailey Matera, Brad McPhail, Steve Mills, Noah Strom, Jakeb Tartaglia and Dom Warrell are all in the mix to come back in.

"I think we've got our best side available apart from Branchi who won't play. He fractured his finger in the second semi but other than him we have 30 blokes who are fit and available, and raring to go," he said.

"It's really tough and I'm pretty close to most of the guys so picking that final 22nd or 23rd player isn’t fun. There's probably six guys who could go into those two spots but I've got to pick a team to represent the footy club, and hopefully win a game of footy.

"You wouldn’t be human, though, if you didn’t care and I'll have a few nervous sleeps before picking the final team. There could be one, two or three guys who have played most of the year who might miss out but we'll have to wait and see."

The other fascinating aspect of the grand final is the fact that Mugambwa's career with South Fremantle will come to an end with him captaining the Bulldogs.

The 34-year-old has had a remarkable career since making his league debut in 2005 filling up a larger highlights tape than perhaps any player in recent history, while also being a remarkable player at chasing, tackling and pressuring the opposition.

Walters is now glad to be giving him the chance of a memorable end to his career that included 143 league games at South Fremantle.

"He has been fantastic. I think he's really enjoying it and it's pretty well known that he's just got his final game to go and he is pretty excited to captain what will hopefully be a winning side on the day," Walters said.

"It's great for the footy club that I would say 60 or 70 per cent of the side are going to be 50 or 100-game league players going forward.

"I think that's what is exciting not just for this weekend but moving forward and hopefully they can grow as men on the day in the grand final, show their footy skills and help us get the right result."