South West’s bid for a third straight Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Championships division one title fell just short on Sunday, but an unbeaten run through the qualifying rounds showed why the defending champions were again among the State’s best country football teams.

South West booked their place in the grand final with four consecutive wins, overcoming Peel, Avon, Goldfields and Great Southern before eventually finishing runners-up after their grand final loss to Peel.

The campaign began with a hard-fought 11-point victory over Peel at Lane Group Stadium on Friday.

Despite dominating much of the opening half, South West had to weather repeated challenges before goals from Caleb Stephens, Liam Creighton, Robbie Turnbull and Baiden Parsons secured the win.

Stephens’ influential performance earned him best-on-ground honours.

The defending champions backed that up with a spirited come-from-behind victory over Avon.

Trailing by 11 points at half-time, the South West responded immediately after the break with goals to Turnbull, Creighton and Zac Trigwell before holding on for an important win to remain unbeaten.

Confidence continued to build in the third pool match as South West produced one of the performances of the carnival against Goldfields in Saturday’s opening game.

Trigwell and Creighton both booted three goals while Parsons, Jason Carter and Jack Fletcher all hit the scoreboard in a commanding display.

Their place in the grand final was confirmed in dramatic fashion against Great Southern.

Knowing victory would guarantee top spot, South West recovered from an early two-goal deficit before Creighton kicked two crucial goals, including a matchwinner in the dying minutes, to seal an unbeaten qualifying campaign.

The impressive run earned South West a shot at a third consecutive championship, but they were unable to complete the three-peat, falling to Peel in the grand final to finish runners-up after another strong Country Championships campaign.