WAFL RD 17 MATCH REPORT

WAFL | WINDER HEROICS NOT QUITE ENOUGH

A fast finish including four last quarter goals from Isiah Winder wasn’t quite enough for South Fremantle with the West Coast Eagles going on to win by 19 points on Sunday.

South Fremantle had the bye last weekend and prior to that had been building some momentum into their WAFL premiership defence by winning their last three matches.

West Coast also came into Sunday’s match up fighting to stay in the finals mix at Mineral Resources Park and by early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles had opened up a 41-point lead.

South Fremantle went on to kick six goals in the last quarter with four of those courtesy of Winder but it wasn’t quite enough with West Coast winning 15.12 (102) to 11.17 (83).

The result means that by the end of Round 17, South Fremantle are in fourth position on the WAFL ladder with a 9-6 record with games to finish against East Perth, East Fremantle and Peel Thunder.

Isiah Winder delivered a standout performance all day for South Fremantle whether in the midfield or when he went forward in the last quarter to end up with 28 possessions, nine marks and four goals.

Jordan Boullineau was the only other multiple goal scorer with two from 13 possessions and seven marks.

Jake Florenca racked up another 24 disposals for South Fremantle, Chad Pearson 24, Tom Blechynden 23, Aaron Drage 21, Ethan Hughes 19, Chase Bourne 19, Jacob Whan 18 and Jacob Sax 17.

It was a familiar sight to South Fremantle fans to start the game with the opening goal kicked by premiership player Caleb Datson, although he did it this time for the Eagles inside the first 30 seconds.

Sam Otto responded to get South Fremantle on the board just three minutes later and Jordan Boullineau and Riley Colborne also kicked truly for the Bulldogs only for the Eagles to add three more too to see the home team leading by eight points at quarter-time.

Datson then started the second quarter the same way by kicking a second goal for the Eagles before South Fremantle got back within five points on the back of consecutive goals to Aaron Drage and Jamaine Jones.

West Coast again responded, though, with the last four goals of the half to go into half-time with the 27-point lead over the Bulldogs.

It took more than 16 minutes into the second half for the first goal to be kicked after a string of behinds from both teams but that goal came the way of West Coast.

They then added another too just before three quarter-time and as a result the Eagles were in control by 36 points at three quarter-time.

That lead for the Eagles became 41 points to start the fourth quarter too but then South Fremantle did come charging home with Isiah Winder going forward and kicking all four of his goals in the last term.

The Bulldogs did get back as close as 13 points but couldn’t get quite any closer than that with the Eagles completing the deal on the 19-point victory that keeps the fight for the finals a fascinating one.

SULLIVAN LOGISTICS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 17

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        3.2          5.5          5.11        11.17     (83)

WEST COAST EAGLES                     4.4          9.8          11.11     15.12     (102)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Winder 4; Boullineau 2; Maynard, Otto, Drage, Colborne, Jones.

Best: Winder, Florenca, Pearson, Drage, Bourne, Blechynden, Whan.

WEST COAST EAGLES – Goals: Hewett, Datson, Champion, Gross, Owies 2; Lucassen, Kernutt, Williams, Flynn, Banfield.

Best: Flynn, Macrae, Grego, Hewett, Hall, Gross, Lindsay.