WAFLW RD 18 MATCH REPORT

WAFLW | BULLDOGS LOOK TO DERBY FINAL

South Fremantle couldn’t quite overcome the two-time WAFLW premiers Claremont to close the home and away season but the Bulldogs still finish fourth to set up a derby finals match up.

The Bulldogs weren’t quite locked into the WAFLW finals coming into the last day of the home and away season on Sunday where they faced a big test against the second placed Claremont who have won the last two premierships.

South Fremantle could lock in their finals place and hosting rights for the opening week with a win, but it wasn’t quite to be with Claremont kicking the only five goals of the first half on the way to the eventual 9.6 (60) to 2.4 (16) victory.

Despite that, South Fremantle still finished the season in fourth position on the WAFLW ladder with nine points, six losses and a draw and they will now take on East Fremantle this Sunday afternoon in the first semi-final at The Good Grocer Park.

The winner of that game will advance to the preliminary final the following week against either Swan Districts or Claremont.

The goalkickers on the day for South Fremantle were Shannyn Pomersbach and Madison Hadley.

Captain Hunter Cronin finished with 19 possessions along with eight tackles for the Bulldogs with Hannah Burt having 19 disposals, TJ Mulder 17, Ebony Grant 15, Marie Polimeno 14, Brianna Cleggett 12, Ash Gomes 11 and Lauren Vecchio 10.

It was a big test to close the home and away season for South Fremantle on the road to the two-time defending premiers and Claremont did kick the only two goals of the opening quarter to already be leading by 11 points at quarter-time.

Claremont also kicked the only three goals of the second quarter and that meant the home team went into the half-time break with the 31-point advantage over South Fremantle.

The Tigers also kicked the opening two goals of the third quarter but then South Fremantle got on the board just before three quarter-time courtesy of Madi Hadley.

Shannyn Pomersbach also kicked the first goal of the last quarter but then the Tigers responded with the last two of the game on the way to the eventual 44-point victory with both teams now turning their attention to the finals.

The day started at Revo Fitness Stadium with the Rogers Cup match up and South Fremantle finished their 2026 season in impressive fashion with the 4.5 (29) to 3.2 (20) victory against Claremont.

Claremont kicked the only goal of the first quarter and then neither team managed a goal in the second term with the Tigers leading by five points at half-time.

The Bulldogs then got on a roll in the third quarter with three goals to just one from Claremont and as a result South Fremantle were leading by nine points at three quarter-time.

It was then a goal each in the last quarter with the Bulldogs completing the nine-point victory to end their season on a winning note with a 6-10 record and in sixth position.

The goals in the win for South Fremantle were kicked by Gracie-Lee Briggs, Makenzie Chapple, Maddison Catley and Skye Behrendt.

ATCO WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 18

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        0.2          0.3          1.3          2.4          (16)

CLAREMONT                                      2.1          5.4          7.4          9.6          (60)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Pomersbach, Hadley.

Best: Burt, Mulder, Cronin, Grant, Polimeno, Gomes, Cleggett.

CLAREMONT – Goals: Bullas 2; Sargent-Wilson, Campo, Perry, Harken, Ortlepp, Valentini, Musika.

Best: Bullas, Harken, Orzel, Valentini, Sargent-Wilson, Bonadeo, Gilbey.