WAFLW RD 5 MATCH REPORT

WAFLW | BULLDOGS FALL SHORT 

It was an early start for South Fremantle in the WAFLW on Sunday morning and they did finish strongly before just falling short against West Perth after the Rogers Cup team broke through for a first 2026 win on Friday night.

The Rogers Cup got the win at HIF Health Insurance Oval back on Friday night before the WAFLW Round 5 match up took place on Sunday morning at Joondalup.

South Fremantle only managed one goal to three quarter-time, but then got on a roll in the last term with three goals but fell just short with West Perth holding on for the 5.8 (38) to 4.6 (30) victory.

South Fremantle’s goals were kicked by Shannyn Pomersbach, Madi Hadley, Tara Stribley and Annalie Polimeno.

Ash Gomes continued her strong start to life with South Fremantle this season with another game made up of 18 possessions and six entries inside the forward 50.

Madi Evans also collected 17 possessions, Tash Entwistle 16 (11 tackles), Tara Stribley (eight tackles), Liusaidh Gilchrist 12, Jasmine Bazeley 12 (11 tackles), Tori Groth 12 (seven tackles), Hunter Cronin 11 and Marie Polimeno 11.

Kate Newson battled hard in the ruck as well with 36 hit outs to go with 10 possessions while former captain Lauren Vecchio laid 11 tackles to go with eight disposals.

South Fremantle made the perfect start to the early Sunday WAFLW match up with a goal to Tara Stribley just over two minutes into the contest.

West Perth responded with the next two goals coming from former Bulldog Zoe Huggett and as a result the Falcons were leading by nine points at quarter-time.

West Perth then also kicked the only goal of the second quarter and that saw them go into the half-time break leading by 16 points.

West Perth also managed the only goal of the third quarter and again it was Huggett doing the damage with the Falcons holding a 20-point advantage by three quarter-time.

South Fremantle did make a charge in the last term with goals to Annalie Polimeno, Madi Hadley and Shannyn Pomersbach, but only got within eight points by the final siren.

The weekend’s action for South Fremantle got underway back on Friday night in the Rogers Cup with the Bulldogs going on to defeat West Perth 4.2 (26) to 1.10 (16) at HIF Health Insurance Oval.

South Fremantle kicked the only goal of the first quarter before another two goals to one in the second term on the way to leading by 11 points at the half-time break.

The Bulldogs then kicked the only goal of the second half which came in the third term. That set up the eventual 10-point victory as they improve to a 1-4 record having scored their first win of the Rogers Cup season for 2026.

Khesan Starr kicked two goals in the win for South Fremantle with one each to Ayvah Rioli and Skye Behrendt.

ATCO WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 5

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        1.1          1.2          1.4          4.6          (30)

WEST PERTH                                      2.4          3.6          4.6          5.8          (38)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Pomersbach, Hadley, Stribley, Polimeno.

Best: Gomes, Entwistle, Stribley, Evans, Bazeley, Newson, Bazeley, Gilchrist, Groth.

WEST PERTH – Goals: Huggett 3; K Van Den Leever, Riou.

Best: McEvoy, Nannup, Dodd, Huggett, L Van Den Heever, McKinnon, Roper.