WAFL RD 8 MATCH REPORT

WAFL | BULLDOGS’ WA DAY STREAK ENDS

Even with three goals in the last quarter to Noah Strom in his 150th game, it wasn’t quite to be for South Fremantle with East Fremantle winning the WA Day derby by 34 points.

South Fremantle had won every WA Day derby dating back to 2016 and were looking to keep the streak going on Monday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

And the Bulldogs did kick the first goal of each quarter and then Strom kicked three in the last when he moved forward on his milestone afternoon, but East Fremantle managed to end up winning 15.9 (99) to 9.11 (65).

The result leaves South Fremantle in third position on the WAFL ladder after eight rounds with a 5-3 record with Strom kicking those three goals while Brandon Donaldson, Aaron Drage and Jordan Boullineau all kicked two apiece.

Jake Florenca racked up another 33 possessions for the Bulldogs, Isiah Winder 33, Tom Blechynden 27, Chad Pearson 23, Lucas Robinson 21, Jacob Sax 19, Drage 19 and Ethan Hughes 18.

South Fremantle did make the perfect start to the WA Day derby with the first goal to Brandon Donaldson and he did add another just before quarter-time.

However, in between East Fremantle kicked three goals themselves to go into the first break leading by five points.

South Fremantle again started strongly with an early goal to Aaron Drage and he did add a second shortly before half-time, but the Sharks also kicked three goals again themselves to go into half-time leading by nine points.

Once more the Bulldogs kicked the first goal of the third quarter through Jordan Boullineau but that would be their only goal of the term with the Sharks kicking another four to go into three quarter-time with a 28-point edge.

Noah Strom did go forward and kick three goals in his 150th game in the last quarter and Boullineau added a second, but the Sharks also kicked five more on the way to breaking their WA Day drought to win by 34 points.

The WA Day on-field festivities at Fremantle Community Bank Oval started with the Reserves clash and that saw South Fremantle make a winning start with the 11.5 (71) to 8.8 (56) victory against East Fremantle.

The Sharks were leading by three points at quarter-time after two goals each in the first term before it was two goals to one from East Fremantle in the second term for the visitors to be leading by five points at the half-time break.

South Fremantle then fired up with six goals to three in the third quarter to be leading by 11 points at three quarter-time, and then another two goals to one in the last to secure the 15-point win.

The result improves the Bulldogs to a 4-3 record in the Reserves with Mitch Geier and Cian Bushe-Jones kicking two goals apiece.

Jacob Whan finished with 24 possessions, Jacob Donald 24, Max Thomas 24, Kyle Russell 22, Taj Longmuir 21, Louis Poulson 19 and Jack Green 18.

The WA Day action at Fremantle Community Bank Oval wrapped up on Monday with the Colts match up and that saw East Fremantle end up beating South Fremantle 10.8 (68) to 8.8 (56).

It was three goals apiece from both teams in the first quarter before East Fremantle managed four goals to one in the second term to go into the half-time break leading by 17 points.

The Bulldogs did hit back with two goals to one in the third quarter, and it was two goals each in the final term with the Sharks holding on for the 12-point win.

South Fremantle have now suffered a first loss for the season in the Colts for a 6-1 record with Ayrton Howard ending up kicking three goals from 10 kicks.

Chayce Vanderhoek ended up with 25 possessions, Riley Stannard 23, Zac Godwin 20 and Conor Bushe-Jones 16 to go with 29 hit outs with eight marks.

SULLIVAN LOGISTICS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – WA DAY

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        2.3          4.7          5.10        9.11        (65)

EAST FREMANTLE                            3.2          6.4          10.8        15.9        (99)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Strom 3; Donaldson, Boullineau, Drage 2.

Best: Florenca, Winder, Blechynden, Pearson, Drage, Robinson, Strom.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Vladich, Smartt 3; Robinson, Cleaver, Ball 2; Knight, H Marsh, Joyce.

Best: Cleaver, Joyce, Baskerville, J Marsh, Smartt, Carrello, H Marsh, Vladich.