WAFL RD 20 MATCH REPORT

WAFL | BULLDOGS LOCK IN FINALS SPOT

The last goal of the game from Chase Bourne put South Fremantle in front and that’s where they stayed to beat the minor premiers Peel Thunder and to lock away a WAFL finals position once again in 2026.

It was a tight contest for finals positions coming into the last round of the home and away season, but the equation was simple for South Fremantle where a win against Peel at Fremantle Community Bank Oval would lock away their finals place.

It was always going to be a tough ask against a Peel team who had guaranteed the minor premiership already and the Thunder were then leading by seven points at quarter-time, 16 at half-time and three at three quarter-time.

But South Fremantle kicked the first and last goals of the final quarter which was enough to secure the 12.6 (78) to 11.8 (74) win to guarantee a fourth place finish and set up an elimination final this coming Sunday against East Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Trey Ruscoe ended up kicking five goals in the win for South Fremantle with Roan O’Hehir and Brandon Donaldson adding two apiece.

Tom Blechynden racked up 26 possessions, Chad Pearson 26 (10 marks), Matthew Parker 24 (12 tackles), Lewis Rayson 23, Isiah Winder 21, Jake Florenca 20, Jamaine Jones 16 and ruckman Hamish Free 15 with 23 hit outs in a fascinating battle with Sean Darcy.

Peel did make the fast start with the first two goals of the game inside four minutes before South Fremantle responded with the next four in the space of seven minutes.

Those included two from Trey Ruscoe before Brandon Donaldson and Matthew Parker also got involved but the free-flowing first quarter continued with another three goals from Peel before quarter-time.

That saw the Thunder go into quarter-time leading by seven points and the visitors also started the second quarter the better with an early goal before a string of four behinds over the next 15 minutes.

Eventually the Bulldogs managed their only goal of the quarter thanks to Ruscoe but Peel finished with another before half-time to go into the break leading by 16 points.

The two teams traded a goal each in the first four minutes of the third quarter but then Ruscoe added a fourth goal and Roan O’Hehir a second for South Fremantle.

Ruscoe’s fifth goal then put the Bulldogs in front but Peel answered with a couple themselves before Donaldson added another for South Fremantle before three quarter-time to cut the Thunder’s lead back to three points.

South Fremantle hit the front at the six-minute mark of the last quarter with a goal to Lucas Robinson before Chase Bourne returned them to the lead at the 21-minute mark and that proved to be enough to secure the eventual four-point victory.

The day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval got underway on Saturday morning with the Colts match up with South Fremantle scoring the thumping 22.19 (151) to 3.8 (26) win over Peel Thunder.

South Fremantle kicked the only four goals of the first quarter before five to one in the second to go into the half-time break leading by 53 points.

The Bulldogs added another six goals to one in the third quarter and then finished off with seven to one in the last for the 125-point win to end the home and away season in second spot with a 13-3 record.

Sam Coote kicked five goals for South Fremantle, Jack McAuliffe three, Cooper Matera two, Christian Leone two, Byron Foster two, Elijah Nathan two, Jarrah Hayden two and Fletcher Tinsley two.

Heath Wilson also finished with 26 possessions, Chace Vanderhoek 24, McAuliffe 23, Kobe Clucas 21 and Foster 21 to go with 16 hit outs and the two goals.

That led into the Reserves match up and it was Peel Thunder beating South Fremantle 9.21 (75) to 5.5 (35).

It was a goal apiece in the opening quarter before South Fremantle managed two goals to one in the second term to go into half-time with the scores all locked together.

Peel then kicked away with four goals to one in the third quarter and three to one in the last to end up winning by 40 points with South Fremantle’s season finishing in seventh position with a 6-10 record.

Luke Bellini kicked two goals with Max Thomas finishing with 25 possessions, Jacob Donald 23, Jack Green 22 (13 tackles), Tarkyn Etherington 20, Taj Longmuir 20, Cian Bushe-Jones 18 and Callum Copeland 16 (10 tackles).

SULLIVAN LOGISTICS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 20

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        4.1          5.2          10.4        12.6        (78)

PEEL THUNDER                                 5.2          7.6          10.7        11.8        (74)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Ruscoe 5; O’Hehir, Donaldson 2; Parker, Bourne, Robinson.

Best: Parker, Pearson, Blechynden, Ruscoe, Winder, Raison, O’Hehir, Florenca.

PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Nicholls, Wills 2; Darcy, Tuia, Walters, Sears, Simpson, Sharp, Kickett.

Best: Tardrew, O’Meara, Darcy, Wagner, Walker, Carr, Draper.