COLTS PRELIMINARY FINAL MATCH REPORT

COLTS | BULLDOGS SET UP DERBY DECIDER

South Fremantle delivered a standout preliminary final performance against a powerful Claremont team on their home floor on Sunday morning to set up a derby Grand Final in the Colts at Optus Stadium with the 27-point victory.

After finishing the home and away season in second position, South Fremantle’s Colts lost a tight contest in the qualifying final to Claremont before keeping their season alive beating West Perth in the first semi-final.

That set up Sunday’s preliminary final at Revo Fitness Stadium and the Bulldogs proved too strong for the Tigers securing the 14.4 (88) to 9.7 (61) victory.

That sees South Fremantle advance to this Sunday’s Colts Grand Final which will be played against East Fremantle at Optus Stadium and will get underway from 4:40pm.

Jack McAuliffe kicked all three of his goals in the second quarter for South Fremantle and also finished the preliminary final with 12 possessions, eight inside-50 entries, five tackles and four marks.

Cam Maynard and Jarrah Hayden also kicked two goals in lively performances in the forward-line in the win for the Bulldogs.

Chace Vanderhoek continued his outstanding form all season long with another 24 possessions while Zac Godwin gathered 18 disposals, Hudson Graham 16, Riley Stannard 13, Kobe Clucas 13, Coby Douglas 12 and Heath Wilson 12 to go with seven tackles.

Byron Foster also ended up with 14 possessions, 19 hit outs, four tackles and a goal.

Claremont did kick the first goal of the preliminary final before South Fremantle responded firstly through Heath Wilson and then Jarrah Hayden.

Claremont hit back to draw scores back level but the Bulldogs kicked the last two goals of the opening quarter through Chace Vanderhoek and Kaiden Freight to head into quarter-time leading by 13 points.

The Bulldogs also kicked the first goal of the second quarter thanks to Jack McAuliffe to push the lead out to 18 points before the Tigers hit back with the next two goals.

South Fremantle answered with the next two courtesy of Byron Foster and Elijah Nathan before McAuliffe then added a second and third to push the advantage for the Bulldogs out to 30 points by half-time.

That then became 36 points early in the third quarter thanks to a goal to Jye Hunt and then Cam Maynard and Hayden closed the term with goals to keep South Fremantle in control by three quarter-time with the 36-point advantage.

South Fremantle then guaranteed their place in the Grand Final with the first goal of the last quarter through Maynard and then with the final goal of the preliminary final from Kobe Clucas the Bulldogs secured the 27-point victory against the Tigers.

EGT COLTS SEASON – PRELIMINARY FINAL

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        4.2          9.2          12.2        14.4        (88)

CLAREMONT                                      2.1          4.2          6.2          9.7          (61)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: McAuliffe 3; Hayden, Maynard 2; Nathan, Forster, Vanderhoek, Wilson, Clucas, Hunt, Freight.

Best: Vanderhoek, Foster, Godwin, McAuliffe, Graham, Wilson, Stannard.

CLAREMONT – Goals: Darling, Giltrow 2; Kee, Blakeney, Williams, Braun, Farmer.

Best: Banfield, Braun, Van Rooyen, Edwards, Darling, Irving.