COLTS GRAND FINAL MATCH REPORT

COLTS | NOT TO BE FOR BULLDOGS

It was always going to be a tall order for South Fremantle in the Colts Grand Final and some inaccurate kicking didn’t help as East Fremantle prevailed but it had been a tremendous performance just to be there for the Bulldogs.

South Fremantle and East Fremantle did finish the home and away season as the top two teams in the Colts so it was only fitting they both met in the Grand Final on Sunday as the lights took over the ground at Optus Stadium.

Both teams had made the Grand Final by beating Claremont with the Sharks doing so in the second semi-final and then the Bulldogs in the preliminary final.

South Fremantle did manage to kick the first goal of the Grand Final as well, but couldn’t manage a goal after half-time instead kicking 11 behinds with East Fremantle going on to claim the premiership with the 11.12 (78) to 3.16 (34) victory.

South Fremantle’s goals were kicked by Jack McAuliffe, Kobe Clucas and Cooper Matera.

Jack Clarke Medal winner and co-captain Chace Vanderhoek had a slow start but ended up with 17 possessions while Zac Godwin compiled 18 disposals to go with seven marks, five tackles and three inside-50 entries.

Riley Stannard also finished with 16 possessions, Heath Wilson 14, Jarrah Hayden 14, Hudson Graham 14, McAuliffe 13 and Chayse Parsons 13.

Josh Nathan ended up winning the Mel Whinnen Medal as best afield having finished with 27 possessions and two goals for East Fremantle.

Reid Foot and Kye Ormerod both kicked three goals a well for the Sharks with Riley Singleton finishing with 23 disposals, Quentin Bacich 20 and Marcus Motton 18.

South Fremantle did make the perfect start to the Grand Final with a terrific goal from the forward pocket to Jack McAuliffe after just the first two minutes of the contest.

East Fremantle did respond by kicking the only other four goals of the first quarter which saw the Sharks go into the quarter-time break leading by 19 points.

East Fremantle also kicked the opening goal of the second term but South Fremantle hit back courtesy of Cooper Matera at the 13-minute mark.

Kobe Clucas then kicked a goal on the half-time siren to keep the Bulldogs in touch by the main break and pulling the Sharks lead back to 25 points.

East Fremantle also kicked the only two goals of the third quarter even though both teams had five scoring shots, but South Fremantle managed just the five behinds from their attempts.

That saw the Sharks extend their lead to 35 points by three quarter-time before also kicking the only two goals of the last quarter with the Bulldogs kicking six more behinds.

EGT COLTS SEASON – GRAND FINAL

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        1.3          3.5          3.10        3.16        (34)
EAST FREMANTLE                            4.4          7.6          9.9          11.12     (78)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Matera, Clucas, McAuliffe.
Best: Vanderhoek, McAuliffe, Godwin, Hayden, Stannard, Graham, Wilson.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Ormerod, Foot 3; Nathan, Richardson 2; Motton.
Best: Nathan, Singleton, Motton, Foot, Bacich, Hearn, Ormerod.