TOUGH DERBY DAY FOR BULLDOGS

SOUTH Fremantle didn’t have the derby day they were hoping for on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval ending up losing to East Fremantle by 66 points.

Despite the Bulldogs coming into Saturday’s match up having won 16 of the previous 17 derby match ups with East Fremantle, the Sharks took charge of the contest to end up winning 17.16 (118) to 7.10 (52).

The win for the Sharks saw them retain the Ciccotosto-Uittenbroek Cup but South Fremantle stays in fifth position on the WAFL ladder ahead of the last three games against Peel Thunder, Perth and West Perth.

Zac Strom came back into the team for South Fremantle after missing the last couple of games and spent most of the afternoon in the ruck finishing with 24 possessions, 21 hit outs and 13 marks.

Reigning WJ Hughes Medal winner Tom Blechynden also collected 25 possessions for South Fremantle while Chad Pearson finished with 22 disposals, Isiah Winder 19, Lewis Rayson 18 and Aaron Drage 16.

Ed Graham was South Fremantle’s only multiple goal scorer on the day with two goals from 11 touches.

East Fremantle opened the derby with the only two goals of the first quarter through Cam Eardley and Jed Hagan to end up leading by 15 points at quarter-time with the Bulldogs just managing the two behinds.

The Sharks then also kicked the first goal of the second quarter before South Fremantle did get on the board courtesy of Kaden Harbour at the seven-minute mark.

The Bulldogs did manage a second goal as well thanks to Riley Colborne just before half-time, but East Fremantle was still leading by 41 points at the main break.

The Sharks kicked the first three goals of the third quarter as well to push their advantage out to 62 points before South Fremantle got a goal back thanks to Ed Graham.

Chase Bourne did add another before three quarter-time and Graham kicked a second, but it was still East Fremantle leading by 59 points at the last change.

Isiah Winder kicked a goal for the Bulldogs to start the final term and Caleb Datson did add another late, but the Sharks kept building their lead to end up winning by 66 points.

Derby day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval got underway with the colts contest and it was an emotional 13.7 (85) to 7.4 (46) victory for the Bulldogs over the Sharks.

Ivan Starr kicked five goals in the win for South Fremantle with Hudson Pivac adding two while Tom Bell collected 27 possessions, Fred Rodriguez 23, Jacob Donald 21, Orlando Keleman 20, Millar Rank 17, Toby Whan 15, Macsen Williams 14 and Nic Davidson 14 to go with 44 hit outs.

It was then a thrilling reserves match up with South Fremantle kicking three goals to one in the last term but East Fremantle held on to win 8.7 (55) to 7.7 (49).

Cooper Osborne kicked three goals for the Bulldogs, Riley Holden two and Jaren Carr two.

George Wessels collected 28 possessions, Toby Dodds 19, Jacob Whan 19, Roan O’Hehir 17, Jacob Sax 17 and Josh Branch 17 to go with 46 hit outs in the ruck.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 18

SOUTH FREMANTLE        0.2    2.4    5.7    7.10    (52)
EAST FREMANTLE        2.5    8.9    14.12    17.16    (118)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Graham 2; Winder, Colborne, Harbour, Bourne, Datson.
Best: Z Strom, N Strom, Boullineau, Blechynden, Pearson, Winder, Graham.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Eardley, O’Reilly 4; Hagan 3; Cleaver 2; H Marsh, Boekhorst, J Marsh, Walker.
Best: Jupp, Murdock, Eardley, Baskerville, Blakiston, O’Reilly, Bennett, Turner.