SOUTHS OVERRUN BY PEEL IN MANDURAH

SOUTH Fremantle once again couldn’t complete the job despite being on top for much of the first three quarters against Peel Thunder in the Round 12 WAFL match up in Mandurah on Saturday.

South Fremantle made a strong start in Round 12 of the WAFL on return from the bye last weekend at Lane Group Stadium with the Bulldogs kicking five goals to two in the opening quarter.

The Bulldogs were then still leading by 20 points during the third quarter after kicking a ninth goal for the day, but they wouldn’t add to that.

Peel would kick the last five goals of the game from that point to completely turn the tide and to secure the 10.14 (74) to 9.8 (62) win.

South Fremantle now has a 4-7 record on the season with just eight premiership points to their credit.

It took only a minute for South Fremantle to make the perfect start to the game with a goal to Matthew Parker who opened up on fire.

Peel did respond quickly thanks to Ethan Stanley and then following a string of behinds from the Thunder, the Bulldogs got rolling with three goals in less than five minutes.

Chase Bourne, Zac Strom and Dylan Main all kicked truly for the Bulldogs and then heading towards quarter-time so did Jack Blechynden.

South Fremantle’s lead was out to 20 points and was still 13 at quarter-time despite a late goal for the Thunder to Bailey Banfield.

Peel did kick the first two goals of the second quarter thanks to Jack Sears and Sebit Kuek but South Fremantle responded strongly with three goals themselves over a five-minute stretch.

The goals came from Blechynden, Brandon Donaldson and Jordan Gallucci with the South Fremantle lead growing to 19 points and it was still 15 at half-time despite the Thunder kicking the last goal of the half from Travis Colyer.

It then took almost 12 minutes for the first goal of the second half which was kicked by Strom for South Fremantle to put the Bulldogs back in front by 20 points.

The Bulldogs had control the majority of the contest up to that point, but they wouldn’t kick another goal the rest of the way with Peel assuming control.

The Thunder closed the third quarter with a couple of goals to Brady Grey and Nathan O’Driscoll to make the margin just six points by three quarter-time.

Peel then kicked the only three goals of the final term thanks to Colyer, Josh Corbett and former Bulldog Traye Bennell to secure the 12-point victory.

Zac Strom and Jack Blechynden did kick two goals apiece for South Fremantle.

South Fremantle’s back-line especially the key defenders did stand tall with Riley Colborne the standout given the job on Sebit Kuek, who he was able to limit to one goal and five kicks.

Noah Strom did well on ruck pair Riley Smith and Liam Reidy when they were forward while Chad Pearson and Toby McQuilkin helped to quell the influence of Ben Middleton and Josh Corbett.

Tom Blechynden ended up racking up 33 possessions for the Bulldogs with Glenn Byron finishing with 25 touches, Jake Florenca 24, Pearson 24, McQuilkin 24, Kyle Russell 21, Caleb Stephens 20 and Matthew Parker 19 before he went off injured in the second half.

Meanwhile, South Fremantle’s Reserves defeated Peel Thunder 13.5 (83) to 10.7 (67) in Mandurah.

Kaden Harbour and Nixon Hamlet kicked three goals each for South Fremantle with Mitch Sinnott and Jaren Carr adding two each. George Wessels collected 24 possessions, Aaron Drage 23, Carr 22, Brendon Ah Chee 20 and Seth Connor 18.

Round 12 of the Colts saw Peel Thunder defeated South Fremantle 10.9 (69) to 7.8 (50) at Lane Group Stadium.

Mitch Geier kicked three goals for South Fremantle and Liam Brandis two while Callum Copeland picked up 25 disposals, Brandis 16, Tyler Rowe 15, Kyle Brestovac 15 and Nick Campo 15.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 12

SOUTH FREMANTLE        5.0    8.4    9.5    9.8    (62)
PEEL THUNDER            2.5    5.7    7.11    10.14    (74

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Z Strom, J Blechynden 2; Gallucci, Donaldson, Main, Bourne, Parker.
Best: T Blechynden, Pearson, Colborne, Florenca, Z Strom, McQuilkin, Byron.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Colyer 2; Grey, Bennell, O’Driscoll, Sears, Corbett, Kuek, Stanley, Banfield.
Best: Worner, Wagner, Banfield, Hamling, Brodie, Colyer, Bell.