REMARKABLE DERBY DOMINANCE CONTINUES

THE most remarkable streak of wins in Fremantle Derby history continued on WA Day for South Fremantle with the Bulldogs kicking the last four goals to beat East Fremantle by 14 points.

It was the first ever WA Day Derby held at the WACA Ground and terrible conditions greeted the two teams, and forced the contest to be quite the slog throughout the afternoon.

There was even a half-hour delay due to lightning thrown in during the third quarter. But following that break, South Fremantle kicked the only three goals to set up the eventual 5.7 (37) to 2.11 (23) victory.

It was quite the bruising affair with the muddy centre square and then the wind and rain throughout the afternoon, but the Bulldogs were on top in most areas with their ferocious approach.

It just needed to show up on the scoreboard and that happened after the lightning delay in a game where South Fremantle had more inside-50 entries and laid a monstrous 119 tackles.

What it means is that the Bulldogs extend their winning streak to 15 over the Sharks which is the longest run of wins in the long and rich history between the arch-rivals.

Not only have the Bulldogs won 15 straight derbies dating back to WA Day in 2016, but they’ve also still never lost to East Fremantle at the WACA Ground dating back to 1916.

It improves South Fremantle to a 4-4 record on the season but they do only have eight premiership points still.

While South Fremantle had won the past 14 derbies, coming into Monday’s clash it did appear to be East Fremantle’s best chance to break the longest drought in history between the arch-rivals.

However, the Bulldogs just have such belief when they play the Sharks no matter the form they are in, and that saw them control much of the first quarter with a ferocious approach to the ball, and with their tackling pressure.

South Fremantle did create more opportunities dominating the inside-50 count, but with the mud through the centre square, and then the wind and rain, kicking a goal was proving mighty difficult.

The Bulldogs kicked the first four behinds of the game and then the Sharks had a golden chance to close the first quarter when Toby McQuilkin kicked it straight to him, but he shanked the attempt.

South Fremantle was three points up by quarter-time and then after a point each in the second term, the first goal of the contest eventually came courtesy of Brayden Lawler for East Fremantle at the 17-minute mark.

Eventually South Fremantle got its first goal of the first half just before the half-time siren thanks to Kaden Harbour to see the Bulldogs lead by two points at the main break.

Dillon O’Reilly kicked an early goal in the third quarter for East Fremantle before Caleb Datson responded for the Bulldogs.

South Fremantle was leading by those two points when play was halted for 30 minutes due to the lightning in the surrounding area.

When play resumed, it was South Fremantle who came out on fire and kicked two goals thanks to Harbour and Brandon Donaldson to be leading by 13 points at three quarter-time.

It was a grind of a last quarter from there in the challenging conditions with the lights taking control at the WACA.

South Fremantle would kick the only goal of the last term thanks to Harbour to give him three for the game and secure the 15th consecutive derby wins for the Bulldogs.

Kaden Harbour was playing in his first derby for South Fremantle and played his best game for the Bulldogs kicking three goals from 10 disposals and seven tackles.

Matthew Parker has now worked his way back into being an important part of the South Fremantle midfield and he was tremendous in the derby win finishing with 27 possessions, five marks and five inside-50 entries.

Jake Florenca has come back in to pick up where he left off when he went down injured last year too and had another 22 disposals, six tackles and four inside 50s.

Jordan Gallucci was another Bulldogs player in his first derby and had 21 touches while Dylan Main ended up with 19 disposals, eight tackles and seven inside-50 entries.

Jacob Dragovich also had 17 possessions, Zac Strom 17 (eight marks), Glenn Byron 15, Toby McQuilkin 15 and Tom Blechynden 13 to go with laying 16 tackles.

The reserves saw a thrilling draw between the two teams at the WACA with both South Fremantle and East Fremantle finishing on 6.9 (45).

Jack Walsh kicked the game tying goal for East Fremantle before Aiden Hall’s winning attempt for South Fremantle saw his shot go out on the full.

Jack Blechynden kicked two goals for the Bulldogs to go with 15 possessions and 17 hit outs. Jacob Sax also had 23 touches, Kyle Russell 21 and Hall 20.

And in the colts, East Fremantle beat South Fremantle 12.10 (82) to 5.9 (39).

Josh Taylor-Thorpe picked up 17 possessions for the Bulldogs, Callum Copeland 17, Rhyder James 17 and Ed Graham 12 along with 10 hit outs in the ruck.

SOUTH FREMANTLE               0.4       1.5       4.6       5.7       (37)

EAST FREMANTLE                  0.1       1.3       2.5       2.11     (23)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Harbour 3; Donaldson, Datson.

Best: Parker, Florenca, Gallucci, Harbour, N Strom, Main, Z Strom, Blechynden.

EAST FREMANTLE– Goals: Lawler, O’Reilly.

Best: Dixon, Murdock, Turner, Schoenfeld, Eardley, Baskerville, Jansen.