Bulldogs create unwanted history in loss to Thunder

SOUTH Fremantle had a strong win over East Perth prior to the bye but couldn’t replicate that on Saturday at Fremantle Oval losing to Peel by 44 points and recording its lowest ever score against the Thunder in the process.

Having won the first three games and losing the next three to start the season, South Fremantle scored a hard fought 13-point win over East Perth in Round 7 prior to the bye, and the Bulldogs couldn’t back that performance up against Peel at Fremantle Oval on Saturday.

The Bulldogs played with terrific intensity and had a strong attack on the contest, and put East Perth under great pressure two weeks ago, but those traits rarely surfaced on Saturday in the wet, cold and windy conditions.

In the end, Peel dominated the second quarter with the only three goals, and then kicked the last four goals of the match to end up winning 12.13 (85) to 5.11 (41).

That 5.11 (41) scoreline is South Fremantle’s lowest ever score against Peel since the Thunder entered the WAFL in 1997.

Kyle Hams put in another strong performance for South Fremantle and sent a reminder to State selectors that he perhaps should have been in the squad to be the Bulldogs’ best on a tough afternoon finishing with 28 possessions and nine tackles.

Captain Ryan Cook also worked hard and did well with 26 disposals with Simon Panizza also compiling 21 touches for the afternoon, Tim Kelly 20 and Jarrod Parry 18 to go with 10 tackles.

South Fremantle’s forward-line struggled in the absence of Ben Saunders and Josh Pullman even though Paul Mugambwa looked dangerous in the first quarter in his first league game of the season before then battling a sore knee the rest of the afternoon.

Cory Dell’Olio kicked two of South Fremantle’s five goals for the match as he tried to break free of the close checking Brady Grey.

At the other end, South Fremantle had some strong defensive performers led by Adam Guglielmana who kept Leroy Jetta to just the only goal and four kicks. Blayne Wilson finished with 19 possessions, Adam McIntosh 18 and Alistair Gillespie 17.

Peel got off to a fast start kicking the game’s opening two goals through Craig Moller and Tom Vandeleur before eventually South Fremantle got a major on the board at the 18-minute mark thanks to Traye Bennell.

When Cook also kicked truly a few minutes later, the Bulldogs were within two points of the Thunder but that would be the closest they got for the rest of the afternoon.

Vandeleur and Moller both added their second goals apiece for the Thunder to help the visitors to a 15-point quarter-time advantage.

South Fremantle then managed just the four behinds the entire second quarter and Peel took advantage firstly with Vandeleur booting his third goal, and then another Bulldogs product Jetta wrong-footed Guglielmana to kick a good goal on the run in his only shining moment of the day.

Then when Nathan Fahey also kicked truly before half-time, Peel was in control of the contest leading by 31 points at the long break and Bulldogs coach Todd Curley was far from impressed with what his players were dishing up, and let them know that in no uncertain terms at half-time.

It did get a result to some degree with South Fremantle kicking the first two goals of the third quarter through Jacob Dragovich and Dell’Olio to get back to within 22 points before a goal to Max Duffy just before three quarter-time for Peel.

Dell’Olio added his second goal of the game for the Bulldogs early in the last quarter, but Peel ended up dominating the rest of the contest with the last four goals to run out commanding 44-point victors.

South Fremantle’s reserves remained on top of the ladder with a strong 10.10 (70) to 3.6 (24) win at Fremantle Oval on Saturday after holding Peel Thunder goalless in the first half, and to three goals for the match.

Josh Branchi put in a terrific performance in the ruck for South Fremantle’s reserves finishing the match with 24 possessions, nine marks, 38 hit outs, six inside-50 entries and two goals.

Kaiden Matera also kicked two goals for the Bulldogs while Matthew Gundry compiled 25 possessions, Brendan Verrier 25, Anthony Collica 23, Chris Luff 23, Mitch Carter 19, Matthew Ah Siu 17 and Ben Sokol 17.

South Fremantle’s colts began the day at Fremantle Oval in dominant fashion recording an 8.9 (57) to 2.5 (17) win over Peel Thunder on the back of restricting the visitors to just four behinds for the entire second half.

Alex Robinson kicked two goals for South Fremantle’s colts while Brandon Colbung made the most of his chances kicking three goals from just three kicks for the game.

Joel McComb picked up 21 possessions for the Bulldogs, Jesse Mudge 20 (11 tackles), Daniel Burke 19, Jamie Foster 18, Jesse Musika 16 and Josh Collard 15.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.2    2.6    4.8    5.11    (41)
PEEL THUNDER            4.5    7.7    8.12    12.13    (85)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Dell’Olio 2; Cook, Bennell, Dragovich.
Best: K Hams, Guglielmana, Cook, McIntosh, Wilson, Panizza, Parry.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Vandeleur, Moller 3; Mzungu 2; Jetta, Fahey, Blakely, Duffy.
Best: Mzungu, Blakely, Langdon, Weller, Ballard, Grey, Moller.