Bulldogs come up short in Miller’s farewell on WA Day

IT WAS a tremendous day to celebrate WAFL football at Fremantle Oval on Monday but in the end South Fremantle went down to East Fremantle by 15 points in the Foundation Derby on WA Day.

Almost 6000 fans attended Fremantle Oval for the annual Foundation Derby on WA Day in what also served as the last WAFL appearance for 303-game WAFL champion Kris Miller in what is the biggest day for the competition in any given season.

Miller’s 303rd and final match in the WAFL also doubled as his 150th with South Fremantle as he made history becoming the first ever player to reach 150 games at two clubs having started his career with 153 matches with East Fremantle.

Miller led his South Fremantle teammates on to Fremantle Oval for the final time and was chaired off following his final appearance, but unfortunately for him and the Bulldogs in between his entrance and departure it was East Fremantle who proved victorious.

The 33-year-old worked his way into the game nicely and had a strong second half to finish with 20 possessions but in the end it was East Fremantle who prevailed 15.16 (106) to 13.13 (91) with the result putting the Sharks back into the four and putting a big dent in South Fremantle’s finals hopes.

Captain Ryan Cook was South Fremantle’s best performer on the day backing up his performance in last week’s State game win for the WAFL over the NEAFL with a terrific performance with 30 possessions, 13 marks, six inside-50 entries and a goal.

Tim Kelly also worked hard for the Bulldogs and ended up with 27 disposals, eight marks, five inside-50 entries and a goal.

Brendan Verrier was another to make a strong contribution with 27 touches and eight marks with Ashton Hams finishing the game with 26 possessions and a goal, Shaun Bewick 20 and Toby Bairstow 18.

Steven Verrier did well off half-back with 21 possessions while also keeping Brett Peake to just 14 touches and a goal.

Brock Higgins worked hard in the ruck for South Fremantle up against both Rob Young and James Bristow. He finished the game with15 possessions and 26 hit outs.

Meanwhile, up forward both Ben Saunders and Mitch Carter kicked three goals for the Bulldogs and Haiden Schloithe chipped in with two.

East Fremantle kicked the first goal of the game but then South Fremantle levelled things up thanks to Schloithe after a free-kick for a high tackle. Carter then made it two straight for the Bulldogs as they opened up their first lead of the match.

However, by quarter-time East Fremantle was back in front by six points but Saunders booted the opening goal of the second term. Then when Craig White kicked truly, South Fremantle was in front and still seven points to the good at the 12-minute mark when Saunders added another.

East Fremantle, though, then kicked the last four goals of the first half to lead by 17 points at the long break and then were up by 24 points early in the third quarter with the first goal of the second half.

The Bulldogs eventually broke a run of five straight goals from the Sharks when Schloithe booted his second to bring his team back to within 19 points.

It wasn’t until Carter added consecutive goals for the Bulldogs that they made inroads into the deficit, though, and they did close to within 14 points but East Fremantle still steadied enough to lead by 27 points at three quarter-time.

It wasn’t until Saunders and Cook combined for consecutive goals for the Bulldogs that they closed to within 16 points at the 18-minute mark of the final quarter, but the final margin of 15 points would be the closest the got to the Sharks in the finish.

East Fremantle’s reserves also beat South Fremantle by 14 points with Brett Hill kicking three goals for the Bulldogs and Emmanuel Collard two.

Ben Sokol racked up 31 possessions to go with 14 marks and a goal for South Fremantle with Jarrod Parry picking up 31 touches, Traye Bennell 24, Joe Pantano 23, Alistair Gillespie 21 and Jason Maskos 19.

South Fremantle also went down in the colts to East Fremantle by six points despite four goals from Cameron Loersch, and 27 possessions to Braden Fimmano, 23 to Brad McPhail and 20 to Joel McComb.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.5 5.8 8.11 13.13 (91)

EAST FREMANTLE 3.5 8.7 12.14 15.16 (106)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders, Carter 3; Schloithe 2; Kelly, White, Pullman, Cook, Hams.

Best: Cook, Kelly, B Verrier, S Verrier, Higgins, Hams, Carter, Bewick.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Lester-Smith 4; Ellis 3; McGough 2; T Bristow, Peake, Perham, Schofield, Dalziell, J Bristow.

Best: McGough, Chartres, Stephen, Eardley, Lester-Smith, R O’Brien, McNamara.