BETTER BULLDOGS SIGNS DESPITE FINAL SCORE

THE scoreboard might not have been ideal again at Fremantle Community Bank Oval for South Fremantle in their second ever WAFL Women’s match on Sunday, but the signs are getting better as the Bulldogs adjust to the new level.

It was relatively short warning that South Fremantle received that it would be granted a full license a year earlier than expected to be part of the WAFLW season, and the first two weeks have been challenging but the signs of growth and development are already there.

For the second straight week to open life in the WAFLW competition, South Fremantle did fail to trouble the scorers but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t some encouraging individual performers, and some signs that rapid development is happening within the playing group.

All the other five clubs in the WAFLW competition took part in the first season of the new league last season so were able to set the standard, and know what it takes to compete at the level.

So this was always going to be a steep learning curve for South Fremantle with the majority of the team making the leap from playing at reserves level in 2019, but sometimes the quickest way to improve and develop is to play a level above you.

The signs are already getting more encouraging despite the final scoreline on Sunday seeing Peel Thunder beat South Fremantle 9.10 (64) to 0.0 (0).

A host of South Fremantle players did work tirelessly and put in impressive performances led by reigning Bulldogs fairest and best winner Lauren Vecchio.

Emily Boothman also came into the side and was one of the strongest performers while Taylah Cruttenden, Tasha McAlpine and Tahlia Holtze were among the others to impress for the Bulldogs as the afternoon unfolded.

Meanwhile, South Fremantle’s Youth Girls team travelled to Joondalup’s Provident Financial Arena on Sunday and came away with a nail-biting 6.3 (39) to 5.8 (38) victory against West Perth.

South Fremantle kicked three goals to one in the second quarter to open up a six-point half-time advantage, from which the Bulldogs were able to maintain through the second half to end up holding on for the one-point win.

The reserves contest also took place at Joondalup on Sunday and that saw West Perth defeat South Fremantle 7.13 (55) to 3.1 (19).

This Sunday will feature a full round of fixtures for South Fremantle against Claremont at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. The Rogers Cup contest begins at 10.15am ahead of the reserves at midday and then the WAFLW league contest at 2pm.

OPTUS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 2
SOUTH FREMANTLE        0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    (0)
PEEL THUNDER            2.6    6.7    8.8    9.10    (64)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Nil.
Best: Vecchio, Boothman, Cruttenden, McAlpine, Holtze.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Okely 3; Briggs, Phillips 2; Carter, Molloy.
Best: Bilcich, Wrigley, Ditchburn, Okely, Verrier.