Brave Bulldogs overwhelmed by Lions in last quarter

SOUTH Fremantle put in a brave effort for three quarters against raging premiership favourites Subiaco on Saturday at Medibank Stadium, but the Lions overwhelmed the Bulldogs in the finish to win by 44 points.

South Fremantle was coming off a horror 106-point defeat to East Perth at Fremantle Oval while Subiaco was in ominous form beating Perth by 133 points that same Saturday.

However, the Bulldogs came out playing a committed, disciplined and physical brand of football on Saturday to take it right up to the Lions, but in the end the home team kicked seven goals to one in the final quarter to win 16.8 (104) to 9.6 (60).

That leaves the Bulldogs with a big job to do to make the finals in 2015 with two games to finish against the third placed Peel Thunder, and another against the second placed West Perth.

Ashton Hams was celebrating his 150th game with the Bulldogs to earn life membership at South Fremantle and he worked tirelessly all afternoon finishing with 36 possessions, five marks, four tackles, three inside 50s and a goal.

Josh Pullman provided a strong target in attack for the Bulldogs kicking three goals from 10 possessions and seven marks while Haiden Schloithe added two majors from 17 disposals and six inside-50 entries.

Jarrod Parry returned from a foot injury and worked hard in the midfield for 23 possessions in his first game since Round 13 as well for South Fremantle with Tim Kelly also gathering 21 disposals and Anthony Collica 20 in his first game since Round 5.

Jacob Dragovich worked hard across half-forward for South Fremantle with 19 possessions and a goal while in the back-line Adam Guglielmana had 18 disposals and Marlion Pickett 17.

Josh Branchi toiled hard in the ruck with some support from Brock Higgins ending up with 11 possessions, four marks and 32 hit outs in just his fifth league appearance.

South Fremantle’s day was also further soured with a shoulder injury to dual premiership veteran Craig White in the dying minutes with Blayne Wilson, Steven Verrier and Ryan Cook already on the injured list.

The day got off to the worst possible start for South Fremantle with Subiaco full-forward Matt Boland marking on a lead and goaling inside four minutes, but that would be his only kick after coming off injured and the Bulldogs found something.

Goals to Dell’Olio, Pullman and Schloithe before quarter-time saw the Bulldogs take a surprise 13-point lead into the first change and they maintained their level throughout the second term.

Subiaco kicked three goals, but South Fremantle answered each with Dragovich bouncing through a beauty from the boundary, and Pullman marking strongly and kicking truly to have three to half-time with the Bulldogs still up by 12.

The Lions’ charge came in the third term booting five goals to two with the Bulldogs only trailing by six points at the final change thanks to handy goals from Craig White and Ashton Hams.

It was all Subiaco in the final term with the raging premiership favourites kicking seven goals to one to win by 44 points.

South Fremantle maintained its hold on top of the reserves ladder beating Subiaco 12.11 (83) to 11.9 (75) at Medibank Stadium on Saturday.

Kaiden Matera and Kade Stewart kicked three goals each for South Fremantle with John Sgherza adding two while James Laurino racked up 35 possessions, Tim Stewart 31, Brendan Verrier 30, Matthew Gundry 19, Dylan Ross 19 and Bailey Matera 19.

South Fremantle’s colts beat Subiaco 10.10 (70) to 6.5 (41) at Medibank Stadium to improve to fourth spot on the ladder with Brandon Colbung kicking three goals, Jake Florenca two and Brandon Donaldson two.

Florenca compiled 34 possessions for the Bulldogs, Daniel Burke 30, Donaldson 23, Jesse Mudge 21, Miles Barritt 20, Jamie Foster 20 and Dylan Brown 19.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.3    6.3    8.5    9.6    (60)
SUBIACO            1.2    4.3    9.5    16.8    (104)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Pullman 3; Schloithe 2; Dell’Olio, White, A Hams, Dragovich.
Best: A Hams, Parry, Dragovich, Pullman, Kelly, Collica, Pickett.
SUBIACO – Goals: Wood 5; Menegola 3; Halligan 2; Moore, Twomey, Deluca, Robinson, Boland, Phelan.
Best: Menegola, Phelan, Wood, Le Fanu, Hancock, Wheeler, Robinson.