Bulldogs beat Lions on Friday night to make it four straight

Jason Bristow worked hard in the Lions’ midfield as well with 27 possessions and six tackles while Justin Joyce had a good game across half-forward with 22 disposals and a goal.

Chris Deluca booted three goals for Subiaco with his younger brother Josh kicking two.

It took 15 minutes for the first goal of the game and that eventually came courtesy of Brendan Verrier for South Fremantle when he kicked truly out wide.

That sparked the Bulldogs into action with Saunders adding his first of the night just two minutes later. Gillespie then had a purple patch just before quarter-time with two quick goals and suddenly South Fremantle had the only four goals of the opening term and led by 25 points at the first break.

Subiaco eventually kicked its first goal of the night to start the second quarter through full-forward Matt Boland, but South Fremantle had all the answers with the next three majors courtesy of Saunders, Higgins and Pullman.

Subiaco was always going to hit back at South Fremantle during the second half and that’s exactly how the third quarter began with two quick goals in the opening three minutes courtesy of fiery small forward Chris Deluca.

That brought the Lions back to within five points and with all the momentum, but the Bulldogs again steadied with quick goals to Kelly and second-gamer Jarrod Garlett to be back out to an 18-point advantage.

Subiaco again made another charge just before three quarter-time and when Josh Deluca kicked his first goal of the night, the Lions were within four points before the Bulldogs answered on the siren when Hams kicked a beauty from long range on the boundary right on the three quarter-time siren.

That saw South Fremantle still lead by 10 points at the last change and then the Bulldogs looked to have the win sewn up following three goals in the opening eight minutes courtesy of Schloithe, Saunders and Pullman.

The Bulldogs then led by 29 points but the Lions weren’t done with yet.

Subiaco did all the attacking over the next 20 minutes and despite goals to Joyce, Josh Deluca and Chris Deluca, the Lions missed a host of chances that should have been taken in front of goal in particular to Waters and Horsley.

That should have been enough for the Lions, but they didn’t take their chances and got no closer than six points and then Saunders kicked his fifth goal on the siren for the Bulldogs and they recorded the 14-point victory.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        4.3    7.5    11.6    15.9    (99)
SUBIACO            0.2    4.6    9.8    12.13    (85)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 5; Pullman, Gillespie 2; Schloithe, Hams, Garlett, Kelly, Higgins, B Verrier.
Best: Hams, Schloithe, Parry, Saunders, Higgins, Gillespie, Guglielmana, Kelly.
SUBIACO – Goals: C Deluca 3; J Deluca 2; Joyce, Heal, Mahoney, Waters, Clarke, Horsley, Boland.
Best: Horsley, Bristow, Mahoney, C Deluca, Waters, Joyce.