Bulldogs can’t quite topple Demons at home

SOUTH Fremantle started on fire and then opened the last quarter in scintillating fashion, but in between Perth was able to do enough to set up their eventual three-point victory over the Bulldogs.

Coming off the Round 1 victory against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval, South Fremantle started Saturday’s game at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on fire kicking four goals in the first 19 minutes.

But Perth was able to respond and went to three quarter-time leading by 23 points. The Bulldogs, though, came out barking to start the fourth term with four quick goals to regain the lead.

However, Perth got back on top and then despite South Fremantle peppering the goals in the dying stages, they couldn’t get that go-ahead goal and the Demons prevailed 11.10 (76) to 10.13 (73).

South Fremantle had won its past four home matches against Perth and nine of the last 10 overall, and the Bulldogs started impressively on Saturday with the opening four goals inside 19 minutes to Zac Strom, Mason Shaw, Haiden Schloithe and Shaun Bewick.

It was a stunning opening but Perth did respond with a couple of goals before quarter-time and by half-time the Demons were right back in the contest down by just the six points having kicked the last two goals of opening half.

Perth then hit the front for the first time in the game to start the second half with a goal to Matthew Taylor. The Demons would continue to dominate proceedings in the third term with four more goals to turn into the last term with a 23-point advantage.

South Fremantle wasn’t done with yet, though, and it took just over a minute for Zac Strom to kick his second of the game. Schloithe then kicked two in the space of just over three minutes and all of a sudden it was a five-point ball game.

Bewick then kicked his second shortly after and South Fremantle had come all the way back to hit the front again. But Perth did respond to reclaim the lead through Corey Byrne.

Shaw’s third major saw South Fremantle bring things back level before Perth excitement machine put the Demons back on top and that proved enough for the win with the Bulldogs dominated the last five minutes with the ball stuck in their forward half, but they could only manage four behinds from that.

That meant Perth held on to win by three points for a first win at Fremantle Community Bank Oval for five years.

The reserves contest opened proceedings at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday with South Fremantle proving too strong, winning 14.9 (93) to 7.6 (48) against Perth.

South Fremantle kept Perth goalless the entire first half while kicking five goals themselves. The Bulldogs then kicked nine goals to seven in the second half to win by 45 points.

Tyson Pickett kicked four goals for the Bulldogs with Josh Collard and Jacob Warne also booting two.

Kyle Hamersley racked up 30 possessions for South Fremantle’s reserves, Trent Reed 24, Tom Blechynden 22, Andre Coutinho 17 and ruckman Blair Della Franca 17 along with 36 hit outs, four marks and three backs.

Perth’s colts opened its 2019 season on a winning note beating South Fremantle by 21 points at New Choice Homes Park on Sunday afternoon.

As part of the WAFL Colts Super Round, the game took place on Sunday afternoon at East Fremantle Oval to conclude the Round 2 action.

South Fremantle started well with three goals to two in the first term to lead by three points at quarter-time before the Demons dominated the second quarter with six shots to two, but managed just the one goal to go into half-time leading narrowly by six points.

The Demons were able to pull away further in the third stanza with three goals to one, and then finished the job with three more goals to two in the last quarter to win 9.12 (66) to 6.9 (45).

Shannon Neale kicked three goals for South Fremantle from four kicks and three marks.

Jack Musika racked up 26 possessions for the Bulldogs to go with seven marks and five tackles.

Manfred Kelly also gathered 24 disposals, Brodie Plunkett 18, Jacob Sax 17 and George Wessels 16 along with nine tackles.

Solomon James and Nash Miller worked hard in the ruck combining for 49 hit outs.

South Fremantle is now back in action at Fremantle Community Bank Oval against West Perth on Easter Sunday.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        4.3    5.4    5.7    10.13    (73)
PERTH                2.2    4.4    9.6    11.10    (76)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Schloithe, Shaw 3; Bewick, Z Strom 2.
Best: Dragovich, Higgins, Wilson, Schloithe, Stewart, Maskos, Z Strom.
PERTH – Goals: Byrne, Bennell 3; Rogers 2; Taylor, Langdon, Garstone.
Best: Colledge, Yeo, Sinclair, Leggett, Byrne, Rogers.