Bulldogs dominate Peel in 93-point thrashing in Mandurah

SOUTH Fremantle continued its impressive form nearing the end of the 2013 season recording the biggest win in the WAFL this year with a 93-point thumping of Peel Thunder in Mandurah on Sunday.

The Bulldogs kicked the first five goals of the game inside the first 15 minutes to virtually have the match sewn up at that point, and they went on with it the entire afternoon at Bendigo Bank Stadium to run out 24.16 (160) to 9.13 (67) winners.

The victory means that South Fremantle is now no chance of finishing on the bottom and in fact the Bulldogs have now climbed up into seventh position on the ladder ahead of Subiaco with the win ahead of the last two games of the 2013 season against East Perth and Perth.

Remarkably even though the Bulldogs have just five wins for the year, four of them have resulted in cups coming to Fremantle Oval. Sunday’s win was for the Gary Holland Shield and now that joins the Garlic Munchers, Big Boots and Foundation trophies as the spoils of victories in 2013.

The Bulldogs completed dominated the contest against Peel on Sunday finishing with a massive 150 more possessions and 40 scoring shots to 22 to set up the 93-point victory.

West Coast’s Ashton Hams returned on Sunday for South Fremantle and continued his outstanding WAFL form this season finishing with 31 possessions, six clearances, four inside-50 entries and six goals.

The Bulldogs’ other AFL-listed player on the day, Fremantle’s Haiden Schloithe, was also terrific particularly in the first half with 23 disposals, six clearances and two goals.

Three of South Fremantle’s young midfielders were particularly outstanding with Brendan Verrier racking up 30 possessions, Jacob Martinez 25 and two goals, and Tim Kelly 24 touches.

Captain Ryan Cook continued his strong season with another 34 possessions as well with Mitch Banner having it 32 times, second-gamer James Laurino 22 (as well as a mercurial goal), Reece Adams 17 and Kris Miller 17.

Peel still managed to go inside its forward 50 on 41 occasions but South Fremantle’s back-line was well in control led by Adam McIntosh who not only restricted Kristin Thornton to 12 touches, but had 26 possessions and a career-best three goals himself.

Nick Borovac had a good battle with lively Peel forward Brad Holmes and had 22 disposals himself while Warrick Andreoli played his best game for South Fremantle with 21 touches.

Dylan Ross was again a standout performer at centre half-back with 20 touches and five marks with Adam Guglielmana picking up 18 disposals and Mitch Carter 16 to go with a good goal.

It took just over two minutes for Paul Mugambwa to kick the first goal of the day for South Fremantle with Ben Saunders adding another at the six-minute mark with Schloithe, Martinez and then Schloithe again helping the Bulldogs to the first five goals of the game and an early 33-point lead.

The Bulldogs were still in front by 33 points at quarter-time and that extended to a massive 75 by half-time after a dominant nine-goal to two second term punctuated by a Sean Tighe major after the half-time siren.

It took 10 minutes for the first of the third quarter, but it came when McIntosh booted his second of the day and when he kicked his third just before three quarter-time, South Fremantle was leading by 95 points.

That lead got out to as much 107 points when Hams booted two goals in the first two minutes of the final quarter before the Bulldogs eventually won by 93 points.

It is the biggest win of the WAFL season to date eclipsing East Perth’s 91-point win over Peel in Round 15.

South Fremantle’s reserves also recorded a comfortable 49-point win over Peel but it could have been by so much more if the Bulldogs had kicked straighter than the 11.24.

Blaine Johnson booted three goals from 19 possessions, seven marks and four tackles in an impressive display with Kaiden Matera also booting two majors.

Alex Grima racked up a game-high 29 possessions with Jarrod Parry having it 28 times, Toby Bairstow 26, Jarrad Winter 25, Tyler Hall 23 and Dylan Main 20.

Shaun Bewick also came in for his first appearance of the season after a knee injury and picked up 13 possessions.

The Bulldogs colts got the day off in Mandurah to a perfect stat with a massive 20.11 (131) to 2.4 (16) win over the Thunder.

Willie Rioli booted five goals from 17 possessions for South Fremantle with Jarrod Pickett kicking three goals and Traye Bennell and Jarrod Garlett booting two apiece.

Jacob Dragovich racked up 32 possessions while laying eight tackles with Braden Fimmano gathering 25 disposals, Matthew Gundry 22 and Jakeb Tartaglia 21.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 6.7 15.9 20.15 24.16 (160)

PEEL THUNDER 1.4 3.6 5.10 9.13 (67)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Hams 6; McIntosh 3; Saunders, Schloithe, Martinez 2; Cook, Verrier, Kelly, Laurino, Tighe, Gillespie, Carter, Miller, Mugambwa.

Best: Hams, McIntosh, Cook, Verrier, Martinez, Kelly, Banner, Schloithe.

PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Motlop, Holmes 3; Jones, Taberner, Thornton.

Best: Jones, Flaherty, Wilkins, Holmes, Motlop.

By Chris Pike