BULLDOGS END SEASON WITH DERBY LOSS

SOUTH Fremantle’s WAFLW and Rogers Cup seasons came to an end after derby losses to East Fremantle on Saturday but there was a lot to be encouraged about from both teams in 2024.

Even if South Fremantle weren’t quite able to back up last year’s first ever finals appearance in the WAFLW competition where they made a preliminary final, there was significant change in player personnel in 2024 and the signs of what the future holds is exciting.

South Fremantle was up against it on Saturday at Revo Fitness Stadium taking on the reigning premiers East Fremantle who had already secured the minor premiership for 2024 as well coming into the last round derby.

In the end, East Fremantle did beat South Fremantle 7.10 (52) to 4.4 (28) which means the Bulldogs end their season with a 6-8 record and in sixth position.

Alira Fotu made the most of her chances up forward for South Fremantle by kicking two goals from her three kicks for the match up.

She was the only multiple goal scorer for the Bulldogs with the other goals coming courtesy of Poppy Stockwell and Annalie Polimeno.

Shannyn Pomersbach continued her emergence with South Fremantle by racking up another 17 possessions to go with six inside-50 entries and five marks.

Noa McNaughton also ended up with 16 possessions for the Bulldogs, Stockwell 16, Marie Polimeno 16, Renee Morgan 14, Liusaidh Gilchrist 13, Indi Strom 11 to go with five tackles, and captain Lauren Vecchio 11 along with four tackles.

Kahra Sprlyan has been an outstanding servant for South Fremantle and the 28-year-old announced her retirement after the game and was chaired off the field with players from both teams giving her a fitting guard of honour.

The derby to close the home and away season for 2024 got underway with a string of behinds between the two sides in the opening quarter with East Fremantle leading by three points at quarter-time.

The goals then started to come in the second term beginning with the Sharks getting on the board first courtesy of Ashlee Atkins.

South Fremantle then answered thanks to Annalie Polimeno before Alira Fotu added another before half-time which saw the Bulldogs head into the half-time break with the five-point advantage.

The lead for South Fremantle then grew to 11 points with Fotu kicking a second goal to open the second half and suddenly a derby win to finish the season for the Bulldogs was a distinct possibility.

However, the Sharks responded with three goals to close the third quarter to turn that 11-point deficit into a 10-point advantage.

East Fremantle then also kicked three goals to one in the final quarter to end up winning by 24 points to finish the season with an 11-game winning streak well clear on top of the ladder.

It was a derby in the Rogers Cup to close the 2024 season as well at Revo Fitness Stadium with East Fremantle ending up beating South Fremantle.

With the result, the Bulldogs finish the season just short of a finals position with a 7-7 record.

South Fremantle’s goals were kicked by Khesan Starr and Eva Flynn.

WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 16

SOUTH FREMANTLE        0.1    2.3    3.3    4.4    (28)
EAST FREMANTLE        0.4    1.4    4.7    7.10    (52)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Fotu 2; Stockwell, Polimeno.
Best: McNaughton, Polimeno, Stockwell, Pomersbach, Morgan, Strom, Gilchrist.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Atkins, Leitch 2; Jezierski-Brown, Blizard, Fish.
Best: Fish, Atkins, Wrigley, Gubbins, Gomes, Wong, Blizard.