BULLDOGS FALL TO EAGLES

It was a rough night for South Fremantle at Lathlain’s Mineral Resources Park missing a host of key players and ending up losing to the West Coast Eagles by 41 points.

West Coast came into the game on Saturday evening yet to win in 2022 and on a 13-game losing streak dating back to last year coming up against a South Fremantle team on a three-game winning run and having played in the last three Grand Finals, and six preliminary finals.

However, the Eagles were boosted with the inclusions of Nic Naitanui, Greg Clark, Jackson Nelson and Sam Petrevski-Seton, and with the Bulldogs without ruckman Hamish Free, gun on-baller Jake Florenca, spearhead Mason Shaw, star defender Chad Pearson, the surprise result was in order.

West Coast kicked four goals to one in the first quarter and then the only three goals of the third term set them up for the eventual 13.12 (90) to 7.7 (49) victory.

Toby McQuilkin again did what he could down back for South Fremantle finishing with 21 possessions and six marks.

Glenn Byron also finished with 18 touches for the Bulldogs, Tom Blechynden 17, Dylan Main 17, Steve Verrier 16 and Aiden Hall 16.

The presence of Nic Naitanui gave the game an added excitement factor and that was shown to have plenty of merit as he took the first centre bounce, kicked the game’s first goal and gave the Eagles a spark as they chased a drought breaking victory.

Greg Clark was back for the Eagles WAFL team too and he kicked an early goal and Jackson Nelson was making his return from injury and he added another. West Coast had three goals in 11 minutes and the Bulldogs were shellshocked.

Isiah Winder added another for the Eagles too before South Fremantle eventually got on the board courtesy of tall forward Jimmy Miller.

But West Coast went into quarter-time on a high leading by 18 points which was again back out to 23 early in the second term when Jack Williams kicked truly.

South Fremantle needed to show some bark and they haven’t played in the last three Grand Finals for nothing, and they did finish the half strongly with goals to Brendon Ah Chee, Brandon Donaldson and then Blake Schlensog after the siren.

The Eagles were still leading by 13 points at the main break and then all but put the result beyond doubt by holding the Bulldogs scoreless in the third quarter while kicking another three goals themselves.

Four more goals to three in the last quarter and really for the entire second half the Eagles were never seriously threatened and recorded the emphatic streak breaking 13.12 (90) to 7.7 (49) victory.

South Fremantle now sits fourth on the WAFL ladder with a 6-4 record ahead of the Round 11 bye and then playing Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday July 9.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 10

SOUTH FREMANTLE        1.3    4.6    4.6    7.7 (49)
WEST COAST EAGLES        4.3    6.7    9.9    13.12 (90)

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Ah Chee, Z Strom, Donaldson, Main, Miller, Schlensog, Headland.
Best – McQuilkin, Byron, Main, Schlensog, Blechynden.
WEST COAST: Goals – Williams 3; Naitanui, Naish, Johnstone 2; Winder, Foley, Nelson, Clark.
Best – Edwards, Witherden, Naish, O’Neill, Naitanui, Clark, Browne, Hansen.