BULLDOGS FALL TO SWANS AT BASSENDEAN

SOUTH Fremantle couldn’t quite deliver a 10th straight victory against Swan Districts with Swans coming away with the nine-point victory at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

South Fremantle had won the previous nine meetings against Swan Districts but it was a different story on Saturday at the Bassendean venue.

Swans were able to open up a 25-point advantage in the second quarter and that proved to be a match-winning advantage with them going on to record the 9.10 (64) to 8.7 (55) Round 6 WAFL victory.

Haiden Schloithe was South Fremantle’s only multiple scorer in the game kicking two goals from 19 possessions, six inside 50s and three tackles.

Jake Florenca put together another standout performance in the midfield for South Fremantle with 32 possessions, six tackles, five marks and four entries inside the forward 50.

Tom Blechynden battled hard in the midfield as well for the Bulldogs with 25 touches and five tackles with Toby McQuilkin gathering 23 disposals, Chad Pearson 18, Lachlan Taylor 18 and Steely Green 16.

Hamish Free was impressive in the ruck once more for South Fremantle with another 16 possessions, 55 hit outs and a goal.

Swan Districts might have lost nine in-a-row against South Fremantle but the black-and-whites started strongly on Saturday with a goal inside the first minute to Chris Jones.

Jesse Palmer then strolled into the open goal for a second at the four-minute mark and it was a perfect start from the home team against the Grand Finalists of the past three years.

A spectacular mark and conversion for a goal from Jimmy Miller sparked South Fremantle but Swan Districts responded through Mitch Bain. A second for the opening term to Jones then ensured the black-and-whites led by 14 points at the quarter-time break.

Swans then kicked the opening two goals of the second quarter as well courtesy of Lachlan Riley and Tarir Bayok to open up a 25-point advantage.

Steve Verrier pulled one back for South Fremantle in his first goal since returning to the Bulldogs this season after taking a break in 2021 following the 2020 premiership.

However, Swans responded through Palmer before South Fremantle did a get a couple back just before half-time through Hamish Free and Haiden Schloithe to cut the half-time deficit to 14 points.
The Bulldogs were then right back in the contest thanks to kicking the first goal of the second half through Jarrod Salmeri, but that would be as close as they would get the rest of the way.

Swans closed the third quarter with a goal to Ryan Kemp and when he kicked a second midway through the final term the lead for the home team was out to 21 points, and they would go on to win 9.10 (64) to 8.7 (55).

The day started at Steel Blue Oval with South Fremantle’s colts delivering a tremendous fourth quarter to beat Swan Districts 13.6 (84) to 9.12 (66).

Liam Brandis kicked four goals for South Fremantle with Harry Elphick and Lochlan Bloomer adding two apiece while Christian Wilson gathered 37 possessions, Roan O’Hehir 33, Jordan Rodriguez 22 and Jaren Carr 19.

Meanwhile in the reserves match up, Swan Districts won in a thriller 7.7 (49) to 6.8 (44) against South Fremantle.

Jack Blechynden kicked two goals for South Fremantle with George Wessels gathering 30 possessions, Jaxon Bellchambers 30, Jacob Sax 24, Josh Cuneo 21, Tom Regan 20 and Tyrese Pickett-Miller 19.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 6

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.1    5.2    6.4    8.7 (55)
SWAN DISTRICTS        4.3    7.4    8.7    9.10 (64)

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Schloithe 2; Verrier, Z Strom, Free, Miller, Green, Salmeri.
Best – Florenca, Blechynden, Free, McQuilkin, Schloithe, Pearson.
SWAN DISTRICTS: Goals – Palmer, Jones, Kemp 2; Bain, Riley, Bayok.
Best – Fisher, Turner, Watson, Collins, Erceg, Clarke, Riley, Cipro.