Bulldogs five representative shine in record WA win over Tasmania

SOUTH Fremantle had five players line-up in Saturday’s record-breaking state game win over Tasmania and all delivered strong showings led by 29 possessions from Ashton Hams and six goals by Ben Saunders.

Hams, Saunders, Tim Kelly, Ryan Cook and Marlion Pickett all played for WA with the WAFL side beating Tasmania by a record 134 points that eclipse the 122-point triumph at North Hobart in 1964.

It was a dominant performance from the outset by WA after Tasmania kicked the game’s first goal. The WAFL then kicked the next 11 goals of the game and then after Tasmania booted three in the third term, WA kicked the final 13 majors to end up winning 25.14 (164) to 4.6 (30).

It was a fourth straight win for WA following victories the past three years over the VFL, NEAFL and SANFL ahead of a likely clash with Victoria in Melbourne in 2017.

South Fremantle currently sits on top of the WAFL and all five Bulldogs players in the state game did themselves proud.

Hams was playing his third straight state match and is yet to play in a loss and the 2014 Simpson Medallist was part of a dominant WA midfield with 29 possessions.

Saunders then had a day out in the forward-line in his second time representing the WAFL kicking six goals from 13 possessions. Against the NEAFL two years ago, he also kicked five goals.

Cook was playing his fifth state game in six years since joining South Fremantle and he worked hard and played his role well again with 14 disposals, 11 marks and a goal.

Pickett played his second straight state match after making his debut last year against South Australia. He wasn’t needed too often down back but he played well ending up with 12 possessions and five marks.

Kelly was the only state debutant from South Fremantle and he also had some strong moments in the prolific midfield finishing with 14 possessions, five marks and three entries inside the forward 50.

Claremont’s Jye Bolton claimed the Simpson Medal following 46 possessions, seven clearances and two goals.

West Perth’s Shane Nelson finished with 32 disposals, Subiaco’s Leigh Kitchin 26, West Perth’s Luke Meadows 25, Claremont’s Ryan Neates 25, West Perth captain Jay van Berlo 23, Swan Districts’ 22 and Perth’s Clint Jones.

It was Jones’ first time representing WA since doing so twice as a South Fremantle player in 2005 and 2006.

East Fremantle’s Brett Peake also kicked seven goals in the state debut for the 32-year-old with Claremont’s Darcy Cameron kicking three with WA captain Paul Johnson dominant in the ruck with 17 touches, 29 hit outs, four clearances and two goals.

It wasn’t a day to remember for Tasmania but the visitors did have some players who worked tirelessly against the odds.

Jake Cox was awarded the Lefroy Medal as his state’s best player following 33 possessions and four clearances.

Jobi Harper also had 34 possessions, 13 marks, six tackles and five clearances for Tasmania, Harry Walters 26 disposals and 15 marks, Taylor Whitford 26 touches and seven marks, and Rhys Mott 23 possessions.

Veteran Ian Callinan came to Perth for a second straight year for a state game having played with South Australia last year. He worked hard in the midfield and at half-forward for two goals, 29 possessions, seven marks, five clearances and four tackles.

Cameron missed an early shot on goal for the first scoring shot of the game and then Tasmania immediately went down the other end to score the opening goal courtesy of Callinan.

It was another veteran who got WA’s first goal when Peake kicked truly at the nine-minute mark.

It took six more minutes for the next goal to Saunders following a 50m penalty. Johnson then proved too big for Tasmania’s defence and kicked WA’s third of the day before Kelly marked just before the siren and goaled after it to see the Black Swans lead by 20 points at quarter-time.

WA took further control in the second quarter with Peake kicking a good crumbing goal at the six-minute mark.

Cameron then booted the next two for WA as the young big man settled into his state debut and when prolific ball winners Bolton and Hams got in on the goal scoring, WA’s lead was out to 55 points.

Tasmania stopped the flow for almost 10 minutes and had a couple of shots on goal that missed before WA finished the half with Saunders kicking his second with the home side leading by 60 points at the break.

WA started the second half ominously with an early goal to Saunders but to Tasmania’s credit the visitors managed two quick goals to Trent Standen and Whitford to bring the margin back to 54 points.

But the WAFL side responded with the a fourth to Saunders before Callinan managed a second for Tasmania.

WA took over the rest of the third term, though, with Peake adding his third, fourth and fifth goals, Saunders his fifth, and Cameron his third as the lead blew out to 85 points at the last change.

Tasmania managed just the two behinds for the last quarter with WA’s fitness level coming to the fore as the home got to enjoy themselves.

Cook got the opening goal of the last quarter before Johnson added his second of the day and Tony Notte got on the board on his home field.

Peake then added a sixth, Saunders his sixth and Peake his seventh to match his father Brian’s performance for WA. He couldn’t quite get his eighth despite being isolated in the forward 50 late in the game, but goals to Claremont pair Neates and Bolton capped WA’s record 134-point win.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA            4.3    10.10    17.11    25.14    (164)
TASMANIA                1.1    1.4    4.4    4.6    (30)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – Goals: Peake 7; Saunders 6; Cameron 3; Bolton, Johnson 2; Kelly, Hams, Cook, Notte, Neates.
Best: Bolton, Nelson, Johnson, Meadows, Peake, van Berlo, Hams, Saunders, Kitchin.
TASMANIA – Goals: Callinan 2; Whitford, Standen.
Best: Cox, Harper, Callinan, H Walters, Riley, Cleary.

SIMPSON MEDAL (WA): Jye Bolton (Claremont).
LEFROY MEDAL (TAS): Jake Cox (Clarence).