BULLDOGS GO DOWN AT HOME TO ROYALS

SOUTH Fremantle could never quite get going on Sunday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval unable to continue its dominance over East Perth with the Royals coming away with the 23-point win.

East Perth arrived at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in impressive form having won its past three matches but South Fremantle had already beaten them earlier this season and had generally dominated proceedings against the Royals in recent times.

Aside from a good start to the second quarter, though, it was East Perth on top most of the afternoon on Sunday to end up beating South Fremantle 12.10 (82) to 9.5 (59).

It wasn’t the prettiest start to the contest in what was a grind over the first 15 minutes and neither team able to take their chances in front of goal, but eventually at the 17-minute mark it was East Perth who got the first goal on the board.

That came courtesy of Sam van Diemen before Shayne Hill added another for the Royals. Manfred Kelly got South Fremantle on the board but was the Royals on top by quarter-time by 11 points thanks to a Liam Tedesco conversion after the siren.

South Fremantle was able to make a strong start to the second quarter though. It started with a goal to Zac Strom before Caleb Stephens added another and when Kelly kicked his second of the day, it was the Bulldogs with all the momentum and an eight-point advantage.

They couldn’t maintain it, though, with East Perth getting the last two goals of the half courtesy of Mitch Schofield and Hille to be clinging to a four-point advantage.

If the game was still on the line at half-time, it didn’t stay that way too long into the second with East Perth kicking three goals in the opening eight minutes from Angus Scott, Nick Bonomelli and van Diemen to lead by 25 points.

South Fremantle did stay in touch with a couple of quick goals from George Wessels and Brandon Donaldson, but East Perth continued to have the answers and closed the third term with goals to Schofield and van Diemen.

Schofield added another to start the fourth stanza and that just about wrapped up the win for the Royals. The Bulldogs did show some signs of life with a couple of goals to Dylan Main, and then Matthew Parker’s first of the season.

That got South Fremantle back within 15 points but East Perth kicked the last goal of the game through Liam Tedesco to win by 23 and make it four on the trot.

South Fremantle again struggled to kick a winning score but Manfred Kelly and captain Dylan Main did manage two goals apiece.

Jake Florenca had another strong showing on the ball for South Fremantle with 28 possessions while Tom Blechynden picked up 27, Jacob Dragovich 24, Matthew Parker 19 and Glenn Byron 18 running off half-back.

Meanwhile, Round 10 of the Colts saw East Perth beat South Fremantle 11.13 (79) to 8.13 (61).

Tarkyn Etherington, Isaiah Hayden and Kaleb Baines kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle while Liam Piper collected 22 disposals, Callum Copeland 21, Tyler Rowe 16 and Preston Cherry-Bayles 16.

Round 10 in the Reserves had East Perth win a close one 7.14 (56) to 7.9 (51) against South Fremantle.

Aiden Hall and Ed Graham kicked two goals each for South Fremantle while Robbie Turnbull racked up 30 possessions, Hal 26, Riley Vidovich 22 and Jaxon Bellchambers 19. Brock Higgins also had 16 touches and 38 hit outs in his second game back.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 10

SOUTH FREMANTLE        1.3    4.4    6.5    9.5    (59)
EAST PERTH            3.2    5.2    10.7    12.10    (82)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Kelly, Main 2; Wessels, Z Strom, Donaldson, Parker, Stephens.
Best: Blechynden, Florenca, N Strom, Byron, Dragovich, Main, Parker.
EAST PERTH – Goals: Van Diemen, Schofield 3; Hille, Tedesco 2; Scott, Bonomelli.
Best: Schumacher, Robertson, Scott, van Diemen, Crowden, Watts, Msando, North.