BULLDOGS GO DOWN TO ROYALS

SOUTH Fremantle weren’t quite able to keep their winning WAFLW form going with a loss to East Perth on Saturday heading into this weekend’s break for the State Game.

The Bulldogs arrived at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on the back of beating Subiaco at the same Leederville venue the previous week to make it three straight wins.

They took on the competition’s newest team on Saturday and it was the Royals who ended up prevailing to claim their best, and second, win in the WAFLW competition by prevailing 3.6 (24) to 2.8 (20).

Following the loss, South Fremantle slips to a 4-4 record but remains in fourth position on the WAFLW ladder heading into the break this weekend for the State Game against South Australia on Saturday afternoon at Optus Stadium.

South Fremantle’s goals for the day were kicked by Pippa Sideris and Zoe Huggett.

Alyssa Smogavec continued her strong form as well for the Bulldogs finishing with 25 possessions and nine tackles.

Hope Arrowsmith also had 21 disposals for South Fremantle, Hunter Cronin 20, Kahra Sprlyan 19, Annalie Polimeno 17, Noa McNaughton 16, Caitlin Pears 16 and Lauren Vecchio 16 to go with six tackles.

South Fremantle did have the better of the start to the contest at Leederville with the game first four scoring shots including a goal to Zoe Huggett at the 11-minute mark.

The Bulldogs were then then still leading by eight points at quarter-time but East Perth picked up the momentum to start the second term capped off with their first goal of the contest from Lillian Ninyett to grab the lead for the first time of the afternoon.

However, South Fremantle were back in front by half-time to the tune of five points thanks to a late first half goal from Pippa Sideris.

There was just the one goal kicked in the third quarter and that went the way of East Perth with the Royals also kicking the only goal of the last quarter to secure the eventual four-point win despite South Fremantle having the last three scores which all turned out to be behinds in a thrilling finish.

The day’s action at Sullivan Logistics Stadium began on Saturday morning with the Rogers Cup match up and it was a dominant 5.9 (39) to 0.3 (3) victory for South Fremantle against East Perth.

The win improves the Bulldogs to a 4-4 record in the Rogers Cup to sit in fifth position to be a game behind the fourth placed Swan Districts at the end of Round 9.

Nicole Taylor-Thorpe continued her impressive goalkicking form for South Fremantle finishing with another four goals with the Bulldogs’ other goal coming from Madison Hadley.

WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 9

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        1.4          2.4          2.5          2.8          (20)

EAST PERTH                                       0.2          1.5          2.6          3.6          (24)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Sideris, Huggett.

Best: Smogavec, Cronin, Sprlyan, Arrowsmith, Polimeno, Vecchio, McNaughton.

EAST PERTH – Goals: Firns, Ninyett, Vinicombe.

Best: Firns, Banks, Verbrugge, Greenwood, Boothman, Sara, Schmiedgen.