Bulldogs go down to Swans in first loss since Round 18 last year

SOUTH Fremantle suffered its first loss since Round 18 last year going down to Swan Districts by 21 points at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday in a tight and tough affair.

The wet and windy conditions along with the ferocious pressure and attack on the ball from both teams ensured that it was a torrid affair at Bassendean on Saturday.

The breeze also had a significant impact on the match with Swans leading by 16 points at quarter-time but the Bulldogs getting back to within two by half-time.

The black-and-whites again led by 20 points at three quarter-time, but then held firm in the final term to end up winning 12.16 (88) to 9.13 (67).

The loss is South Fremantle’s first since the nine-point defeat at the hands of eventual premiers Subiaco in Round 18 last year. The Bulldogs then went on to win the last five games of 2014 before then also winning the first three of 2015 under new coach Todd Curley.

Despite losing to Swan Districts on Saturday, South Fremantle does remain on the top of the WAFL ladder after four rounds heading into next Saturday’s clash with Subiaco at Fremantle Oval.

Blayne Wilson continued the outstanding start to his career with South Fremantle to open the 2015 season with another commanding performance across half-back finishing with 25 possessions, 14 marks and six rebounds from the defensive 50.

Anthony Collica came back into the South Fremantle team for the first time since the Round 1 win over West Perth and picked up a team-high 27 possessions.

Ashton Hams again worked hard for 26 disposals while Ryan Cook racked up 23, Tim Kelly 23, Kyle Hams 20 and Brendan Verrier 20, Shaun Bewick 19 and Jarrod Parry 18.

Dylan Ross continued his strong season in defence as well keeping Swan Districts’ full-forward Ricky Cary to one goal and having 17 possessions himself while Adam Guglielmana also had a good game defensively and picked up 17 touches as well.

Josh Pullman booted two second quarter goals for South Fremantle and took six strong marks for the game to be the most dangerous looking target in attack. Cory Dell’Olio also booted two final quarter goals to try to keep the Bulldogs alive.

Swan Districts had the breeze in the first quarter at Bassendean and took advantage with former Perth player Joel Houghton marking and goaling from outside 50 in the opening minute.

He then kicked the second goal of the game early into time-on and then Kirk Ugle got away to goal from 50 and Swans had the first three goals of the game.

A good transition from defence saw the ball end in the hands of Brendan Verrier in the pocket shortly before quarter-time, and he slotted South Fremantle’s first goal to bring the quarter-time margin back to 16 points.

South Fremantle then had the breeze in the second term and Pullman threatened to tear the game apart much like he did with five goals up against his old team in Round 21 last year.

He was marking everything coming in his direction and kicked two good goals in the second quarter, and when James Sellar also kicked well from deep in the pocket South Fremantle only trailed by two points at the main break.

However, Swan Districts again took the momentum with the help of the breeze in the third quarter and kicked the first goal through Rudy Riddoch, and then the last three after Craig White goaled for the Bulldogs.

That saw Swans lead by 20 points at three quarter-time and the lead was quickly out to 31 points early in the last term after goals to Jackson Slater and Ryan Davis.

South Fremantle kept trying and Dell’Olio added two final quarter goals with Ben Saunders and Collica also hitting the scoreboard, but Swans held on to win by 21 points.

South Fremantle’s reserves continued its unbeaten start to the season with a thumping 20.11 (131) to 4.3 (27) win over Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval.

The Bulldogs kept Swans to just one goal in the entire first half and then scoreless in the last term to record the 104-point victory.

Paul Mugambwa kicked four goals for South Fremantle with Noah Strom, Ben Sokol and John Sgherza all kicking three apiece, and Bailey Matera and Tim Stewart two each.

Josh Branchi was terrific in the ruck for the Bulldogs with 20 possessions and 24 hit outs while Lewis Harvey gathered 20 disposals, Jacob Dragovich 20, Jason Maskos 19, Sokol 19, Sgherza 18, Adam Carter 18, Bailey Matera 16 and Simon Panizza 16.

South Fremantle’s colts came up 26 points short despite a stronger second half showing against a Swan Districts team coming off winning last year’s premiership.

South Fremantle kicked just the one goal in the first half, but had its chances in the second half and only had one less scoring shot than Swans, but ended up losing by 26 points.

Brandon Donaldson kicked two of South Fremantle’s goals with Miles Barritt and Jake Florenca the other goal scorers.

Florenca also gathered 19 possessions for the Bulldogs, Joel McComb 19, Shai Bolton 16, Chad Foster 15 and Daniel Burke 15.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        1.2    4.6    5.10    9.13    (67)
SWAN DISTRICTS        3.6    4.8    8.12    12.16    (88)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Pullman, Dell’Olio 2; Collica, B Verrier, Sellar, White, Saunders.
Best: Wilson, Collica, Ross, A Hams, Pullman, Guglielmana.
SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Geappen 3; Houghton 2; Blight, Faulkner, Riddoch, Ugle, Slater, Davis, Cary.
Best: Blight, Simpson, Notte, Ugle, Faulkner, Elari, Wilson.