BULLDOGS HAMMER LIONS AT HOME

SOUTH Fremantle put together its best and most complete performance of the season to beat Subiaco by 88 points on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The Bulldogs were looking to bounce back from a loss to Peel Thunder the previous week in Mandurah to consolidate their finals position when hosting the struggling Subiaco at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

South Fremantle dominated the contest virtually from the outset and despite having struggled to kick big scores for the majority of the season, they fired on Saturday kicking 19 goals from 37 scoring shots with a mammoth 72 entries inside the forward 50.

The Bulldogs went on to win 19.18 (132) to 6.8 (44) to improve to a 10-5 record on the season with a draw with two matches of the season remaining.

Mason Shaw played his best game of the season after what has been a challenging 2022 for the premiership winning vice-captain and Bernie Naylor Medallist. He kicked five goals to go with 13 possessions, five marks and three tackles.

Jimmy Miller also struck some imposing form for the Bulldogs kicking three goals to go with 16 touches, eight marks and 15 hit outs with Brendon Ah Chee and Tyson Headland also kicking two goals apiece.

Haiden Schloithe continued his brilliant late season form for South Fremantle with another 33 possessions, six marks, five tackles, four inside 50s and a goal.

Tom Blechynden also gathered another 25 touches for the Bulldogs, Ah Chee 24, Toby McQuilkin 21, Blake Schlensog 19 (10 marks), Zac Strom 18, Chad Pearson 17, Glenn Byron 17 and Jordan Boullineau 17.

Ben Sokol was back on his old home ground and gave Subiaco the perfect start with a goal a minute into the contest and it took almost 10 minutes for South Fremantle to respond thanks to his old colts premiership teammate Mason Shaw.

The Bulldogs then got on a roll from there to close the first quarter with goals to Zac Strom, Brandon Donaldson, Nick Suban and Jimmy Miller to already hold a commanding 30-point advantage by quarter-time.

While the Lions again kicked an early goal to start the second term thanks to another ex-Bulldogs Brandon Matera, they couldn’t build on it and South Fremantle didn’t take long to answer thanks to Tyson Headland.

Brendon Ah Chee and Headland then added goals before half-time and South Fremantle was well on top by 44 points at the major break.

It was South Fremantle’s turn to kick an early goal to start the third quarter thanks to Brendon Ah Chee after just 40 seconds to push the lead out to 44 points.

It became a goal feast in the third quarter but the by the time it all settled South Fremantle had added another seven goals for the term to just three from Subiaco.

That saw South Fremantle open up a 69-point advantage by three quarter-time after a goal to Shaw just prior to the siren.

Shaw then added another to start the fourth term to stretch the lead to 76 points and a triple-figure win wasn’t even totally out of the question when Haiden Schloithe kicked a goal at the 26-minute mark, but the Bulldogs cruised to the 19.18 (132) to 6.8 (44) victory.

The day started at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday with South Fremantle’s colts beating Subiaco 8.11 (59) to 6.11 (47).

Tom Ogden, Liam Brandis and Anton Hanson all kicked two goals each for South Fremantle’s colts while Christian Wilson racked up 29 touches, Roan O’Hehir 25, Chase Bourne 20 and Jordan Rodriguez 17.

Subiaco’s reserves then managed to defeat South Fremantle 7.11 (53) to 6.7 (43).

Jake Hinder kicked two goals for South Fremantle with George Wessels amassing 36 possessions, Manfred Kelly 26, Jarrod Salmeri 20, Lachlan Taylor 16, Angus Fraser 16 and Nathan Spooner 14 to go with 32 hit outs.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 18

SOUTH FREMANTLE        5.7    8.10    15.13    19.18 (132)
SUBIACO            1.1    2.2    5.4    6.8 (44)

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Shaw 5; Miller 3; Ah Chee, Headland 2; Schloithe, Suban, Z Strom, Donaldson, Hall, Main, Datson.
Best – Schloithe, Ah Chee, McQuilkin, Shaw, Blechynden, Ah Chee, Schlensog, Miller.
SUBIACO: Goals – Sokol 3; Matera 2; Faraone.
Best – L Hickmott, Delahunty, Rohde, Kitchin, Savigni, Sokol, Giro, Matera.