Bulldogs hold Demons goalless in first half and cruise to win ahead of finals

THERE were no signs of complacency from South Fremantle despite having nothing at stake against Perth at Lathlain Park on Saturday with the Bulldogs kicking the only 10 goals of the first half to end up beating the Demons by 52 points.

The Bulldogs had locked in second position on the WAFL ladder no matter the result against the second last placed Demons so there was nothing at stake in terms of finishing positions.

But South Fremantle had already beaten Perth twice in 2016 by 98 points back at Lathlain Park in Round 5 and then by 38 points in Carnarvon in Round 20 on the back of 13 goals to three in the second half so the Bulldogs were full of confidence against the lowly Demons.

South Fremantle was on fire in the first quarter kicking eight goals to nil with Perth not even managing a behind. The Bulldogs then kicked another two goals to none in the second term to end up cruising to the 14.14 (98) to 7.4 (46) victory.

The result sees South Fremantle finish the season with a 15-5 record to be just one game behind minor premier Subiaco but two games clear of the third placed West Perth.

South Fremantle now plays West Perth in a qualifying final this Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with the winner to advance to a second semi-final against Subiaco. The loser hosts either Peel Thunder or East Perth in a first semi-final.

South Fremantle came into the game still missing Adam Guglielmana and Tim Kelly, and without Shane Hockey, Brock Higgins and Josh Pullman but had plenty of players putting their hands up to secure their place for the finals.

One player who has no concerns over his position was full-forward Ben Saunders who needed three goals to tie Subiaco’s Hamish Shepheard for the Bernie Naylor Medal for four to win it outright.

Saunders kicked four goals in the end to give him 52 for the season to claim a third leading goal kicking award in his five seasons with South Fremantle.

Mason Shaw also kicked three goals to give him 46 for the season for the Bulldogs with Ashton Hams and Tyson Pickett adding two apiece.

Dylan Main found himself in the reserves for a significant chunk of the season but since returning to the league side and being used as an inside midfielder he has been in tremendous form, and continued that on Saturday with another 31 possessions, seven inside 50s and six marks.

Steven Verrier also had another 30 disposals, nine marks, six inside-50 entries and a goal, Brendan Verrier 30 touches and Hams 26, Ryan Cook 21, Shaun Bewick 20 and Jacob Dragovich 19.

Blayne Wilson celebrated his 100th WAFL match by playing a tremendous game down back for South Fremantle with 27 possessions and nine marks while Marlion Pickett also had 20 disposals, seven marks, six tackles and five inside 50s.

It was always going to be an interesting game to finish the home and away season given South Fremantle couldn’t do anything but finish second and Perth had nothing but pride to play for, but despite the Bulldogs resting some key players they were on song from the outset.

It took just over seven minutes for the first goal of the game when Hams kicked truly and then once Tyson Pickett kicked his first it got the Bulldogs rolling with four goals in six minutes as Saunders added two and Shaw the other.

Hams then added a second and Shaw his second and third as South Fremantle piled on eight goals in the opening quarter with Perth unable to score a solitary behind.

It looked like the onslaught would continue during the second quarter when Saunders kicked his third early on to draw level in the Bernie Naylor Medal race. But it took 21 minutes for the Bulldogs to kick their 10th goal and that came to Blaine Johnson.

Perth did finally manage to score with a behind at the 21-minute mark of the second quarter to Liam McKenna and they had two points at half-time but the Bulldogs had 10 goals and seven behinds to lead by 65 points.

The Demons kicked their first three goals of the game with the opening three majors of the third quarter through Brett Wolfenden, Callum Walley and Spencer White before South Fremantle kicked its only goal of the third quarter thanks to Tyson Pickett at the 28-minute mark.

But with the opening two goals to Cook and Saunders to open the last quarter, South Fremantle was up by a game-high 67 points and went on to win by 52 in a performance that made sure they go into a first finals campaign since 2011 with plenty of confidence.

Perth’s colts made a good start at Lathlain Park securing top opposition with South Fremantle not managing a goal until the last quarter, with the Demons winning 5.14 (44) to 1.8 (14).

South Fremantle finishes third at 15-5 but will host Saturday’s qualifying final against the second placed Claremont at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Perth’s reserves finished its season on a high beating the finals bound South Fremantle 14.10 (94) to 10.10 (70) at Lathlain Park on Saturday.

Tim Stewart, Jordan Matera and Anthony Nodari all kicked two goals each for South Fremantle.

Stewart also picked up 26 possessions for the Bulldogs, Jake Florenca 26, Brayden Andrews 22, Billy Collier 21, Josh Collard 18 and Noah Strom 18 in the ruck to go with 14 hit outs and six marks.

South Fremantle’s reserves still finish the season in third position on the ladder with the reigning premiers ending up with 12 wins, seven losses and a draw ahead of a qualifying final this Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval against Claremont.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        8.2    10.7    11.10    14.14    (98)
PERTH                0.0    0.2    3.3    7.4    (46)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 4; Shaw 3; Hams, T Pickett 2; S Verrier, Johnson, Cook.
Best: S Verrier, Wilson, Main, B Verrier, Saunders, Hams, Cook.
PERTH – Goals: S White 2; Wolfenden, Walley, D White, Wilkins, Boyes.
Best: Jones, Tropiano, Wolfenden, Jacobs, Latch.