Bulldogs lose at home to Swans despite better second half

ONCE again one quarter let South Fremantle down against Swan Districts at Fremantle Oval on Saturday but there were better signs after half-time and the colts and reserves put in particularly impressive performances.

South Fremantle was coming off the bye last weekend and Swan Districts had won its last two games, and came storming out of the blocks to lead by 21 points by quarter-time.

The black-and-whites then piled on eight goals to just one from the Bulldogs in the second quarter to lead by a massive 65 points by half-time.

Coming from such a deficit to actually win was always likely to be a task beyond the Bulldogs, but putting in a stronger showing in the second half was a requirement and they did deliver on that.

Justin Monaco kicked his first goal as a Bulldog in his third game since crossing from East Fremantle and then Adam Guglielmana and Mitch Banner also kicked early goals in the third quarter.

Kris Miller and Guglielmana then added two more in succession for South Fremantle to close the gap to 53 points before Swan Districts led by 54 at three quarter-time.

It was a better start to the final term as well with South Fremantle at one stage closing the margin to just 37 points before Swan Districts went on to win by 52, 20.18 (138) to 13.8 (86).

Banner continued his terrific first season with South Fremantle with another 35 possessions, eight marks, five inside-50 entries and two goals.

Paul Mugambwa, Ashton Hams and Guglielmana all kicked two goals apiece with Hams having 22 possessions to go with it.

Jacob Martinez also continued his strong form with the youngster picking up 25 possessions, eight marks and four entries inside-50.

Alex Grima picked up 23 disposals to go with 11 marks and seven inside 50s. Toby Bairstow picked up 21 touches and Sean Tighe had 20 disposals, and 19 hit outs in the ruck.

Another youngster Tim Kelly picked up 18 disposals and took eight marks with Nick Borovac and Reece Adams picking up 17 touches. Experienced dual premiership defender Craig White had 18 possessions and kicked his first goal of the season.

The South Fremantle reserves had a strong 22-point win over Swan Districts at Fremantle Oval with Sam Lowrie outstanding with 29 possessions and three goals.

Andrew McCarrey kicked two goals in his first game back from a knee injury with Anthony van Manen, Zac Strom and Marlon Pickett all adding two goals apiece.

Brendan Verrier gathered 30 possessions, Simon Panizza 23, James Laurino 23 and Shannon Burnett 23. Rhys D’Alton also had 21 disposals and Tyler Hall 19.

South Fremantle’s colts record an incredible thumping of Swan Districts ending up winning by 167 points, 25.24 (174) to 1.1 (7).

South Fremantle kicked six goals to no score in the first quarter and then another eight goals to no score in the second to remarkably lead 14.11 (95) to nothing at half-time.

Swan Districts finally scored a goal in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs piled on another five goals and then six more in the last two one behind from the black-and-whites to run out 167-point victors.

Jacob Dragovich was outstanding for South Fremantle with 33 possessions, eight inside-50 entries and a goal.

Ben Sokol kicked six goals from 28 disposals and 12 marks with Matthew Ah Siu also kicking five goals, Jayden D’Vauz three, Jarrod Garlett three, James Culleton two and Jarrod Pickett two.

Matthew Nicholson also gathered 25 possessions, Pickett 26, Garlett 22 and Mitchell Banks 22.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.2 3.4 8.6 13.8 (86)

SWAN DISTRICTS 5.5 13.9 16.12 20.18 (138)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Guglielmana, Banner, Mugambwa, Hams 2; Monaco, M Carter, White, Miller. Gillespie.

Best: Banner, Martinez, Grima, Tighe, Hams, Kelly.

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Garlett 5; Ugle 4; Notte 3; Geappen, Davis 2; Hildebrandt, Robinson, Newman, Bennell.

Best: Hildebrandt, Ugle, Hams, Davis, Garlett, Geappen, Roach, Riggio.

By Chris Pike