BULLDOGS LOSE THRILLER TO FALCONS

IT was only a late goal from West Perth in the dying minutes that denied South Fremantle the Round 13 WAFLW victory on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The Bulldogs were back at home on Saturday afternoon looking to snap a three-game losing run in the WAFLW competition, and they were on target throughout a late of the contest to do just that.

South Fremantle kicked the only three goals of the first quarter and then were still leading by seven points at half-time and by 17 at three quarter-time.

In the end, West Perth kicked the last goal of the game through Elissa Price to snatch the 5.6 (36) to 5.4 (34) victory.

The loss means South Fremantle remains in sixth position on the WAFLW ladder with a 4-7 record to now be two games outside of the top four with three rounds of the season remaining.

Poppy Stockwell continued her impressive goalkicking form this season in the WAFLW competition for South Fremantle by kicking another two goals from 10 kicks to go with four inside-50 entries, three marks and two tackles.

Liusaidh Gilchrist was back into the team for the Bulldogs and the 2022 fairest and best winner gathered a team high 19 possessions to go with five marks, five inside-50 entries and four tackles.

Noa McNaughton also finished with 14 disposals in the game for South Fremantle, Hunter Cronin 14, Lauren Vecchio 14, Molly O’Hehir 14 and Charlie Vandenberg 11 to go with 25 hit outs and eight tackles in the ruck.

South Fremantle dominated the first quarter of the contest and were the only team to score by quarter-time. That included goals for the Bulldogs to Shannyn Pomersbach, Poppy Stockwell and Noa McNaughton to see the home team leading by 20 points after one.

It was West Perth’s turn to take charge of play for a lot of the second quarter and West Perth were able to kick the only two goals of the term as a result to cut the South Fremantle lead back to seven points at half-time.

South Fremantle then extended its lead once more to start the second half with an early goal to Annalie Polimeno. Then just before three quarter-time and Stockwell kicked her second of the afternoon to take a 17-point lead into the last stanza.

West Perth was going to the scoring end of Fremantle Community Bank Oval in the last quarter and the visitors took full advantage.

After having only kicked two goals all game up to that point, West Perth kicked the only three goals of the final term including the go-ahead shot from Elissa Price at the 16-minute mark on the way to the eventual two-point victory.

Meanwhile, in Round 13 of the Rogers Cup it was West Perth who secured the 12.16 (88) to 2.0 (12) victory against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The Falcons remain undefeated this season in the Rogers Cup with the 11th straight victory of 2024 while the Bulldogs remain in fifth position with a 6-5 record to be just a game still behind the fourth placed Swan Districts.

South Fremantle’s goals in the game were kicked by Tanaya Prentice and Nicole Taylor-Thorpe.

WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 13
SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.2    3.3    5.3    5.4    (34)
WEST PERTH            0.0    2.2    2.4    5.6    (36)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Stockwell 2; Pomersbach, McNaughton, Polimeno.
Best: Gilchrist, Vecchio, Stockwell, Vandenberg, O’Hehir, Wilkins, McNaughton.

WEST PERTH – Goals: Van Den Heever 3; Spurr, Price.
Best: Cameron, Norbury, Webb, Van Den Heever, Roper, Price.