Bulldogs make it three straight with win over Thunder

SOUTH Fremantle took another step towards a top two position for a fourth consecutive WAFL season with a 40-point victory over Peel Thunder at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

South Fremantle dominated the game from the outside against Peel kicking the game’s opening six goals before cruising to the 11.16 (82) to 6.6 (42) victory which made it three in-a-row with two rounds of the home away season in 2019 remaining.

Mason Shaw ended up kicking another three goals for South Fremantle with captain Dylan Main adding two to go with 19 possessions, six marks and six tackles.

Haiden Schloithe continued his blistering form for South Fremantle with another 38 possessions, seven inside 50s, five marks and five tackles with the Bulldogs’ midfielders having to step up in the absence of Jacob Dragovich.

Steve Verrier finished with another 28 disposals and 10 tackles for the Bulldogs with Jake Florenca collecting 24 touches, Kyle Russell 24, Shaun Bewick 19, Brandon Donaldson 18 and Kade Stewart 17 to go with nine tackles.

Brock Higgins had another 11 touches and 48 hit outs in the ruck while down back, Chad Pearson had another 24 possessions and six marks for South Fremantle, Zac Dent 23 disposals, five marks and five tackles, and Noah Strom 17 possessions and seven marks.

South Fremantle continued its improved form with a third straight victory on Saturday kicking the game’s first six goals on the way to a 40-point victory against Peel Thunder at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

It has been a season of streaks so far for South Fremantle with the Bulldogs going on a seven-game winning streak before then losing four matches in-a-row and now following Saturday’s win over Peel, they’ve again put together three consecutive victories.

It took less than four minutes for South Fremantle to kick the first goal of the game courtesy of Caleb Datson.

Captain Dylan Main then added another for the Bulldogs and then Bernie Naylor Medal leader Mason Shaw added two more before quarter-time leaving the home team holding a 25-point advantage having held the Thunder to the one behind in the first term.

Shaw then kicked his third goal to open the second term and when Shaun Bewick kicked truly at the 11-minute mark, the Bulldogs had the first six goals of the contest to be leading by 37 points.

Peel eventually got its first goal of the game at the 13-minute mark thanks to Lachlan Cullen but that would be the Thunder’s only major of the opening half.

South Fremantle finished the half with a second goal to Main and another to Jake Florenca to see them in control by 46 points at the major break.

The second half never reached any great heights from either side but South Fremantle’s lead did grow to as much as 58 points when Zac Strom kicked truly at the 28-minute mark of the third term.

Peel did manage the last two goals of the third term courtesy of Gerald Ugle and then the Thunder booted the only goal of the final quarter but South Fremantle still cruised to the 11.16 (82) to 6.6 (42) victory.

The win made it three consecutive victories for South Fremantle and the Bulldogs returned to second position on the ladder to be just a slight percentage ahead of Claremont.

South Fremantle now takes on Claremont this Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval before finishing the season against West Perth at HBF Arena.

The day began at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday with Peel Thunder further consolidating top spot in the colts beating the bottom placed South Fremantle by 71 points.

Nash Miller, Ben Cabassi and Ira Jetta kicked the three goals for South Fremantle in the game while Jetta racked up 27 possessions, Jack Musika 25, Manfred Kelly 21 and Jarrod Salmeri 18.

Then in the reserves, South Fremantle held off Peel Thunder with a thrilling 8.9 (57) to 8.6 (54) victory.

Travis Abbott kicked three goals for the Bulldogs to go with 15 possessions and eight marks.

Tom Blechynden gathered 33 possessions for South Fremantle, Josh Collard 26, Kyle Hamersley 24, Zac De San Miguel 23, Trent Reed 19 and Blair Della Franca 14 to go with 53 hit outs.

Tom Vandeleur was playing his second match back from a knee reconstruction and had 17 possessions.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        4.2    8.6    11.12    11.16    (82)
PEEL THUNDER            0.1    1.1    5.2    6.6    (42)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Shaw 3; Main 2; Florenca, Bewick, Z Strom, Donaldson, Haydon, Datson.
Best: Schloithe, Verrier, Pearson, Dent, Florenca, N Strom, Russell.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Ugle 3; Cullen 2; Howlett.
Best: Howlett, Merrett, Lawler, T Bennell, Power, Bewley.