Bulldogs no match for Falcons in battle for Garlic Munchers Cup

SOUTH Fremantle started strongly with an encouraging first quarter but couldn’t keep it going against West Perth losing by 62 points at Fremantle Oval on Sunday.

It was an encouraging start for the Bulldogs with Brendan Verrier kicking a goal inside the game’s first minute and then leading by as much as 12 points during that opening term where they kicked six goals.

The problem was that West Perth also managed six goals with scores tied at quarter-time with South Fremantle then managing just the four goals for the rest of the match while West Perth piled on 13 to end up winning 19.19 (133) to 10.11 (71).

It was a tough afternoon for South Fremantle but Brendan Verrier continued to emerge as a top-class WAFL player despite having just 20 games of experience. The 19-year-old racked up a career-best 33 possessions to go with nine marks and the first goal of the match.

Ashton Hams worked hard for the Bulldogs finishing with 33 disposals, 10 tackles and five marks including an absolute screamer in the final quarter when he sat on the shoulders of his West Perth opponent and held on in spectacular fashion.

Captain Ryan Cook again did what he could for South Fremantle with 25 possessions, five marks, four tackles, four inside 50s and a goal while Haiden Schloithe finished with25 touches and a goal.

Jarrod Parry also collected 19 possessions, Toby Bairstow 18 and Anthony Collica 18.

Adam Guglielmana tried hard down back and gathered 22 possessions while Nick Borovac did a good job holding Anthony Tsalikis goalless and Zac Strom kept Seva Martin to just the one goal also.

Craig White was the lone shining light up forward for South Fremantle in the absence of Ben Saunders and Paul Mugambwa, with three goals from 15 possessions and six marks. Brock Higgins worked hard as well for 15 touches and two goals.

Both teams were down a man before half-time as well with West Perth losing Steve Potente to a lateral ligament injury to his knee that could sideline him for up to a month while South Fremantle youngster Mitch Banks suffered a nasty knee injury that saw him taken away to hospital.

South Fremantle started the game perfectly with the first goal through Brendan Verrier and then after West Perth booted three straight in response, the Bulldogs replied through Higgins, Schloithe and then White to open up a seven-point advantage.

That then stretched to 12 points when Tim Kelly kicked truly before scores ended up being tied at quarter-time.
White managed to kick his second of the day and the first of the second quarter to put South Fremantle seven points up, but it would prove the Bulldogs only goal of the quarter with West Perth leading at the long break by 19 points.

South Fremantle again managed just the one goal in the third quarter through White with the Falcons leading by 45 points at the last change, and then winning by 62 in the finish despite final quarter goals for the Bulldogs to Mitch Carter and Higgins.

South Fremantle’s reserves came up short of West Perth as well at Fremantle Oval with the Falcons ending up winning 15.13 (103) to 10.9 (69).

Myles Bolger kicked two goals for South Fremantle with Josh Branchi dominating in the ruck with 57 hit outs.

Tim Stewart picked up 27 possessions while laying six tackles with Jacob Martinez finishing with 24 disposals and 11 tackles, Lewis Harvey 23 touches, Adam McIntosh 22, Alistair Gillespie 21 and Matthew Gundry 19.

The Bulldogs’ colts also went down to the Falcons 8.8 (56) to 8.6 (54) with Jake Florenca kicking three goals for South Fremantle and Cameron Loersch two. Jye Depane picked up 18 possessions, Brandon Donaldson 17, Anthony Nodari 17 and Jamie Foster 17.

SOUTH FREMANTLE            6.5    7.7    8.9    10.11    (71)
WEST PERTH                6.5    10.8    15.12    19.19    (133)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: White 3; Higgins 2; Schloithe, Kelly, B Verrier, Carter, Cook.
Best: B Verrier, Hams, White, Borovac, Guglielmana, Cook, Higgins.
WEST PERTH – Goals: Rodda 5; Johnson 3; Crisp 2; Black, Strijk, Kerr, Guadagnin, Tsalikis, van Berlo, Potente, Martin, Manning.
Best: Nelson, Johnson, Rodda, van Berlo, Guadagnin, Black, Kerr, Jones, Hunt