Bulldogs open 2016 in style with win over Falcons

SOUTH Fremantle got off to an exciting start to the 2016 WAFL season on Saturday beating last year’s grand finalists West Perth by 35 points at the newly named Fremantle Community Bank® Oval.

The Bulldogs did concede the first two goals of the game to the Falcons but dominated the contest from there with the next five goals, then four to one in the second term and the first three of the last to end up winning 14.14 (98) to 9.9 (63).

The win sees South Fremantle claim the Garlic Munchers Cup for 2016 and remarkably the 35-point win replicates the one from Round 1 last year also over West Perth at the port.

It was an impressive showing from the Bulldogs largely because of the way a clear game plan and team structure came to the fore.

The swap of Josh Pullman to defence and Zac Strom forward worked a treat. Pullman, who has spent his entire career as an effective tall forward, played at full-back and not only shut down Nick Rodda but took 10 strong marks himself.

And at centre half-forward, Strom provided the Bulldogs with a strong target finishing with 16 disposals, nine marks and two goals.

Pullman received strong support down back from Blayne Wilson (28 possessions, 10 marks) and Marlion Pickett (23 disposals, eight marks) in key defensive roles restricting the import of West Perth talls Michael Lourey and Mark Hamilton.

And Strom was the main option leading up from the forward-line leaving Ben Saunders (three goals) and Mason Shaw (two) to look dangerous deeper with Haiden Schloithe (18 touches, seven tackles, two goals), Blaine Johnson (11 disposals, one goal) and Steven Edwards (11 possessions, one goal) getting to their feet.

South Fremantle’s midfield also had a greater blend of inside and outside players.

Ashton Hams again was the standout racking up 34 possessions but the arrival of VFL recruit Shane Hockey provided him with tremendous support and he had 25 disposals and five inside 50 on debut for South Fremantle.

Tim Kelly was tremendous as well with 24 touches, seven marks and a goal while there were plenty of other strong ball winners including Brendan Verrier (29 possessions), Ryan Cook (26, 12 marks, eight inside 50s), Adam Guglielmana (23), Adam McIntosh (20) and Dylan Main (20).

West Perth got off to the perfect start with the first two goals starting with one from a set shot after a free-kick to new sole captain Jay van Berlo, and then recruit Max Duffy marked strongly and kicked truly as well to give the Falcons a tremendous first five minutes.

However, the Bulldogs soon steadied firstly courtesy of defender turned forward Strom for their first goal of 2016. Shaw then tied the scores up when he kicked truly from a tight angle on his return to South Fremantle and in his league debut.

When Guglielmana booted his first goal since Round 3, 2014 the Bulldogs had all the momentum and it soon became five goals on the trot following two in two minutes to Saunders.

West Perth did respond with two of the quarter’s last three goals to big men Lourey and Rodda, but another South Fremantle debutant Edwards kicked truly shortly before quarter-time to see the home side maintain a 12-point advantage.

Schloithe missed an early set shot on goal in the second quarter for South Fremantle but Kelly made up for that seconds later.

Duffy answered minutes later with his second for the Falcons after a 50m penalty and down the field free against Saunders on former Claremont teammate Keegan Knott.

But the Bulldogs dominated the rest of the half and kicked goals to Shaw, Schloithe and Main before half-time to lead by 31 points at the main break.

West Perth managed to kick the first and last goals of the third quarter courtesy of Aaron Black, the first a quick snap out of congestion and the second a good set shot from the pocket, but South Fremantle still led at the last change by 27 points with Saunders’ third major of the day.

Strom, Johnson and Schloithe all helped South Fremantle to the first three goals of the last quarter to open up a game-high 46-point advantage before West Perth kicked the last two of the day through Duffy and Lourey to make the Bulldogs’ winning margin 35 points.

The colts contest began the day at Fremantle Community Bank® Oval with South Fremantle scoring a resounding 21.9 (135) to 4.7 (31) victory under new coach Mark Foster.

The Bulldogs kicked 14 goals to two in the second half to win by 104 points over a West Perth team that made finals ahead of them in 2015.

Mitch Dzelebdzic kicked four goals for South Fremantle with Dylan Brown booting three, Shai Bolton three, Antionne Forrest-Yarran three, Jimmy Miller two and Brodee Knight two.

Daniel Burke gathered a game-high 29 possessions for the Bulldogs with Brown also having 26 disposals, Tere Teio-Yarran 19, Kyle Russell 19 and Bolton 19.

The reserves contest then closed the evening at Fremantle Community Bank® Oval with South Fremantle making it three from three over West Perth winning 8.9 (57) to 7.10 (52) kicking the only goal of the final quarter.

Brandon Donaldson booted three goals for South Fremantle and Jacob Dragovich two to go with 22 possessions. Kendall Mow also booted two majors.

Tim Stewart finished with 23 possessions, Shaun Bewick 21, Matthew Ah Siu 20, Josh Collard 18, Jakeb Tartaglia 18 and Traye Bennell 17.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        6.1    10.4    11.8    14.14    (98)
WEST PERTH            4.1    5.3    7.5    9.9    (63)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 3; Shaw, Strom, Schloithe 2; Guglielmana, Johnson, Kelly, Edwards, Main.
Best: Hams, Pullman, Kelly, Hockey, Cook, Wilson, B Verrier, Pickett.
WEST PERTH – Goals: Duffy 3; Black, Lourey 2; van Berlo, Rodda.
Best: Black, Strijk, van Berlo, Lynch, Manning, Manzone.