Bulldogs reserves go straight into 2013 grand final

Author: South Fremantle Football Club

SOUTH Fremantle’s reserves have won straight through to the 2013 WAFL grand final by winning its sixth straight match in Sunday’s second semi-final against Perth by five points.

The Bulldogs’ reserves team finished the home and away season in outstanding form winning five matches on the trot, including a 91-point Round 24 thumping over the minor premier Perth, to secure second position on the ladder.

That set up a clash on Sunday at Bassendean’s Steel Blue Oval with a grand final berth up for grabs and the opponent just happened to be the same Demons team that the Bulldogs had beaten by almost 100 points the previous week.

At the super early bounce down time of 9.05am, South Fremantle started strongly at the Bassendean venue against Perth kicking five goals to one in the opening quarter to lead by 21 points at the first break.

The Demons were able to hit back in the second term with four goals to just two from the Bulldogs with South Fremantle holding onto an 11-point lead at the main break.

South Fremantle again started strongly in the third quarter kicking three goals to just one from Perth to see the Bulldogs open up a 26-point lead at three quarter-time.

Perth had finished the home and away season as the minor premier, though, and the Demons had some quality league players in their side including Joel Leeson, Haydn Busher, Kane Ransted, Joel Houghton and Jarrad Irons, and they wouldn’t go away.

The Demons kicked five goals to two in the last quarter to get to as close as five points in the dying stages, but South Fremantle held on for the 12.11 (83) to 11.12 (78) victory.

Alex Grima, Jarrad Winter and Kingsley Smith all kicked two goals apiece for the South Fremantle reserves.

Jason Maskos played the first six games of 2013 in the league side and showed his talent again in the second semi-final for the reserves on Sunday finishing with 23 possessions and a goal.

Reece Adams played 12 league matches in 2013 and is also a premiership player from 2009, and was a strong contributor on Sunday with 19 possessions.

As well as kicking his two goals, Grima finished with 18 disposals and six inside-50 entries while James Laurino carried on his form from late in the year with the league side with 19 disposals on Sunday.

Jarrod Parry picked up 17 possessions for the Bulldogs, Winter 17 to go with his two goals, Warrick Andreoli 17, Tim Kelly 15 and Marlon Pickett 15.

Myles Bolger also had a good morning in the ruck with 12 touches, five marks and 14 hit outs.

The second semi-final win sees South Fremantle win straight into the 2013 grand final at Subiaco’s Patersons Stadium on Sunday September 22.

The Bulldogs will play the winner of this Sunday’s preliminary final between Perth and West Perth at Claremont Oval.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 5.1 7.4 10.9 12.11 (83)

PERTH 1.4 5.5 6.7 11.12 (78)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Smith, Winter, Grima 2; Parry, Maskos, Matera, Kelly, Pickett, Johnson.

Best: Maskos, Laurino, Adams, Grima, Winter, Pickett, Parry.

PERTH – Goals: Houghton 3; Manuel 2; Leeson, Stuart, Sandilands, Star, Chrimes, Fry.

Best: Irons, Leeson, Hug, Busher, Hunt, Richardson.

By Chris PikeSOUTH Fremantle’s reserves have won straight through to the 2013 WAFL grand final by winning its sixth straight match in Sunday’s second semi-final against Perth by five points.