BULLDOGS ROAR HOME IN DERBY

ZOE Huggett kicked the winning goal in the last kick of the WAFLW season-opening derby on Saturday with South Fremantle completing a stunning fightback to beat East Fremantle by three points.

The WAFL Women’s season got underway on Saturday afternoon at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle playing host to East Fremantle in the first game for the Bulldogs under new coach Pia Faletti.

Jess Watts, Hannah Burt, Eva Flynn and Melinda Bobby all made their debut in the Round 1 derby for the Bulldogs as well but it would turn out to be a goalless first half from the home team.

East Fremantle only managed two goals themselves to be leading by 14 points at half-time before both teams added a goal apiece in the third quarter.

South Fremantle finally got on the board thanks to Zoe Huggett in that third term, but the Sharks were still leading by 16 points at three quarter-time.

East Fremantle then kicked the first goal of the last quarter and it looked like South Fremantle had left themselves with too much work to do.

A goal from debutant Jess Watts at the six-minute mark did breathe some life into the contest with a 15-point deficit, but still it would be another 10 minutes before the Bulldogs could score another.

After South Fremantle continued to attack, Huggett kicked her second of the day with a powerful effort from 50m out and it was back to a nine-point game with only four minutes to play.

Poppy Stockwell showed her class soon after to add another with a clever snap with the Bulldogs back within just three points all of a sudden with 2:30 remaining.

That all led up to the game winning play where Huggett was tackled in the forward pocket by two East Fremantle opponents and she received the free-kick when it was determined they dragged her down.

Huggett coolly went back to take the shot and never looked like missing to put South Fremantle in front and then time expired before the ball got back to the middle with the Bulldogs winning by three points thanks to four goals in the last four minutes.

Huggett ended up winning the Vecchio-Smith Medal after finishing the game with three goals from six kicks and three marks.

Liusaidh Gilchrist had a strong showing for the Bulldogs in the middle with 19 possessions, four tackles and four inside-50 entries while Marie Polimeno collected 18 disposals, Alyssa Smogavec 17 (eight tackles), Hunter Cronin 17, Tahleah Mulder 15, Poppy Stockwell 13 and Annalie Polimeno 13.

Kate Newson also delivered a big effort in the ruck ending up with nine possessions, 17 hit outs and three tackles.

The day’s action started at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday with the Rogers Cup match up and that was also a South Fremantle victory, with the Bulldogs beating East Fremantle 8.12 (60) to 5.6 (36).

It was just a one-point lead at half-time for South Fremantle before they kicked five goals to nothing in the third quarter to set up the eventual 24-point victory.

Continuing on her family’s famous history with South Fremantle, Ayvah Rioli was an excitement machine in the win kicking four goals for the Bulldogs.

Holly Barnes also kicked two goals with one apiece to Khesan Starr and Zarlya Yarran.

WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 1

SOUTH FREMANTLE        0.1    0.2    1.2    5.3    (33)
EAST FREMANTLE        1.2    2.4    3.6    4.6    (30)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Huggett 3; Watts, Stockwell.
Best: Gilchrist, Smogavec, Huggett, Cronin, Polimeno, Newson, Mulder.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Blizard 4.
Best: Gomes, Blizard, Atkins, Flynn, Gubbins, Louvel-Finn, Browne.