Bulldogs snap losing run to claim Cable-Michael Cup

SOUTH Fremantle overcame the absence of its captain and two of its most important players, and fought back from coughing up the lead in the last quarter to beat Perth by 12 points on Saturday at Lathlain Park to win the Cable-Michael Cup for the first time.

South Fremantle came into the game without captain Ryan Cook, dual premiership star Ashton Hams and 85-gamer Adam Guglielmana following the previous week’s loss to Claremont with the Bulldogs also on a six-game losing streak.

However, Perth was also on a seven-match losing run of its own coming into Saturday’s contest with not only the Cable-Michael Cup on the line, but the winner to also move clear of being in contention of the wooden spoon for 2014.

South Fremantle led at every change of the game by one-point at quarter-time, seven points at half-time, 17 points at three quarter-time and then the margin got out to four goals during the final term but the match had one more twist to take.

Perth went on to kick four straight goals during the fourth quarter to suddenly take the lead and have all the momentum, but South Fremantle again found a way to steady and kick the game’s last two goals thanks to Craig White and Paul Mugambwa to secure the 13.11 (89) to 10.17 (77).

The win is South Fremantle’s fourth of the 2014 season and ends a six-game losing streak with the Bulldogs now moving a game clear of the three-win Perth and Peel Thunder who appear stuck battling over the wooden spoon for 2014.

South Fremantle now holds the Cable-Michael Cup for the first time with the trophy named in honour of Perth, East Perth, North Melbourne and WA football legend Barry Cable, and South Fremantle and WA all-time great Stephen Michael.

Haiden Schloithe led the way for South Fremantle with 30 possessions while Shaun Bewick racked up 29 to go with 10 marks and a goal on return after being dropped to the reserves the previous week against Claremont.

Tim Kelly continued his good form for the Bulldogs through the middle with 25 touches, seven tackles, six marks and five inside-50 entries while James Sellar again worked hard for 22 possessions, 11 marks and four inside 50s.

Ben Sokol played the best of his six league matches with South Fremantle picking up 21 possessions, taking seven marks, laying four tackles, driving the ball inside-50 on four occasions and kicking a goal.

Jarrod Parry also picked up 20 disposals for the Bulldogs, Anthony Collica 19, Jacob Martinez 18 and 101-game midfielder Toby Bairstow 17.

Ben Saunders was the star up forward for South Fremantle kicking six goals from six kicks while veterans White and Mugambwa stepped up by booting two goals apiece.

South Fremantle’s day started with the first goal through Saunders before his second then put the Bulldogs back on top in response to Perth’s opening major of the contest.

Bewick then continued a hot start to his return to the league side with seven early possessions and then a goal to put South Fremantle in front by nine points before holding on to a one-point advantage by quarter-time.

Perth found its way to the lead early in the second term but a goal to Lewis Harvey regained the advantage for the Bulldogs and then Saunders kicking his third goal maintained that advantage.

Saunders then added a fourth from as many kick to stretch South Fremantle’s lead to seven points and that’s where it remained at the long break.

White then kicked his first goal of the game to open the second half and stretch the Bulldogs advantage to 13 points and it was then out to 19 when Saunders booted his fifth goal.

Sokol then kicked a goal and the lead was 23 points before stretching to as much as 24 late in the third term when Saunders added a sixth for the afternoon.

Mugambwa kicked the opening goal of the fourth quarter and South Fremantle again led by 23 points, but Perth then found its best patch for the match over the next 15 minutes by kicking four goals to suddenly hit the lead.

However, South Fremantle found something to fight back and late goals to Mugambwa firstly, and then White saw the Bulldogs claim the 12-point victory.

South Fremantle’s reserves also recorded a 12.11 (83) to 12.4 (76) victory over Perth at Lathlain Park on Saturday.

Some new blood from the colts was given an opportunity as well with Jacob Dragovich racking up 25 possessions, Braden Fimmano 24, Jakeb Tartaglia 18, Jarrod Pickett 18 (and two goals) and then the pick of the bunch was Bailey Matera with 26 disposals and two goals.

Kaiden Matera also kicked three goals for the Bulldogs while Mitch Carter racked up 26 possessions, Tim Stewart 23, Traye Bennell 22 and Josh Pullman 20 to go with 11 marks and a goal.

The colts got the day off to a perfect start for South Fremantle with a 12.7 (79) to 6.4 (40) victory over Perth.

The Bulldogs trailed by five points at half-time but then kicked eight goals to one in the second half to run out 39-point winners.

Owen Ham, Cameron Loersch and Jake Florenca kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle while Matthew Ah Siu racked up 23 possessions, Will Frampton 23 (18 hit outs), Jye Depane 21, Kade Stewart 20, Jesse Mirco 19 and Florenca 18.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.0    6.3    10.6    13.11    (89)

PERTH                2.5    4.8    6.13    10.17    (77)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 6; Mugambwa, White 2; Harvey, Bewick, Sokol.
Best: Schloithe, Bewick, Kelly, Sellar, Saunders, Sokol, Parry.
PERTH – Goals: M Morton 5; Moody 2; Stack, Florio, Collard.
Best: Tropiano, M Morton, Kane, White, Ugle, Bateman, Moody.