Bulldogs start pre-season impressively against Royals

SOUTH Fremantle took on East Perth in their first official WAFL pre-season matches at Leederville Oval on Saturday with the league, reserves and 16s teams coming away victorious and the colts going down narrowly.

It was the first official hit outs against real opposition for the Bulldogs in 2017 leading up to Round 1 of the McDonald’s Premiership Season against Subiaco at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday March 18.

South Fremantle was impressive as well with the league team beating the Royals 11.8 (74) to 10.6 (66) in a contest featuring two teams who played finals in 2016.

South Fremantle’s reserves beat East Perth 13.10 (88) to 10.10 (70) with the 16s also prevailing 11.8 (74) to 10.4 (64). The Bulldogs colts showed plenty of encouraging signs as well despite the Royals taking out the 10.4 (64) to 7.16 (58) victory.

The Bulldogs league team took on the Royals on Saturday evening with much of the game under lights at Leederville Oval with the scorching heat of the afternoon beginning to fade a little, but it was still tough conditions for the players of both teams.

It was East Perth who made the better start and took a 13-point advantage into half-time under new coach Luke Webster, but South Fremantle’s fitness paid off after the break.

The Bulldogs came out and kicked four goals to two in the third quarter before then booting the first major of the last term to set up the eventual eight-point victory.

Tim Kelly started off 2017 in the form he displayed throughout much of 2016 for the Bulldogs. The state midfielder racked up plenty of the ball in the midfield with his hardness at the contest a standout for a player still on the rise.

Haiden Schloithe has had an injury-interrupted last two seasons since winning the WJ Hughes Medal in 2014, but he showed he is primed for a big 2017 providing a strong presence in a variety of roles.

East Fremantle recruit Jake Solomon did well in the ruck in his first appearance in Bulldogs colours, and in the absence of Brock Higgins and Josh Branchi.

Blaine Johnson was his usual lively self up-forward while colts graduates Chad Pearson and Kyle Russell impressed in the back-line.

Premiership-winning forward Cory Dell’Olio also made his return following his enforced layoff in 2016 and showed enough signs that he is ready to make an impact this season.

Up to seven regular members of the league team weren’t playing for South Fremantle as well including Higgins, Mason Shaw and Ashton Hams.

Meanwhile, the reserves contest was played in the hottest conditions of the afternoon at Leederville Oval.

Again it was South Fremantle who played the stronger in the second half to come away with the 18-point victory.

The most encouraging sign in the reserves contest was the successful return of defender Adam McIntosh. He played well across half-back in his first game back since suffering his broken leg in Round 13 last year against Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

Anthony Nodari showed exciting signs in the forward-line in South Fremantle’s reserves under new coach Paul Litherland. Nodari kicked four goals with Daniel Roy-McGregor doing well in the midfield.

Chris Ah Siu stepped up from the colts last year to put in a strong performance in the reserves out of the back-line.

The colts were the only South Fremantle team to lose on the day against East Perth at Leederville Oval, but it was only by six points and largely because of inaccurate kicking from the Bulldogs.

South Fremantle’s colts kicked 1.10 in the third quarter alone and that proved the biggest factor in the end result.

Terryk Cox, Mitch Henry and Ben Sherry all kicked two goals each for the Bulldogs with Alex Cabassi, Jacob Warne, Kyle Hammersley and Glenn Byron all playing well also.

Then the South Fremantle 16s team put in the most emphatic performance of the day holding East Perth to one goal to win by 64 points.

East Perth actually kicked the first goal of the contest before the Bulldogs nailed the next 11 for the big win.

South Fremantle has the bye from pre-season action this weekend before taking on Claremont at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday March 11.

ROUND 1 PRE-SEASON RESULTS – LEEDERVILLE OVAL
LEAGUE
South Fremantle 11.8 (74) defeated East Perth 10.6 (66)

RESERVES
South Fremantle 13.10 (88) defeated East Perth 10.10 (70)

COLTS
South Fremantle 7.16 (58) lost to East Perth 10.4 (64)

16s
South Fremantle 11.8 (74) defeated East Perth 1.4 (10)