Bulldogs too good for Falcons on Easter Sunday

SOUTH Fremantle dominated the second and third quarters on Easter Sunday to set up a comfortable 16-point win over West Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval to make it two wins from three to open 2019.

There has been plenty of change at South Fremantle from last year’s preliminary final loss to West Perth and Sunday’s clash, but the Bulldogs were impressive to make it 10 wins in the last 11 starts against the Falcons.

Despite the turnover in senior players over summer, it’s now been a good start to the season for South Fremantle with two wins from the three games and the one loss to Perth could very well have gone the other way.

It was an impressive display on Sunday with the 16-point margin not telling the full story of South Fremantle’s control of the contest. But the Bulldogs ended up winning 11.12 (88) to 10.2 (62).

Dion Munkara kicked three goals in just his second game of WAFL football for South Fremantle with Haiden Schloithe, Kade Stewart and Dylan Main all kicked two goals as well.

South Fremantle’s midfielders had big afternoons benefitting from the work of ruckman Brock Higgins who finished with 19 possessions, 53 hit outs and four marks.

Jake Florenca racked up 29 disposals for the Bulldogs, Schloithe 27, Jacob Dragovich 26 (13 tackles), Brendan Verrier 24, Main 23, Stewart 21, Steve Verrier 20 (nine tackles) and Andrew Haydon 20.

Then down back, Noah Strom had a terrific battle with Tyler Keitel while Chad Pearson continued his good start to the season with 20 possessions and eight marks while doing a good job defensively largely on the dangerous Rudy Riddoch.

West Perth took less than two minutes to kick the first goal of the game thanks to Trent Manzone before South Fremantle responded through second-game excitement machine from the Tiwi Island, Dion Munkara.

Corey Chalmers and Tyler Keitel combined to give the Falcons a two-goal lead before the Bulldogs responded with consecutive goals to Kade Stewart before Munkara booted a second to put South Fremantle on top.

Keitel’s second goal for West Perth saw scores level at quarter-time but the Bulldogs then dominated the second quarter with the only four goals courtesy of Dylan Main, Munkara, Haiden Schloithe and then a beauty from Shaun Bewick.

South Fremantle’s running game off half-back was taking full effect and best illustrated with the terrific ball movement that led to Schloithe delivering a perfect pass to Bewick who finished on the run in style against his former side.

That saw the Bulldogs lead by 25 points at half-time before both teams kicked three goals apiece in the third term with South Fremantle still in front by 27 points at three quarter-time.

The Bulldogs peppered the goals in the last quarter but could only manage seven behinds. There was a brief flutter of a Falcons fightback when they kicked three goals but South Fremantle still won comfortably 11.12 (78) to 10.2 (62).

West Perth’s colts won its second game in succession handing South Fremantle a third consecutive defeat to open the 2019 season at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Easter Sunday.

The game was played as the curtain-raiser to the league fixture at the port on Sunday and it would be West Perth that won its second game of the season in a nail-biter.

South Fremantle started the season with a similarly heartbreaking loss to Swan Districts and now the Luke Tedesco-coached Bulldogs are 0-3 despite having played some impressive football over the opening three rounds.

It was two goals apiece between South Fremantle and West Perth in the opening quarter, before the Falcons kicked three goals to two in the second term to see them go into half-time leading by six points.

There was a goal apiece again in the third quarter with West Perth leading by five points before South Fremantle dominated the opening parts of the last term.

Goals to Cailem Narkle, Lachlan Johnson and Adam Correia saw the Bulldogs open up a 14-point lead 10 minutes into the fourth quarter.

But West Perth then responded with the last three goals of the game through Rohan Scurria, Koopah Todd and Jaxon Prior to secure the 9.7 (61) to 8.7 (55) victory.

Jaxon Prior not only kicked the winning goal for West Perth but finished the game with 28 possessions, four marks, four inside-50 entries and two goals. Taylor Ashworth kicked two goals as well for the Falcons.

Koopah Todd also racked up 29 possessions, Tyron Hindmarsh 25, Heath Chapman 25, Ben Johnson 17, Callum Johnson 17, Ryan Hudson 17, Jack Kermode 16 and Zak Patterson 15 to go with 17 hit outs and six marks.

Cailem Narkle kicked two goals from four kicks for South Fremantle with Nathan Spooner also kicking two majors.

George Wessels compiled 28 possessions for the Bulldogs to go with 10 marks, six tackles and six inside-50 entries.

Jacob Sax also had 24 disposals, Jarrod Salmeri 23, Toby McQuilkin 20, Jaxon Bellchambers 20 and Jack Musika 19.

The Easter Sunday action at Fremantle Community Bank Oval then concluded in the evening with the reserves contest that saw another thrilling finish, with South Fremantle beating West Perth 9.10 (64) to 9.7 (61).

Jacob Warne kicked three goals for Fremantle with Daniel Cabassi and Zac De San Miguel booting two apiece.

Kyle Hamersley racked up 27 possessions for the Bulldogs, Tom Blechynden 25, Josh Collard 21, Jye Depane 19, Daniel Cabassi 18, Chris Ah Siu 18 and reigning fairest and best winner Trent Reed 15 to go with 10 tackles.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        4.0    8.3    11.5    11.12    (78)
WEST PERTH            4.0    4.2    7.2    10.2    (62)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Munkara 3; Schloithe, Stewart, Main 2; Bewick, Shaw.
Best: Schloithe, Florenca, Higgins, Dragovich, B Verrier, Pearson, Main.
WEST PERTH – Goals: Keitel 4; Chalmers, Knott 2; Manzone, Shannon.
Best: Black, Peirce, Nelson, Munns, Wilhelm, Shannon.