Bulldogs win impressively again at Shark Park

SOUTH Fremantle won its fourth straight match over East Fremantle at the newly named ATOM Stadium on Saturday with a commanding performance to end up prevailing by 43 points to win the Uittenbroek-Ciccotosto Cup.

South Fremantle kicked the first goal of the game at the newly named East Fremantle Oval and then were in control from the outset of the contest to beat the finals bound Sharks in terrific fashion, 16.12 (108) to 9.11 (65).

The victory backs up the Bulldogs’ 17-point win over the Sharks also on Anzac Day as well on WA Day last year and then in the final derby of 2013 making it four successive victories at Shark Park.

Ben Saunders again made the most of his chances in attack for South Fremantle kicking four goals from seven kicks to keep himself right in contention to win the Bernie Naylor Medal as the WAFL’s leading goalkicker for the second time in three years since joining the Bulldogs.

Anthony Collica also had a terrific game for South Fremantle with three goals from 20 possessions and 13 marks.

Ben Sokol contributed two goals as well as did debutant Jarrod Pickett with the 17-year-old who is expected to be a high draft pick later this year kicking a goal with his first kick in league football to go with his two majors, 10 possessions and five marks for the day.

Ashton Hams continued his dominant form against East Fremantle racking up a game-high 33 possessions and nine marks while Tim Kelly also had 30 disposals, Toby Bairstow 30, James Sellar 25, Jarrod Parry 24, Jacob Martinez 23, Haiden Schloithe 23, Brendan Verrier 22 and Shaun Bewick 19.

Brock Higgins continued his strong season for South Fremantle in the ruck with another 18 possessions, five marks, four tackles, three inside-50 entries and 21 hit outs.

Paul Mugambwa kicked the first goal of the derby for South Fremantle and Collica, Pickett and Schloithe got in on the act as the Bulldogs opened up a 27-2 advantage during the opening quarter.

East Fremantle finally got a major on the board, but Saunders responded with his first of the day and the Bulldogs led by 24 points at quarter-time.

The Sharks did manage to kick the first goal of the second quarter, but Saunders then kicked his second to get the lead to 24 points before two quick goals in succession to Sokol had the lead out to six goals.

When Collica booted his second goal of the day South Fremantle led by as much as 38 points before being up by 31 at the main break.

The second half then began with Saunders booting his third goal of the afternoon and then when he managed his fourth the Bulldogs were up by 44 points.

When Alistair Gillespie added another major for South Fremantle its advantage over East Fremantle was a game-high 51 points.

Collica also kicked his third goal and Pickett his second before three quarter-time that saw the Bulldogs hold a 48-point advantage.

After a couple of early East Fremantle goals in the last quarter, Martinez kicked his goal for the afternoon and South Fremantle went on to win emphatically by 43 points in the finish.

South Fremantle’s reserves got off to a slow start with a goalless first quarter and kicking just three goals for the first half to trail by 48 points at half-time, and ending up losing to East Fremantle by 62 points.

Braden Fimmano, Emmanuel Collard and Josh Pullman all kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle while Pullman also contributed 23 possessions, 10 marks and five inside 50s.

Lewis Harvey responded to being dropped after three games in the league team by picking up 31 possessions for the Bulldogs with Jacob Dragovich finishing with 24 disposals, Adam McIntosh 23, Mitch Carter 23, Tim Stewart 20 and Jayden D’Vauz 19.

Meanwhile, South Fremantle’s colts opened the day at ATOM Stadium with a thumping 17.6 (108) to 3.5 (23) victory over East Fremantle.

Cameron Loersch kicked four goals for the Bulldogs with Bailey Matera, Matthew Ah Siu and Kade Stewart all booting two apiece.

Stewart also racked up 29 possessions for the Bulldogs, Ah Siu 25, Jake Florenca 22, Dylan Brown 20, Jamie Foster 20, Matera 18 and Corey Salmon 18.

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        5.3          9.6          14.8        16.12     (108)

EAST FREMANTLE                            1.3          4.5          6.8          9.11        (65)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 4; Collica 3; J Pickett, Sokol 2; Schloithe, Sellar, Martinez, Mugambwa, Gillespie.

Best: Kelly, Hams, Higgins, Parry, Bairstow, Collica, Sellar, Martinez.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Perham 3; Lester-Smith, Young 2; Stephen, Henson.

Best: B O’Brien, Perham, B O’Brien, Schofield, Chartres.