CONSECUTIVE BULLDOGS WINS A FIRST IN 2024

SOUTH Fremantle closed in on a top four spot in the WAFLW after beating Swan Districts by 14 points at home on Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs were back home at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Sunday afternoon to play host to the fourth placed Swan Districts and attempting to further close in on a spot inside the top four.

Both teams made the finals last year and had their seasons ended by East Fremantle, and both are putting themselves in the mix to be there again in 2024.

South Fremantle was then able to kick seven of the game’s first 10 goals to then hold on for the 7.4 (46) to 5.2 (32) victory to make it consecutive wins for the first this time WAFLW season.

The win improves the Bulldogs to a 3-3 record to now only be percentage behind the fourth placed Swans at the end of Round 7.

Poppy Stockwell continued her tremendous form so far this season for South Fremantle kicking another two goals to go with 14 possessions, three marks and three inside-50 entries.

Pippa Sideris also kicked two goals for the Bulldogs while Molly O’Hehir finished with 26 disposals to go with five tackles, four inside 50s and three marks.

Tahleah Mulder also collected 22 touches, Alyssa Smogavec 20, Makayla Cocking 14 and reigning fairest and best winner Ariana Hetherington 14 along with eight hit outs and four tackles.

It took almost 12 minutes for the first score of the game and that went the way of Swan Districts with a goal to Emily McGuire, but South Fremantle responded just a minute later thanks to Pippa Sideris.

It again took almost 10 minutes for a goal in the second term and this time it was South Fremantle putting it on the board through Noa McNaughton to open up a 12-point lead.

Swans responded thanks to Carys D’Addario but then the Bulldogs closed the first half impressively with goals to Poppy Stockwell and Lauren Vecchio to open up an 18-point advantage by half-time.

Swan Districts closed to back within 13 points to start the second half with a goal to Kayley King but again the Bulldogs responded thanks to Sideris and Zoe Keley to be on top by 24 points at three quarter-time.

Swans weren’t going away, though, and closed the deficit back to 12 points at the 15-minute mark of the last term after goals to King and Lily Paterson, but the Bulldogs held firm for the eventual 14-point home victory.

South Fremantle’s Rogers Cup team also scored a victory on Sunday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval beating Swan Districts 9.6 (60) to 7.7 (49).

The 11-point victory improves the Bulldogs to a 3-4 record on the season in the Rogers Cup to stay in contention for a top four position just a win behind the fourth placed Swans now.

Nicole Taylor-Thorpe had a day out for South Fremantle kicking five goals with Eva Flynn booting three and Coco McGrath one.

WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 7

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        2.0          5.1          7.2          7.4          (46)

SWAN DISTRICTS                              1.0          2.1          3.2          5.2          (32)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Stockwell, Sideris 2; McNaughton, Keley, Vecchio.

Best: O’Hehir, Mulder, Stockwell, Smogavec, Hetherington, Cocking, Keley.

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: King 2; D’Addario, Paterson, McGuire.

Best: D’Addario, Paterson, King, Humphries, Hyde, Edgley, Baker.