Debutant shines as Bulldogs beat Royals in high-scoring thriller

SOUTH Fremantle took part in likely the most entertaining game of the WAFL season in a 43-goal thriller with debutant Marlon Pickett starring to lead the Bulldogs to an exciting 12-point victory.

The 21-year-old Pickett pulled off one of the most incredible WAFL debuts in history when he put in a best on ground display as South Fremantle recorded the eventual 22.13 (145) to 21.7 (133) victory in the final home match at Fremantle Oval for the 2013 season.

South Fremantle had to come back from conceding the first five goals of the game against the finals bound Royals, but were able kick an incredible 15.1 in the second half to secure the 12-point win.

The Bulldogs might have lost the first seven matches of 2013 but have now built some exciting form to close out the season having now won three straight games, and four of their last five.

Having played the last seven reserves games, Pickett earned his league debut for South Fremantle against East Perth and he put on an incredible display finishing the afternoon at Fremantle Oval with 26 possessions, nine marks, four clearances, eight inside-50 entries and three goals.

Blaine Johnson also made his league debut and didn’t find the going quite as easy but he did manage three shots on goal for the day. He missed the first two badly but was able to get on the board in the third quarter.

Not only did Pickett kick three goals, but South Fremantle’s forward-line helped to combine for 20-plus goals for the second straight week.

Kris Miller has moved to half-forward in the second half of 2013 despite still being one of the WAFL’s most prolific ball winners in the midfield and he had a day out on Saturday kicking five goals all in the second half from 19 possessions and six inside-50 entries.

It is the first time that that the 32-year-old 297-game veteran has kicked five goals in a match in his remarkable WAFL career over both South Fremantle and East Fremantle since making his debut back in 1999.

Full-forward Ben Saunders also kicked four goals for the Bulldogs from just five kicks with Paul Mugambwa starring particularly in the second half with 14 disposals, six marks, five inside-50 entries and three goals.

The Bulldogs’ back-line was also terrific led by centre half-back Dylan Ross who kept East Perth’s main big forward Brock Higgins goalless while there was plenty of drive from the defence with Adam Guglielmana finishing with 21 disposals, Craig White 18, Warrick Andreoli 17, Nick Borovac 17 and Adam Carter 17.

Third-gamer James Laurino was also outstanding in keeping West Coast’s Cale Morton to just 15 possessions and no impact in the game while kicking a terrific goal himself.

Mitch Banner picked up another 27 possessions to go with seven inside 50s and five clearances for the Bulldogs with Haiden Schloithe terrific with 25 touches, five tackles, seven clearances, seven inside 50s and two goals.

Captain Ryan Cook picked up 24 possessions, Tim Kelly 21 and ruckman Sean Tighe 20 to go with 30 hit outs, six clearances and four inside 50s in a good battle with East Perth’s Paul Johnson.

East Perth kicked the first five goals of the game in the first 20 minutes to put South Fremantle instantly on the back foot, but by quarter-time the Bulldogs had the same amount of scoring shots but inaccuracy had them still 20 points behind.

South Fremantle then came out firing to start the second quarter with goals to Guglielmana, White and Pickett in the first nine minutes tying scores up.

When the debutant Pickett kicked his second at the 19-minute mark the Bulldogs were in front for the first time but East Perth kicked the last three goals before half-time to still be 15 point on top at the long break.

Retiring West Coast veteran Selwood then remained forward for East Perth and kicked his team’s three goals of the third quarter, but South Fremantle was on fire kicking eight goals straight including three to Miller, two to Saunders and two to Mugambwa to be six points in front at the last change.

East Perth got back in front to start the final term, though, with early goals to Michael Swan and Aaron Sweet before Saunders put the Bulldogs back in front with his fourth goal.

East Perth got back in front at the 17-minute mark when Arthur Bennell goaled, but Miller responded for the Bulldogs with his fourth for the afternoon and then despite two more East Perth goals, Mugambwa, Miller and Pickett all goaled for the Bulldogs in the last 10 minutes to secure the impressive 12-point win.

South Fremantle’s reserves also  beat East Perth by 29 points with Kaiden Matera kicking six goals and Ben Sokol four with Toby Bairstow gathering 30 possessions, Alex Grima 24, Mitch Carter 22, Jarrad Winter 21, Jarrad Parry 18, Reece Adams 17 and Shaun Bewick 16 in his second game back from injury.

The Bulldogs colts team also opened up the day at Fremantle Oval with a 20.7 (127) to 9.7 (61) victory over East Perth.

Jarrod Garlett, Joel McComb, Jye Depane, Callum Ah Chee, Traye Bennell and Willie Rioli all kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle with Tim Stewart gathering 25 possessions, Matthew Gundry 24, Jarrod Pickett 24, Bailey Matera 23 and Braden Fimmano 20.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.6 7.12 15.12 22.13 (145)

EAST PERTH 6.2 11.3 15.6 21.7 (133)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Miller 5; Saunders 4; Mugambwa, Pickett 3; Schloithe 2; Cook, Guglielmana, White, Laurino, Johnson.

Best: Pickett, Miller, Laurino, Schloithe, Ross, Cook, Banner, Guglielmana.

EAST PERTH – Goals: Selwood 5; Bennell 4; Oakley-Nicholls, Sweet, Cadwallader, Swan 2; Lee, Seal, Johnson, Clutterbuck.

Best: Seal, Lee, Johnson, Oakley-Nicholls, Selwood, Sweet, Wulff.

By Chris Pike