DRAGOVICH REACHES 100 IN LOSS TO ROYALS

JACOB Dragovic did all he could to lift his team in his 100th game for South Fremantle but it wasn’t quite enough against East Perth at Leederville Oval on Sunday.

The Royals did take heart out of their fighting performance back in Round 6 against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, but history was still against them.

South Fremantle came into the game having won seven straight matches against East Perth, and also hadn’t lost to the Royals at Leederville Oval since 2014.

Add in the fact the Bulldogs were in third position as reigning premiers and East Perth had just the one win on the board so far against the winless West Coast Eagles, and the odds were stacked against the Royals.

Nobody told the East Perth players that, though, and spurred on by the 150th game of Nathan Blee, they were on top most of the game pull off the spirited 8.11 (59) to 8.6 (54) upset victory over South Fremantle.

South Fremantle was celebrating a milestone of its own with Jacob Dragovich getting to 100 games with the Bulldogs. The premiership midfielder couldn’t do any more to try and lift South Fremantle either finishing with 28 possessions, eight marks and three tackles.

Brandon Donaldson was South Fremantle’s only forward to have much impact with four goals from 15 disposals.

South Fremantle’s back-line was actually pretty solid only allowing East Perth eight goals from 36 inside-50 entries with Chad Pearson finishing with 29 possessions and nine marks, Jason Maskos 21 disposals and six marks, Jarrod Salmeri 18 touches and seven marks, Toby McQuilkin 16 possessions and 10 marks, and Blake Schlensog 12 disposals and five marks.

Tom Blechynden racked up 26 possessions, seven tackles, six marks, five inside-50 entries and a goal on the wing for South Fremantle as he continued his impressive form.

East Perth made an impressive start when the lethal left boot of Jayden Magro was on song early as he swooped on the loose ball with too much space inside the forward 50.

South Fremantle responded with a crafty snap from Brandon Donaldson and then South Fremantle got another next up thanks to Cody Ninyette who had a lively opening for the Bulldogs.

East Perth responded impressively, though, starting with a couple of goals to big man Eddie Simpson, and they then took a 12-point lead into quarter-time on the back of a second goal to Magro.

Manfred Kelly offered a glimpse of his talents with a clever crumbing goal for South Fremantle early in the second term but the Royals continued to have the answers and it was Harley Sparks who kicked a good set shot from 50.

Donaldson’s second for South Fremantle kept the Bulldogs with seven points and then Tom Blechynden had the reigning premiers back within a point and they had some momentum for the first time in the game.

The Royals responded well, though, with a terrific snapped goal from Simpson for his third goal at the half and that saw the home team head into half-time leading by eight points.

The game turned into a real grind after half-time and the Royals couldn’t take their chances kicking six behinds for the third term while South Fremantle kicked a goal through Donaldson with their only scoring shot.

South Fremantle knew it had to lift in the final term and the Bulldogs peppered the goals early, but couldn’t kick truly only to see Magro find the major opening up the other end with his third.

Twice did the Bulldogs get back within a goal thanks to goals from Haiden Schloithe and Donaldson, but ultimately it was a relay free-kick ending up in an Aidan Lynch goal that led the Royals to hold on for stunning five-point upset.

The day got underway at Leederville with the colts contest which saw East Perth beat South Fremantle 15.11 (101) to 6.4 (40).

Harry Elphick and Kobe Foster kicked two goals each for South Fremantle while Toby Dodds gathered 22 disposals, Caleb Stephens 17 and Lochlan Bloomer 15.

South Fremantle’s reserves were impressive, though, beating East Perth 19.8 (122) to 3.8 (26).

Jacob Plunkett kicked five goals for the Bulldogs, Hamish Free three, Angus Fraser two and Lachlan Sinnott two.

Jack Musika racked up 30 possessions for South Fremantle’s reserves, Matthew Ward 25, Jaxon Bellchambers 24, Aiden Hall 21, Jacob Sax 19 and Trent Newton 18.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 10

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.1    5.2    6.2    8.6 (54)
EAST PERTH            4.1    6.4    6.10    8.11 (59)

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Donaldson 4; Schloithe, Blechynden, Ninyette, Kelly.
Best – Dragovich, Pearson, Donaldson, Blechynden, Salmeri, Maskos.
EAST PERTH: Goals – Magro, Simpson 3; Lynch, Sparks.
Best – Hille, Schumacher, Fullgrabe, Scott, Blee, Simpson, Kerr, Magro.