PARKER FIRES IN NAIDOC WEEK

SOUTH Fremantle again had the better of the second half but couldn’t quite make up the gap in the annual NAIDOC Week match up with Claremont as the Tigers held out for the 11-point victory.

Since 2007, Claremont and South Fremantle have played for the Jimmy Melbourne Cup in an annual NAIDOC Week contest with the tradition continuing on Saturday afternoon at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Two years ago it was an incredibly wet day at Tigerland as part of NAIDOC Week with the Bulldogs scoring a stirring win against the Tigers as they arrived again on this occasion attempting to repeat the dose.

However, it was Claremont who got the better of the start with four goals to two in the first quarter and three to one in the second.

South Fremantle did fire back with five goals to three in the second half, but it wasn’t quite enough with the Tigers prevailing 10.8 (68) to 8.9 (57).

Dylan Main and Kaden Harbour kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle.

Matthew Parker continued his dazzling form in the midfield for the Bulldogs and thrived on the NAIDOC Week occasion with 25 possessions and 12 tackles while Isiah Winder also had 20 disposals and a goal.

Lewis Rayson finished with 20 disposals, Haiden Schloithe 15, Jordan Boullineau 15, Jarrod Salmeri 14, Chad Pearson 13 and Glenn Byron 13.

Claremont got the first goal after just two minutes through Alex Manuel but South Fremantle soon responded thanks to former captain Dylan Main who continues to be a dangerous option in attack.

The Tigers did then kick the next three goals but South Fremantle brought the margin back to 12 points at quarter-time thanks to a late goal from Kaden Harbour.

The Tigers did manage the first goal of the second quarter to get out to a 19-point advantage before the Bulldogs hit back thanks to Ed Graham.

Claremont then finished the half the better with two late goals and that saw the Bulldogs trailing by 25 points at the main break.

South Fremantle had work to do coming into the second half but started impressively with the first three goals of the third quarter thanks to Isiah Winder, Jaren Carr and then with Harbour’s second of the afternoon.

That brought the margin back to just four points before the Tigers answered with the next two goals. South Fremantle did answer just before three quarter-time with a goal to Robbie Turnbull and that had it back to a 10-point ball game.

The Bulldogs then closed the gap further with an early goal in the last quarter thanks to Main and it was a five-point ball game, but the only other goal from there went the way of the Tigers and the home team secured the 11-point victory.

The day at Tigerland got underway with the colts match up on Saturday morning with Claremont ending up beating South Fremantle 13.10 (88) to 7.4 (46) with the Bulldogs now sitting on a 3-7 record for the season.

South Fremantle’s goals were kicked by Toby Whan, Jacob Donald, Taj Longmuir, Tre Healey, Riley Holden, Rhys Mercer and Hudson Pivac.

Whan also racked up 29 possessions, Fred Rodriguez 24, Jaxon Artemis 22, Donald 18, Orland Keleman 16 and Longmuir 16.

The reserves contest then saw South Fremantle score the 11.8 (74) to 8.8 (56) victory against Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium.

With the win, the Bulldogs are in third spot on the reserves ladder with a 6-4 record with Callum Copeland kicking three goals, Ashton Ferreira two and Luke Polson two.

Manfred Kelly finished with 25 possessions, Jacob Whan 21, Roan O’Hehir 20, Jacob Sax 20, Caleb Datson 18 and Lachlan Turley 17.

Jordan Gallucci’s return from a knee injury continued to gather steam as well with 16 disposals, six tackles and six entries inside the forward 50.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 14

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.1    3.3    7.6    8.9    (57)
CLAREMONT            4.1    7.4    9.4    10.8    (68)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Main, Harbour 2; Winder, Turnbull, Graham, Carr.
Best: Parker, Winder, Rayson, Pearson, Harbour, Salmeri, Schloithe.

CLAREMONT – Goals: Elliott, Manuel 3; Rogers 2; Waterman, Gowdie.
Best: Eastland, Bolton, Rogers, England, Maibaum, Elliott, Frederick.