REMARKABLE DERBY STREAK ENDS

SOUTH Fremantle’s record winning streak in derbies came to an end on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval but it took a flying finish from East Fremantle to make it happen.

South Fremantle came into the second derby contest of the 2023 WAFL season having made it 15 straight wins against East Fremantle back on WA Day at the WACA Ground.

The Bulldogs then put themselves in a winning position once again on Saturday and were leading by 14 points early in the fourth quarter when Brandon Donaldson kicked his fourth goal of the afternoon.

However, the Sharks kicked the last four goals of the contest from that point to snatch the 9.6 (60) to 7.6 (48) victory to score their first derby win since 2016.

South Fremantle made the perfect start to the derby hunting that 16th straight victory with a nice goal on the run from Brandon Donaldson at the five-minute mark.

Jonathon Marsh responded for East Fremantle soon after before Ben McGuire soon kicked a second of the game of the Sharks and then Hugh Dixon added a third and the visitors were on top by 12 points.

South Fremantle, though, did get a goal back just before quarter-time thanks to Zac Strom to cut the East Fremantle lead to five points at the first change.

South Fremantle reclaimed the lead with a goal to Aiden Hall inside less than a minute of the second quarter before Donaldson added a second to extend that lead for the Bulldogs to seven points.

Those would be the only two goals of the second term with South Fremantle holding East Fremantle to just three behinds and then going into the half-time break leading the derby by five points.

Jimmy Miller continued his good day in the ruck by going forward to kick a goal for South Fremantle early in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 12 points.

The Sharks did respond with their first two goals in almost two full quarters with Jonathon Marsh adding a second and Brayden Lawler also kicking truly to tie scores up heading towards three quarter-time.

However, Donaldson kicked his third of the day just before the break to push the Bulldogs back to a seven-point lead and when he kicked a fourth, South Fremantle was out to a 14-point advantage and suddenly a 16th straight derby win was looking highly likely.

East Fremantle was staring down the barrel of another tough derby defeat but two goals in the space of two minutes to Jonathon Marsh and Alex Montauban soon changed things.

When a brilliant pass from Cody Leggett found Austin Ball all alone at the top of the goal square, when he kicked truly the Sharks were in front and then Ben McGuire sealed the 12-point win and East Fremantle finally got to celebrate a first derby win in seven years.

For just the fourth time in his 112-game career with South Fremantle, Brandon Donaldson kicked four goals to be his team’s only multiple goal scorer on the day.

Tom Blechynden spent a lot of the game off half-back for South Fremantle in the absence of Chad Pearson and Toby McQuilkin, and finished with 29 possessions and seven tackles.

Jake Florenca also picked up 24 touches for the Bulldogs, Glenn Byron 23, Caleb Stephens 20, Jordan Boullineau 16 and Jimmy Miller 15 while spending most of the game in the ruck where he also had 40 hit outs, five tackles and kicked a good long goal.

Roan O’Hehir also had 13 touches and 10 tackles while Jermaine Pickett made an encouraging debut as well for the Bulldogs in the derby with his nine possessions, two marks and two tackles.

Meanwhile, Round 16 of the Colts began on Saturday morning with East Fremantle beating South Fremantle 14.4 (88) to 9.7 (61) at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Ruben Hawksley kicked three goals for South Fremantle and Mitch Geier two with Jordan Douglas racking up 26 touches, Jacob Whan 20, Geier 19 and Toby Whan 16.

Round 16 in the Reserves then began with East Fremantle coming from behind and kicking the game’s last three goals to defeat South Fremantle 8.13 (61) to 9.6 (60).

Mitch Sinnott kicked three goals for the Bulldogs and Ed Graham two with Aaron Drage amassing 35 touches, Seth Connor 24 (10 tackles), Sinnott 17, Jaren Carr 17 and Solomon James 14 to go with 39 hit outs.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON 2023 – ROUND 16

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.2    4.3    6.5    7.6    (48)
EAST FREMANTLE        3.1    3.4    5.4    9.6    (60)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Donaldson 4; Z Strom, Hall, Miller.
Best: T Blechynden, Miller, Donaldson, Boullineau, Florenca, Byron, O’Hehir.
EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: J Marsh 3; B McGuire 2; Montauban, Lawler, Dixon, Ball.
Best: Eardley, H Marsh, Turner, J Marsh, Cleaver, Dixon, Jupp, Marlin.