South Fremantle colts into third straight grand final

SOUTH Fremantle’s colts dominated Claremont after half-time in Sunday’s second semi-final to qualify for a third straight WAFL grand final.

The Bulldogs have been the dominant colts team of the last two years winning back-to-back premierships in 2011 and 2012.

That performance already equals the teams of 2002 and 2003 who won back-to-back flags but South Fremantle’s best performances in the colts came between 1982 and 1985 when the Bulldogs won an incredible four straight colts premierships.

The colts team of 2013 might have been as dominant a force through the home and away season, but did finish the season in its best form of the year having won the last seven games to guarantee second spot on the ladder.

That set up a second semi-final berth with Claremont at Claremont Oval on Sunday, and in the end South Fremantle prevailed 13.13 (91) to 10.8 (68) to advance straight to a third straight colts grand final.

While a host of stars from the last two colts premiership teams have moved on to either the AFL or to become regular WAFL league players, Matthew Gundry, Ben Sokol, Dylan Main and Tom Vandeleur all played in Sunday’s win over Claremont who played in last year’s grand final win over East Fremantle.

South Fremantle started the second semi-final solidly enough to lead by four points at quarter-time, but Claremont took control in the second term booting six goals to one to appear well on top at the main break leading by 24 points.

The Bulldogs stormed back into the game during the third quarter, though, kicking four goals to two to be just trailing by eight points at three quarter-time.

It was then all South Fremantle in the final quarter with the two-time defending premiers piling on five goals to nil from Claremont to secure the 23-point victory.

One of those premiership players from last year, Sokol, was outstanding on Sunday finishing with 19 possessions, six marks, four tackles, five inside-50 entries and five goals.

Bailey Matera was also tremendous for the Bulldogs with 26 possessions, five inside 50s and two goals. Willie Rioli and Traye Bennell also booted two goals apiece.

William Frampton was another strong contributor with 18 touches, five marks and 10 hit outs with Vandeleur gathering 18 possessions, Main 18, Jarrod Garlett 17 and Braden Fimmano 16.

South Fremantle’s colts now get to sit back and await finding out who its opponent in the 2013 grand final will be at Subiaco’s Patersons Stadium on Sunday September 22.

The preliminary final is being played at Claremont Oval this Sunday morning between Claremont and Subiaco.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 3.1 4.4 8.10 13.13 (91)

CLAREMONT 2.3 8.4 10.6 10.8 (68)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Sokol 5; Matera, Bennell, Rioli 2; Fimmano, Ah Chee.

Best: Sokol, Matera, Ah Chee, Main, Garlett, Frampton, Vandeleur.

CLAREMONT – Goals: McCracken 2; Law, Lim, Fiegert, Court, Hardisty, Bevan, Watson, Cameron.

Best: Hardisty, Law, Waterman, Lim, McCracken.

By Chris Pike