SOUTH FREMANTLE ROUND 3 WAFLW WRAP

FRIDAY night football returned to Fremantle Community Bank Oval beginning with an impressive Youth Girls Rogers Cup victory for South Fremantle before a competitive WAFLW showing against Subiaco to wrap up the evening.

There are few more authentic and unique experiences in West Australian football than playing on a Friday night at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, especially in fine weather at this time of the year, and the Round 3 WAFLW action was no exception with the Bulldogs hosting the Lions.

The action got underway at the port with the Rogers Cup clash for Round 3 and it was South Fremantle bouncing back from a narrow loss last week to Peel Thunder to defeat Subiaco 6.6 (42) to 3.1 (19) for their second win of the Youth Girls season in 2022.

It was then time for the WAFLW league contest and while Subiaco beat South Fremantle in the end 5.6 (36) to 2.5 (17) it was another significantly improved competitive performance from the Bulldogs.

South Fremantle now has the bye in Round 4 of the WAFLW competition before taking on Claremont back at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Sunday March 20.

The Rogers Cup team will still be in action in Round 4, though, taking on East Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval this Friday night with bounce down at 6.15pm.

WAFLW LEAGUE
SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.5 (17) lost to SUBIACO 5.6 (36)
South Fremantle put in another improved showing to highlight how far they’ve come over the past 12 months despite an eventual 19-point loss to Subiaco in the WAFLW league clash on Friday night.

Subiaco had been unlucky to lose on the siren to Peel Thunder back in Round 1 and then suffered a big loss to Claremont last Sunday at home, so the Lions arrived at Fremantle Community Bank Oval determined to get their 2022 season back on track after those two losses.

However, it was never going to be easy against a vastly improved South Fremantle team who had already won their first ever WAFLW game back in Round 1 and then put in a competitive effort against the reigning premier Peel last Saturday night.

That set the stage for what was to be an intriguing battle on Friday night at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, and it was Subiaco who shot out of the blocks ready to make a statement in the opening quarter chasing that first victory of 2022.

Subiaco kicked four goals in the first quarter alone and held South Fremantle to just the one behind to be leading by 25 points at quarter-time.

Neither team was able to score a goal in the second quarter with the Lions still leading by 23 points by half-time.

South Fremantle was able to kick the only goal of the third quarter and then it was a goal apiece in the last term, but Subiaco had done all the damage in that first term onslaught to end up winning 5.6 (36) to 2.5 (17).

South Fremantle had its chances, though, throughout the evening highlighting their improvement this season. The Bulldogs had nine more inside-50 entries than the Lions but could only convert those 33 forays forward into two goals on the evening.

South Fremantle’s two goals on the night were kicked by Noa McNaughton and Ella Ward.

Tahlia Holtze collected 18 possessions for South Fremantle to continue her standout form to start the season to go with seven tackles and five entries inside the forward 50.

Lauren Gauci also picked up 17 disposals for the Bulldogs, Casey Byrne 17, Kiara Templeman 15 and Jess Verbrugge 13.

Lauren Wakfer continued her brilliant start to the season too with 15 touches, 20 hit outs, five marks, five tackles and three inside-50 entries.

YOUTH GIRLS ROGERS CUP
SOUTH FREMANTLE 6.6 (42) defeated SUBIACO 3.1 (19)
South Fremantle’s Youth Girls team returned to the winner’s list on Friday night with an impressive Rogers Cup performance against Subiaco.

The Bulldogs have played off in the past two Rogers Cup Grand Finals and started the 2022 season with a strong win against reigning premiers West Perth before a narrow loss to Peel Thunder in Mandurah last Saturday night.

So South Fremantle was strongly motivated for a bounce back performance against Subiaco on Friday evening at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, and they produced exactly that.

It was a brilliant start from the Bulldogs as well with eight scoring shots to one in the opening quarter, which included four goals to see them already open up a 27-point lead by quarter-time.

It was a goal apiece in the second quarter but South Fremantle were still in control going into the half-time break with a 22-point advantage.

It was another goal each in the third quarter with the Bulldogs still on top by 23 points at three quarter-time before ending up winning 6.6 (42) to 3.1 (19) to improve to a 2-1 record on the season after the opening three rounds.

Jayde Musika ended up kicking three goals for South Fremantle, Ava Ritchie two and one each to Chelsea Harp, Charlotte Johnson and Sienna Procter.

Along with Musika with her three goals, Mia Whitelaw, Zoe Wakfer, Ella Matthews and Ritchie were among the other standout performers in the win for South Fremantle.