STROM BROTHERS KICK 9 IN WIN OVER EAGLES

THE twin talls in attack of the Strom brothers saw Noah and Zac combine for nine goals as South Fremantle opened its account for the 2024 WAFL season beating the West Coast Eagles by 88 points.

The Bulldogs were looking to bounce back from a first up loss to East Perth and did so emphatically on the way to ensuring the Eagles have still not won in their last 28 WAFL appearances.

There was plenty to like in the performance from South Fremantle for that first win of 2024 with the eventual 22.11 (143) to 8.7 (55) victory at Lathlain’s Mineral Resources Park.

South Fremantle is looking to find a winning formula in attack in 2024 and as a result is starting with the Strom brothers as two marking options in attack.

It showed some encouraging signs of working in Round 1 but took off on Saturday against the Eagles with the pair combining for nine goals.

Noah Strom ended up kicking five goals from 15 touches and 10 marks having only previously managed three goals in his first 107 games where he cemented himself as one of the league’s premier key defenders.

Older brother Zac also had a big day ending up kicking four goals from 20 possessions, nine marks and eight hit outs with Luke Polson, Haiden Schloithe, Chase Bourne and Matthew Parker all kicking two goals each as well.

Tom Blechynden also racked up another 30 possessions on the back of his WJ Hughes Medal winning season with Schloithe gathering 27 disposals, Jake Florenca 26, Isiah Winder 26, Parker 23 and Robbie Turnbull 20.

The South Fremantle back-line stood firm as well which was encouraging considering Noah Strom is now up the other end of the ground.

As well as limiting West Coast to eight goals for the game, South Fremantle captain Chad Pearson had 27 possessions and 13 marks down back with Toby McQuilkin also finishing with 21 touches and five marks, Lewis Rayson 15 touches and six marks, and Jordan Boullineau 15 disposals and seven marks.

Josh Branchi did a power of work in the ruck as well to end up with 14 possessions and 32 hit outs.

It took only a minute into the game for South Fremantle to make the perfect start with a goal to Jake Florenca who had started in attack in a fresh look from coach Todd Curley.

Then after West Coast responded through Jai Culley, the Bulldogs kicked the next three goals firstly through Luke Polson and then with one each to Noah and Zac Strom.

Noah would soon add his second and then just before quarter-time Chase Bourne gave South Fremantle six in the opening term to give the visitors the 27-point advantage.

Matthew Parker then extended the South Fremantle lead to 33 points to start the second quarter with another goal, but the Eagles kicked two quickly to make things interesting and cut things back to 21 points.

It was still just a 27-point game when Shannon Lucassen kicked a second goal for West Coast at the 17-minute mark, but then South Fremantle kicked away with four goals in the final 10 minutes of the first half.

That included a fourth to Noah Strom and a second to Zac Strom along with Bourne with the Bulldogs going into the half-time break with the commanding 52-point advantage.

The only three goals of the third quarter all went the way of South Fremantle as well including a third to Zac Strom with the Bulldogs lead growing to 70 points by three quarter-time.

It was a goal feast in the final term with six of them going the way of South Fremantle including a fourth to Zac Strom, a fifth to Noah Strom and eventually the Bulldogs romped to the 88-point first up victory for 2024.

South Fremantle will now take on Claremont back at Fremantle Community Bank Oval this Saturday afternoon.

WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 2

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        6.4          13.6        16.9        22.11     (143)

WEST COAST EAGLES                     2.1          5.2          5.5          8.7          (55)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: N Strom 5; Z Strom 4; Schloithe, Polson, Bourne, Parker 2; Florenca, Kelly, Winder, Donaldson, Main.

Best: Schloithe, Parker, N Strom, Blechynden, Z Strom, Pearson, Florenca, Winder.

WEST COAST EAGLES – Goals: Dewar, Lucassen 2; Trew, Culley, Ruscoe, Barker.

Best: Trew, Sparks, Hall, Johnston, Baker, Gaff, Witherden.