WAFL – BIG BULLDOG WIN OVER THUNDER

South Fremantle’s impressive start to the 2025 WAFL season continued at home on Saturday afternoon with the commanding 49-point win against reigning premiers Peel Thunder.

It was a first home game at Fremantle Community Bank Oval of the season for South Fremantle with the Bulldogs also wearing special jumpers to celebrate the club’s 125 years in the process.

It turned out to be a day to enjoy as well not only with the league team winning 11.14 (80) to 4.7 (31) but the colts also winning by 48 points and the reserves by 73.

South Fremantle kicked three goals to one in the first quarter and five to one in the last on the way to the 49-point win with Trey Ruscoe kicking another four goals from 10 kicks and five marks.

Aaron Drage and Solomon James also kicked two goals apiece for the Bulldogs.

Jake Florenca continued his strong start to the season with another 28 possessions with Tom Blechynden finishing with 28 disposals, Jamaine Jones 24, Matthew Parker 23, Isiah Winder 22, Matthew Ward 21, Chase Bourne 21 and Roan O’Hehir 19.

The South Fremantle back-line was rock solid too holding Peel to four goals for the day with Lewis Rayson ending up with 21 possessions, Ethan Hughes 18 (eight marks), Glenn Byron 16 (eight marks), Chad Pearson 15 (seven marks) and Jacob Sax 13 (five marks).

South Fremantle were in complete control of the opening quarter and after a couple of missed shots early, got the first goal of the game when Solomon James kicked truly at the three-minute mark.

Trey Ruscoe then added a second before Aaron Drage kicked a third for the Bulldogs to leading by 18 points at quarter-time on the back of having nine scoring shots to just one from Peel.

The Thunder were going to the scoring end in the second quarter but the Bulldogs limited the damage with a goal to Ruscoe and restricting Peel to just two to ensure they were still on top by 11 points at the main break.

South Fremantle kicked the only two goals of the third quarter with the first courtesy of Riley Colborne and another from James which saw the Bulldogs in control by 24 points at three quarter-time.

South Fremantle was able to dominate the last quarter as well with five goals to one including a third and fourth to Ruscoe, a second to Drage, and one each to Jake Florenca and Jamaine Jones to complete the 49-point victory.

The Colts contest got the action underway at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday morning with the 11.15 (81) to 4.9 (33) victory for South Fremantle against Peel Thunder.

South Fremantle kicked three goals to one in the first quarter and then six to two in the second half on the way to the 48-point win.

Latrell Yarran kicked four goals in the win for the Bulldogs from eight kicks to go with six marks and four tackles with Toby Whan having a day out with two goals along with 35 possessions, eight inside-50 entries, five tackles and three marks.

Lucas Cattalini also finished with 24 touches and 14 marks with Jacob Donald gathering 21 disposals, Max Thomas 20 and Taj Longmuir 17.

Then in the Reserves match up, South Fremantle continued the winning day with the 17.8 (110) to 5.7 (37) victory against Peel Thunder.

The Bulldogs started the clash on fire with six goals to nil in the first quarter and then added nine goals to three in the second half on the way to the 73-point victory.

Ed Graham kicked four goals for the Bulldogs as did Cooper Clarke-Dehring with Brandon Donaldson and Mitch Geier adding three apiece, and Hudson Pivac two.

Toby Dodds racked up 31 possessions, Toby McQuilkin 25, Nick Stuhldreier 22, Callum Copeland 22, Jacob Whan 20, Sam Otto 20, Tarkyn Etherington and the returning Zac Strom 12 to go with 12 hit outs, six marks and a goal.

SULLIVAN LOGISTICS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 3

SOUTH FREMANTLE                  3.6       4.7       6.10     11.14    (80)

PEEL THUNDER                         1.0       3.2       3.4       4.7       (31)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Ruscoe 4; Drage, James 2; Florenca, Jones, Colborne.

Best: Blechynden, Florenca, Parker, Byron, Ruscoe, Pearson, Jones, Winder.

PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Delean, York, Narkle, Colton.

Best: Narkle, Erasmus, Sellwood, Simpson, Bennell, Davies, Hancock.