WAFL – BULLDOGS GO TOP IN ALL 3 GRADES

South Fremantle scored wins in all three grades against East Perth on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval and now sit in top spot in the league, reserves and colts by the end of Round 10 of the 2025 season.

Both South Fremantle and East Perth were playing for the first time since their respective WA Day derby victories and with the Bulldogs coming into the game at 7-1 and the Royals at 6-2, and it was potentially a season-defining clash for both teams.

South Fremantle kicked away with four goals to two in the second quarter and then five to two in the third which ultimately set up the 15.7 (97) to 12.15 (87) victory at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The win keeps the Bulldogs in top spot of the WAFL ladder with an 8-1 record to be a game and percentage still clear of both East Fremantle and Perth.

Trey Ruscoe had a day out up forward in the win for South Fremantle by kicking seven goals from 10 kicks and five marks.

Brandon Donaldson and Matthew Parker kicked two goals apiece with Parker also picking up 21 possessions and laying 10 tackles.

Jake Florenca gathered another 27 disposals while Lewis Rayson picked up 20 touches, Glenn Byron 20, Ethan Hughes 19, Isiah Winder 16 and Hamish Free 12 to go with 29 hit outs in a fascinating ruck battle with Scott Jones from East Perth.

Even though East Perth did kick the first goal of the game, South Fremantle responded just a minute later courtesy of Matthew Parker before Trey Ruscoe kicked two quick ones to keep the Bulldogs in front.

Brandon Donaldson added another just before quarter-time to give South Fremantle the four-point edge but the lead continued to switch hands and the Royals also kicked the opening goal of the second term.

Donaldson soon kicked his second of the game and Matthew Ward kicked truly as well before Ruscoe added a third, Parker a second and the Bulldogs ended up going into the half-time break with the 15-point lead.

Ruscoe came out and kicked a fourth goal to start the second half before Zac Strom added another, and Ruscoe put through a fifth and suddenly South Fremantle were out to a 32-point advantage.

Ruscoe kicked a sixth goal before three quarter-time and then Roan O’Hehir kicked truly just before the siren to see the home team still on top by 30 points heading into the final break.

East Perth did throw everything at a comeback in the last quarter and kicked goals, but South Fremantle got a couple of steadiers thanks to Ruscoe and Jake Florenca to secure the 10-point victory to remain clear in top spot.

The day started with the colts contest and South Fremantle returned to top spot on the ladder with the 20.14 (134) to 6.6 (42) victory against East Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

It was two goals apiece in the first quarter before the Bulldogs kicked the only five goals of the second term to lead by 29 points at half-time.

It was then nine goals to one in the third quarter, and four to three in the last with the Bulldogs going on to win by 92 points to improve to a 6-2 record on top of the colts ladder.

Jacob Donald was outstanding with 35 possessions and three goals while Latrell Yarran, Taj Longmuir and Byron Foster also kicked three goals for the Bulldogs, and Millar Rank and Alex MacDonald both two.

Rank also had 27 disposals, Aston Clissold 26, Longmuir 24, Foster 19 (23 hit outs) and Heath Wilson 17.

Then in the reserves match up, South Fremantle held East Perth to one goal the entire first half on the way to the eventual 9.10 (64) to 6.9 (45) victory.

South Fremantle kicked the lone goal of the first quarter before then adding four to one in the second term to go into the half-time break leading by 27 points.

East Perth did manage to outscore South Fremantle five goals to four in the second half, but the Bulldogs still won by 19 points to also move into top spot with a 6-2 record.

The win was highlighted by the inspirational return of 216-game, premiership winning Sandover Medallist Haiden Schloithe. He kicked a behind from his first kick of the season and went on to kick a goal during the win from 13 possessions and seven marks.

Ashton Ferreira kicked three goals as well for South Fremantle with Bailey Harbour and Jermaine Pickett adding two apiece while Kyle Russell collected 25 disposals, Jack Green 24, Robbie Turnbull 23, Ferreira 21, Talan Rankin 20, Sam Otto 19, Toby Dodds 18 and Hudson Pivac 17 and 18 hit outs.

SULLIVAN LOGISTICS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 10

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        4.1          8.4          13.5        15.7        (97)

EAST PERTH                                       3.3          5.7          7.11        12.15     (87)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Ruscoe 7; Donaldson, Parker 2; Florenca, Z Strom, Ward, O’Hehir.

Best: Parker, Florenca, Ruscoe, Rayson, Byron, Hughes, Pearson, N Strom.

EAST PERTH – Goals: Van Diemen, Medhat 3; Burgiel, Middleton, Sturrock, Schofield, Tedesco, Raykos.

Best: Scott, Brayshaw, North, Van Diemen, Wright, Tedesco, Sturrock.