WAFL RD 1 MATCH REPORT

WAFL | Bulldogs start premiership defence winning

South Fremantle’s WAFL premiership defence got off to the perfect start on the back of a dominant finish against Swan Districts on Good Friday for the 45-point victory.

The Bulldogs started the defence of their 2025 WAFL premiership on the road on Good Friday at Steel Blue Oval and by midway through the third quarter, it was a tight contest with just a six-point lead.

But from there South Fremantle took control of the contest including kicking five of the last six goals to continue their winning run with the 16.12 (108) to 9.9 (63) victory.

Jordan Boullineau started his transition from reliable defender into lively forward in 2025, and now started 2026 in attack and made the most of his chances kicking five goals from 10 kicks, eight marks and six tackles.

Last year’s goalkicking premiership star Trey Ruscoe kicked another four goals to start the new season with Ed Graham adding two for the Bulldogs.

Isiah Winder started the new season in blistering fashion as well with 30 possessions and five tackles while Jake Florenca collected 28 disposals, Roan O’Hehir 24, Tarkyn Etherington 20, Lewis Rayson 18, Aaron Drage 17, Ethan Hughes 15 and Jamaine Jones 15.

Ruckman and Simpson Medallist Hamish Free finished with 15 possessions and 44 hit outs while exciting debutant Lucas Robinson made his immediate mark with 27 disposals, five marks, three inside 50s and two goals.

It took just over five minutes for Trey Ruscoe to start the season for South Fremantle like he finished 2025 with a goal but Swan Districts quickly responded thanks to captain Jesse Turner.

Ed Graham then kicked truly to put South Fremantle back on top and Jordan Boullineau kicked a couple in quick succession to push the reigning premiers out to a 20-point lead before Kade Chalcraft opened his Swan Districts career with a goal.

The Bulldogs were leading by 12 points at quarter-time before Roan O’Hehir and Jackson McLachlan kicked a goal for their respective teams to open the second stanza.

Consecutive Swans goals from Jehb O’Donohue and Max Chipper had the home team back within seven points, and by half-time it was a tight contest with South Fremantle only holding the five-point advantage.

It took more than 10 minutes for a first goal of the second half which went the way of South Fremantle thanks to Ruscoe before Boullineau added another, but Swans hit right back with two quick goals from Jiah Reidy and Josh Cipro to get back within six points.

The Bulldogs again hit back leading into three quarter-time with goals to Ruscoe and Mitch Geier to hold the 19-point lead.

The game was back on to start the final quarter with a goal to McLachlan to make it a 13-point margin again, but the Bulldogs took control from there with five of the last six goals of the contest for the eventual season-opening 45-point victory.

The massive day at Good Friday got underway in the morning with the reserves match up and it was a winning start for Swan Districts with the 9.12 (66) to 5.15 (45) win against South Fremantle.

South Fremantle kicked the only two goals of the first quarter with nine scoring shots to just two, but Swan Districts hit back in the second term with the only three goals and that saw scores all level by the half-time break.

It was then two goals apiece in the third quarter with Swans leading by just one-point by three quarter-time, and then it was Swan Districts who took control in the final term with four goals to one on the way to the eventual 21-point victory.

Cooper Clarke-Dehring ended up kicking two goals for South Fremantle while Jacob Donald gathered 22 possessions, Callum Copeland 17, Lachlan Princi 17, Jack Green 16, Byron McFarland 15, Zane Triscari 14, Louis Poulson 14, Talan Rankin 14 and Jay Elliott-Tideman 12 along with 32 hit outs and marks in the ruck.

Good Friday at Steel Blue Oval wrapped up in the evening with the colts match up and South Fremantle were on top all evening on the way to the eventual 14.11 (95) to 10.6 (66) victory against Swan Districts.

It was a high-scoring start to the contest with seven goals between the two teams and at quarter-time it was the Bulldogs leading the Swans by seven points.

It was another three goals to two in the second term from South Fremantle and that saw them stretch the lead over Swan Districts by 16 points.

There was another seven goals between the sides in the third quarter and it was four more from the Bulldogs to three from Swans, and that saw South Fremantle’s lead out to 26 points at three quarter-time.

South Fremantle went on to complete the job with three goals to two in the final term to end up prevailing by 29 points.

Sam Hookham, Sam Coote and Chace Vanderhoek all kicked two goals each with the latter also ending up with 22 possessions, four marks and four tackles.

Riley Stannard racked up 26 disposals in the win for the Bulldogs, Dylan Noble 24, Chayse Parsons 23, Jack McAuliffe 21, Zac Godwin 17, Byron Foster 16, Elijah Nathan 15 and Conor Bushe-Jones 14 in the ruck to go with 16 hit outs and four tackles.

SULLIVAN LOGISTICS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 1

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        4.2          6.5          10.8        16.12     (108)

SWAN DISTRICTS                              2.2          5.6          7.7          9.9          (63)