WAFL RD 11 MATCH REPORT

WAFL | BULLDOGS HIT BACK WITH BIG WIN

The bye seemed to do the trick for South Fremantle to regain some form and confidence to get their WAFL premiership defence back on track with Saturday’s 39-point victory against West Perth.

South Fremantle had lost their previous three matches before the bye and came into Saturday’s clash needing a response hosting the bottom placed West Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

And after two goals each in the opening term, the Bulldogs took control with the only three goals of the second quarter and then the only three of the third to set up the eventual 11.12 (78) to 5.9 (39) victory against the Falcons.

The win improves South Fremantle to a 6-4 record on the season to sit in third position on the WAFL ladder by the end of Round 12.

South Fremantle coach Craig White pulled a surprise by throwing State defender Jamaine Jones forward and it paid immediate dividends with him kicking four goals from nine kicks and six marks.

Chase Bourne kicked two goals to go with 22 possessions and 12 marks with Brandon Donaldson the other multiple goal scorer with two.

Jake Florenca racked up 37 possessions in the win for South Fremantle with Lewis Rayson adding 27 disposals, Tom Blechynden 27, Chad Pearson 27, Aaron Drage 26, Isiah Winder 23 and returning ruckman Hamish Free 19 to go with 22 hit outs.

South Fremantle needed to get back on the winner’s list coming out of the bye but it did take 15 minutes for either team to kick a goal in the game and that went the way of the Bulldogs through Brandon Donaldson.

West Perth immediately responded before Jamaine Jones kicked his first for the Bulldogs but then the Falcons answered back again to limit South Fremantle’s lead to just two points by quarter-time.

The Bulldogs kicked the only three goals of the second quarter to take control of the contest with those majors courtesy of Kyle Russell, Chase Bourne and Roan O’Hehir for the 18-point advantage going into the half-time break.

Jones then kicked the first two goals of the second half inside 10 minutes to give him three for the day and then Noah Strom added another before three quarter-time to see South Fremantle’s advantage grow to 38 points.

Jones added his fourth to start the last quarter as well for the lead to get out to 44 points with Bourne also adding his second and Donaldson also managed a second to secure the eventual 39-point home victory for the reigning premiers.

The day started on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with the Colts match up and that saw South Fremantle produce another impressive performance to beat West Perth 10.12 (72) to 3.10 (28).

The win improves the Bulldogs to an 8-1 record in the Colts to be sitting in top spot percentage clear of Claremont by the end of Round 11.

South Fremantle got off to a flying start with the only four goals of the opening quarter and then even by going goalless in the second term, the Bulldogs were still leading by 14 points at half-time.

South Fremantle then kicked away again with four goals to one in the third term and then the only two goals of the last on the way to the commanding 44-point victory.

Cooper Matera, Sam Coote and Jasper Smith all kicked two goals in the win for the Bulldogs.

Kobe Clucas racked up 33 possessions, Kaidan Freight 27, Chace Vanderhoek 25, Riley Stannard 22, Jack McAuliffe 20, Aidan Hedge 20, Zac Godwin 18, Xavier Allen 18 and Conor Bushe-Jones 16 with 13 hit outs.

That led into the Reserves match up and it wasn’t to be for South Fremantle with West Perth ending up winning that one 15.12 (102) to 6.7 (43).

The result leaves South Fremantle in sixth position with a 4-5 record in the Reserves.

The Bulldogs did go scoreless in the first quarter before kicking on goal in the second term but by then West Perth already had 11 on the board to be leading by 63 points at half-time.

West Perth managed another three goals to one in the third quarter and even with South Fremantle finishing strongly with four goals to one in the final term the Falcons still scored the 59-point victory.

Ed Graham kicked three goals for the Bulldogs and Aidan Harvey two while Callum Copeland picked up 29 possessions, Tarkyn Etherington 27, Jack Green 21, Josh Young 21, Max Thomas 20, Taj Longmuir 19, Lucas Cattalini 18 and Jay Elliott-Tideman 10 to go with 27 hit outs.

SULLIVAN LOGISTICS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 11

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.3          5.4          8.8          11.12     (78)

WEST PERTH                      2.1          2.4          2.6          5.9          (39)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Jones 4; Donaldson, Bourne 2; Strom, Russell, O’Hehir.

Best: Florenca, Blechynden, Free, Jones, Rayson, Bourne, Pearson, Drage.

WEST PERTH – Goals: West 2; Keitel, Demarte, Moulton.

Best: West, Dehavilland, Nelson, Mulvogue, Meadows, Lynch, Livingstone.