WAFL RD 19 MATCH REPORT

WAFL | DOGS KEEP WINNING AT SHARK PARK

South Fremantle maintained their top five position and also stayed unbeaten at The Good Grocer Park since 2012 with Saturday’s 34-point derby win against East Fremantle.

It was the first time a derby had been played at East Fremantle Oval on Saturday since all the way back in 2021 and up to that point, the Bulldogs had won 12 straight at the venue no matter what it was called.

That dated back to 2012 and South Fremantle made it 13 in-a-row there on Saturday with the 15.8 (98) to 9.10 (64) win to maintain fifth position with one round to go when they take on the league leading Peel Thunder at home this Saturday.

Trey Ruscoe kicked four goals in the derby win for South Fremantle with Sam Otto adding two.

Tom Blechynden racked up 27 possessions, Jamaine Jones 23, Matthew Parker 22, Lewis Rayson 21, Chad Pearson 21, Lucas Robinson 20, Aaron Drage 20, Isiah Winder 17, Glenn Byron 17 and Hamish Free 52 hit outs in the ruck to go with 14 disposals.

East Fremantle made the fast start with a goal to Griffin Vladich after the first 30 seconds but South Fremantle responded soon offer with goals in quick succession to Lucas Robinson and Kyle Russell.

Trey Ruscoe added another just before quarter-time and that saw South Fremantle with the narrow one-point lead by the first break.

Ruscoe then kicked a second to start the second quarter before Isiah Winder added another just before time-on and from there the Bulldogs were on top by seven points at the main break.

The Bulldogs made the perfect start to the second half with early goals to Aaron Drage and Ruscoe before Mitch Geier added another to push the lead out to 25 points.

Ruscoe’s fourth then made it a 31-point margin before Jake Florenca made it 36 and then it was 46 by three quarter-time with goals to finish the term from Sam Otto, Glenn Byron and Matthew Parker.

South Fremantle closed the derby with final quarter goals to Otto and Ashton Ferreira to secure the 34-point win and remain undefeated at the venue since all the way back in 2012.

The first derby day at Shark Park since 2021 got underway on Saturday morning with the Colts contest and it was East Fremantle prevailing 14.10 (94) to 7.8 (50).

It was a flying start from the Bulldogs with four goals to one in the first quarter but then the Sharks got rolling in the second term with seven goals to one to be leading by 19 points at half-time.

It was another three goals to one for East Fremantle in the third quarter and then three more to one in the last to win by 44 points but South Fremantle do still stay in second position on the Colts ladder despite the result.

Sam Hookham, Jye Hunt and Chace Vanderhoek all kicked two goals apiece for the Bulldogs with Riley Stannard picking up 21 possessions, Vanderhoek 21, Jack McAuliffe 16, Kobe Clucas 16 and Hudson Graham 15.

That led into the Reserves match up at The Good Grocer Park and it was a thumping win for South Fremantle over East Fremantle 18.10 (118) to 9.5 (59).

South Fremantle kicked four goals to one in the first quarter and then another five to one in the second to go into the half-time break on top by 45 points.

The Bulldogs added another six goals to two in the third term and went on to win by 59 points from there to improve to a 6-9 record on the season and keeping the Sharks winless.

Cooper Clarke-Dehring kicked six goals for South Fremantle, Ed Graham five, Brandon Donaldson two and Dakota Ninyette two with Toby Dodds finishing with 40 possessions, Jack Green 31, Jacob Donald 24, Callum Copeland 22 and Tarkyn Etherington 21.

SULLIVAN LOGISTICS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 19

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        3.1          5.3          13.4        15.8        (98)

EAST FREMANTLE                            3.0          4.2          5.6          9.10        (64)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Ruscoe 4; Otto 2; Geier, Parker, Drage, Robinson, Byron, Russell, Winder, Florenca, Ferreira.

Best: Blechynden, Parker, Pearson, Jones, Rayson, Ruscoe, Robinson, Drage.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Cleaver 3; Robinson, Bailey 2; Rankin, Vladich.

Best: Cleaver, Baskerville, Frankin, Eardley, Marsh, Budarick.