WAFL RD 3 MATCH REPORT

WAFL | Bulldogs winning run snapped

South Fremantle was right on track for the club’s longest ever WAFL winning streak leading by 21 points in the last quarter but Claremont had other ideas kicking the last four goals to snatch the five-point win.

The Bulldogs arrived at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday having won 17 straight WAFL matches including last year’s premiership to equal the club’s longest ever winning streak.

They had the chance to set a new mark with the win on Saturday and were right on track to do so when Isiah Winder gave them a 21-point lead early in the fourth quarter too.

However, from there the Tigers kicked the last four goals of the contest to end up winning 11.8 (74) to 9.15 (69) and end that winning run for South Fremantle at 17.

South Fremantle ruckman Hamish Free had a fascinating battle all afternoon with Claremont’s Oliver Eastland to finish with 15 possessions, 33 hit outs, six inside-50 entries, three tackles and two goals.

Tom Blechynden also racked up 31 disposals for the Bulldogs, Winder 25, Jake Florenca 22, Aaron Drage 20, Ethan Hughes 17, Ashton Ferreira 15 and Chase Bourne 15.

South Fremantle was chasing history coming into the contest and started in the best possible way with the first goal thank to Trey Ruscoe.

Claremont did respond with the next two in the match up before the Bulldogs drew back level thanks to Aidan Harvey only for the Tigers to the get last goal of the first term through Anthony Davis to go into quarter-time leading by six points.

The Tigers then also kicked the first three goals of the second quarter to open up a 22-point edge but the Bulldogs responded before half-time with goals to Ed Graham and Hamish Free to bring the margin at the break back to just nine points.

It took more than 10 minutes for the first goal of the second half but that also went the way of South Fremantle when Lucas Robinson made the most of a Claremont turnover in defence.

Roan O’Hehir added another shortly after and suddenly South Fremantle were in front and still were by three quarter-time by seven points thanks to late goals to Free and Aaron Drage.

South Fremantle then got out to a 14-point lead with a goal to Isiah Winder to start the last quarter and that record winning streak was within touching distance, but Claremont had other ideas to kick the game’s last four goals and spoil the celebrations with the five-point win with the last kicked by former Bulldog Jack Musika at the 27-minute mark.

The Reserves match up opened the day’s proceedings at Fremantle Community Bank Oval and it was Claremont who ended up beating South Fremantle 8.18 (66) to 7.9 (51).

Claremont kicked two goals to one in the first quarter to be leading by seven points at quarter-time before it was two goals apiece in the second term with the Tigers going into half-time on top by 10 points.

Again it was one goal each in the third quarter with Claremont clinging to the 11-point lead by three quarter-time before it was three more goals apiece in the last term for the Tigers to secure the 15-point victory.

South Fremantle are now 1-2 to start the season in the Reserves with Mitch Geier kicking two goals from 16 possessions and four marks.

Sam Otto also collected 16 disposals for the Bulldogs, Connor Carbone 21, Jacob Donald 20, Millar Rank 20, Louis Poulson 18, Byron McFarland 16 and Jay Elliott-Tideman 15 in the ruck to go with 15 hit outs and five tackles.

The Saturday action at Fremantle Community Bank Oval wrapped up in the evening with the Colts contest which saw South Fremantle prevail in a thriller over Claremont 9.5 (59) to 7.13 (55).

South Fremantle kicked three goals to one in the opening quarter to be leading by seven points at quarter-time before another two goals to one in the second to see the Bulldogs on top by 12 points heading into the half-time break.

It was two goals each in the third term with South Fremantle still on top by 12 points at three quarter-time before they held out the fast-finishing Claremont to secure the four-point victory and improve to a perfect 3-0 record to start the season.

Jarra Mallard, Sam Coote and Sam Hookham all kicked two goals apiece in the win for South Fremantle’s Colts.

Chace Vanderhoek had a day out in the midfield with 36 possessions while Riley Stannard picked up 24 disposals, Dylan Noble 24, Zac Godwin 23, Kaidan Freight 18 and Jack McAuliffe 17.

SULLIVAN LOGISTICS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 3

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        2.3          4.6          8.7          9.15        (69)

CLAREMONT                                      3.3          6.3          7.6          11.8        (74)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Free 2; Harvey, Drage, Robinson, Graham, Winder, Ruscoe, O’Hehir.

Best: Blechynden, Free, Florenca, Drage, Winder, N Strom, Pearson, Hughes.

CLAREMONT – Goals: Van Rooyen, Mountford, Mainwaring 2; Spyvee, Musika, Eastland, Davis, Hunter.

Best: England, Elliott, Eastland, Alvarez, Mainwaring, Davis, Mountford, Pearce.