WAFLW – BULLDOGS FALL SHORT IN FRIDAY NIGHT DERBY

South Fremantle were leading Friday night’s derby at half-time but couldn’t quite beat East Fremantle for a second time in 2025 with the Sharks prevailing by nine points at The Good Grocer Park.

The Bulldogs and Sharks played out a thrilling Round 1 derby at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle snatching the win at the death thanks to a flying finish.

Both teams were then looking for a win to try and break into the top four on Friday night at the newly reopened Shark Park and South Fremantle did start well to lead by eight points at quarter-time, and still by five at half-time.

However, the Bulldogs then only managed one behind in the second half with the Sharks ending up prevailing 3.3 (21) to 1.6 (12).

By the end of Round 9, South Fremantle does remain in fifth position on the WAFLW ladder with a 4-4 record to still be just a game behind the fourth placed West Perth but a game ahead of the sixth placed East Fremantle.

South Fremantle’s lone goal for the evening came from Shannyn Pomersbach who also ended up with eight possessions and three tackles.

Renee Morgan continued her brilliant form with the Bulldogs with another 26 possessions and nine tackles while Tahleah Mulder picked up 23 disposals, Bailey Hunt 21 (13 tackles), Tara Stribley 20, Liusaidh Gilchrist 16, Ella Ward 16, Jasmine Bazeley 15 and Melinda Bobby 15.

South Fremantle were looking to back up their opening round derby win and started strongly at The Good Grocer Park with the only three scores on Friday night of the opening quarter.

That included a goal for the Bulldogs to Shannyn Pomersbach and as a result they were leading by eight points by quarter-time.

East Fremantle then managed to kick the only goal of the second term with South Fremantle managing three behinds and it was the Bulldogs still leading by five points at the half-time interval.

South Fremantle then struggled in the second half with just the one behind in the entire last two quarters while East Fremantle did kick two goals to close out the game with the eventual nine-point victory on their home turf.

The Friday night action at The Good Grocer Park wrapped up with the Rogers Cup contest which saw East Fremantle end up beating South Fremantle 7.14 (56) to 2.5 (17).

The Sharks made the fast start with three goals to nil in the opening quarter before the Bulldogs did kick the only goal of the second term to close the deficit to 13 points.

East Fremantle then kicked away once more with the only four goals of the third term before South Fremantle kicked the only goal of the last term, but the Sharks went on to score the 39-point victory.

South Fremantle’s goals were kicked by Nicole Taylor-Thorpe and Zarlya Yarran while Shayla Templeton, Ebony Ricetti, Ava Hutchison, Niamh Sherry and Zoe Antonelli were among the standout performers.

SULLIVAN LOGISTICS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 9

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        1.2          1.5          1.6          1.6          (12)

EAST FREMANTLE                            0.0          1.0          2.1          3.3          (21)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Pomersbach.

Best: Morgan, Hunt, Mulder, Gilchrist, Stribley, Bobby, Ward, Bazeley.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Wilson-Sieber 2; Raison.

Best: Leitch, Evans, McNaughton, Raison, Kinnane, Leslie, Versaci