WAFLW – BULLDOGS JUST GO DOWN TO SWANS

Third spot in the WAFLW went on the line on Sunday afternoon and despite South Fremantle going down to Swan Districts in a thriller, it could very well provide a preview of what would be a tantalising final in a few weeks.

South Fremantle arrived at Steel Blue Oval on the back of three impressive victories in the WAFLW including handing both Subiaco and Claremont their first defeats of the season to have some strong momentum.

Swans were in good form as well so it set the stage nicely for the contest with third position up for grabs and in the end it was Swan Districts who prevailed 5.4 (34) to 4.4 (28).

The result leaves South Fremantle in fourth position on the WAFLW ladder with an 8-6 record to still only be a game behind Swans in third spot and then percentage ahead of the fifth placed East Fremantle.

Alira Fotu continues to juggle playing with South Fremantle in WAFLW as one of the brightest young footballers in the state and also an exciting basketball talent playing NBL1 West at the Perry Lakes Hawks and coming off a WNBL season at the Perth Lynx.

She kicked two goals for the Bulldogs from nine possessions, five marks and three tackles.

Madizen Wilkins also finished with 18 possessions and 11 tackles for South Fremantle with Hannah Burt collecting 17 disposals, Tara Stribley 17, Hunter Cronin 16, Tahleah Mulder 16 and Marie Polimeno 12 to go with 11 tackles and a goal.

South Fremantle got off to a good start with the first goal of the contest at the 11-minute mark through Marie Polimeno but then Swan Districts answered with goals to Adi Griffith and Taylah Edwards to be leading by seven points at quarter-time.

It then took eight minutes of the second quarter for a goal to be kicked and that saw Swan Districts push their lead out to 12 points when Edwards added a second of the day.

South Fremantle answered through young gun Alira Fotu and not only did she kick one to bring the Bulldogs back within six points, she added another soon after to tie scores up.

In the end Swans went into the half-time break with a one-point lead before the only goal of the third quarter went the way of the home team thanks to Griffith and her second saw the black-and-whites lead by seven points at three quarter-time.

That lead grew to a match winning 13 points to start the fourth term with a goal to Emily McGuire. Even with a goal in response from the Bulldogs to Annalie Polimeno, Swans held on for the important six-point victory.

The Rogers Cup match up between the two teams started the day’s action on Sunday afternoon at Steel Blue Oval with Swan Districts downing South Fremantle 6.7 (43) to 3.1 (19).

It was always going to be a fascinating contest with both teams in the finals mix and it was Swans getting the better of the start with two goals to one in the opening quarter to be leading by eight points at quarter-time.

South Fremantle responded in the second term with two goals to one and that meant it was just a one-point lead in favour of Swans heading into the half-time break.

The trend continued of the teams taking advantage of the scoring ends at Bassendean with Swans kicking the only two goals of the third quarter to take a 17-point lead into three quarter-time.

South Fremantle then didn’t manage to score in the final term with Swan Districts securing the 24-point victory with the Bulldogs now sitting in fifth position on the Rogers Cup ladder and half a game behind the fourth placed Claremont.

All three of South Fremantle’s goals were kicked by Nicole Taylor-Thorpe while Zoe Antonelli, Katy Elliott, Ebony Ricetti, Holly Barnes and Niamh Sherry were among the strong performers.

SULLIVAN LOGISTICS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 15

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        1.0          3.2          3.3          4.4          (28)

SWAN DISTRICTS                              2.1          3.3          4.4          5.4          (34)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Fotu 2; M Polimeno, A Polimeno.

Best: Wilkins, Burt, Cronin, Mulder, Stribley, M Polimeno, Gilchrist.

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Edwards, Griffith 2; McGuire.

Best: Henry, King, Davis, Fitzgerald, West, Quaife, Ajduk.