WAFLW RD 4 MATCH REPORT

WAFLW | Bulldogs overrun by Tigers

South Fremantle took the challenge right up the WAFLW premiers of the past two seasons to be leading most of the afternoon before Claremont took over in the last quarter for the 23-point victory.

The Bulldogs played host to the Tigers at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in Round 4 of the 2026 WAFLW season looking to back up their last up win in 2025 over Claremont before they went on to win back-to-back premierships.

South Fremantle then put in a strong showing to be leading by 10 points at quarter-time, by eight at three quarter-time and only be one-point down by three quarter-time.

Claremont, though, kicked the only three goals of the final term on the way to the 8.13 (61) to 6.2 (38) victory.

South Fremantle now have a win, a draw and two losses from the opening four rounds of the season with Shannyn Pomersbach kicking another two goals from her four kicks and three marks.

Tash Entwistle has fitted in instantly at the Bulldogs and had another 21 possessions and 13 tackles with captain Hunter Cronin also collecting 20 disposals, Ash Gomes 18, Mikayla Hyde 17, Brianna Cleggett 14, Liusaidh Gilchrist 11 and Makaela Tuhakaraina 11 to go with eight tackles.

South Fremantle made the best possible start against the reigning premiers with a goal to Annalie Polimeno in less than 30 seconds after the ball was thrown up after the opening siren.

South Fremantle also managed the second and third goals of the game thanks to Jess Watts and Shannyn Pomersbach to open up a 16-point advantage.

That was still a 10-point lead by quarter-time in favour of the Bulldogs before Madi Hadley again gave the home team a lightning quick start to the second term with a goal in under a minute.

That saw the lead back out to 16 points and then in response to the next couple of goals from Claremont, former captain Lauren Vecchio kicked a goal to restore South Fremantle’s lead at seven.

It was still an eight-point lead for the Bulldogs by half-time and it took over 14 minutes for the first goal of the second half which went the way of Claremont, but South Fremantle quickly responded courtesy of Pomersbach to be back in front by five points.

Claremont took the lead by three quarter-time, though, with a late goal from Jacinta Valentini.

It was then all the Tigers in the last quarter kicking the only three goals to secure the 23-point victory.

The Rogers Cup match up began proceedings on Sunday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle hunting a first win of the 2026 season against Claremont.

It was the Tigers that had the better of the start, though, with the only three goals of the first quarter with the Bulldogs managing just the three behinds.

South Fremantle responded with the only two goals of the second term and as a result scores were all level between the two teams at half-time.

The Tigers then managed the only goal of the third quarter and then it was a goal each in the last with Claremont ending up prevailing 5.5 (35) to 3.7 (25).

South Fremantle’s goals were kicked by Ayvah Rioli, Makenzie Chapple and Maddison Catley while Zoe Antonelli, Katy Elliott, Eva Flynn, Tori Groth and Alice Warbuton were among the other strong performers.

ATCO WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 4

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        3.0          5.2          6.2          6.2          (38)

CLAREMONT                                      1.2          3.6          5.9          8.13        (61)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Pomersbach 2; Hadley, Watts, Vecchio, Polimeno.

Best: Entwistle, Gomes, Hyde, Cronin, Tuhakaraina, Newson, Cleggett, Stribley.

CLAREMONT – Goals: Anderson 4; Jackson 2; Valentini, Viney.

Best: Viney, Smith, Anderson, Kelly, Sargent-Wilson, Husband, Orzel.