Wasteful Bulldogs made to pay in WA Day Foundation Derby

A GOALLESS drought lasting two and-a-half quarters despite plenty of gettable opportunities left South Fremantle no chance of winning the WA Day Foundation Derby against East Fremantle, but the Bulldogs remain on top of the WAFL ladder heading into the state game break.

South Fremantle started the WA Day Foundation Derby at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with the opening two goals of the game through Blaine Johnson and Steven Verrier, but things didn’t quite go to plan after that in the difficult conditions.

The Bulldogs still led by a goal at the five-minute mark of the second quarter after Mason Shaw kicked his second goal, but they wouldn’t kick another goal until the 21-minute mark of the fourth term.

East Fremantle kicked 10 goals in that period on the way to the 13.12 (90) to 6.15 (51) victory.

The win continues the remarkable run of visiting sides winning Fremantle derbies with the last 13 clashes between the Bulldogs and Sharks being won by the away team. East Fremantle has won on its last six visits now to Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Despite the disappointing defeat, South Fremantle remains on top of the ladder at 8-2 heading into Saturday’s state game against Tasmania at Steel Blue Oval and ahead of two crucial matches against fellow top five sides Peel Thunder and West Perth.

Tim Kelly worked hard as he has all season in the midfield for South Fremantle and finished the afternoon with 26 possessions, six marks and five inside-50 entries to all but secure his place in Saturday’s state game against Tasmania.

Shane Hockey also tried valiantly in the midfield for the Bulldogs collecting 27 disposals while captain Ryan Cook finished with 23 touches and nine marks, Steven Verrier 19 possessions and two goals and Tim Stewart an impressive 17 touches and 12 tackles.

Mason Shaw kicked two goals from 16 possessions and six marks but Ben Saunders, Haiden Schloithe, Zac Strom, Steven Edwards and Jacob Dragovich were all goalless. Blaine Johnson kicked an early goal before going off with a hamstring injury before half-time.

Blayne Wilson had another good performance at centre half-back for South Fremantle and finished with 21 possessions and six marks.

Matthew Gundry and Adam McIntosh delivered good performances while Tom Vandeleur played his first league game of the season with Josh Pullman missing. He had a good battle with East Fremantle’s Matthew Watson who kicked two goals but had just five kicks.

South Fremantle got the Foundation Derby off to a tremendous start with a goal at the five-minute to Johnson and then another through Verrier just four minutes later.

But East Fremantle soon steadied when Watson goaled from a free-kick before goals to Brock O’Brien and Fraser Perry put the visitors seven points in front. A goal before quarter-time to the Bulldogs from Shaw brought the margin back to two points at the first change.

South Fremantle then regained the lead early in the second quarter when Shaw booted his second goal at the five-minute mark.

The Bulldogs had chances to add a fifth goal for the first half but poor kicking and missing some easy shots were costly with the Sharks taking the lead when Perham kicked truly after the half-time siren.

East Fremantle held a three-point lead at the main break and that soon became eight when Perham added his third of the day at the eight-minute mark of the third term.

When Peake kicked his first and then Josh Cuneo kicked a good running goal, the Sharks led by 18 points and by 19 at the last change with South Fremantle goalless for the third quarter despite six behinds.

It was then all East Fremantle in the opening 15 minutes of the last term with two goals to Peake, Watson’s second and captain Jamie McNamara adding another.

That saw the Sharks lead by 46 points before South Fremantle ended its goal drought of two and-a-half quarters with two in four minutes to Pickett and Verrier.

East Fremantle finished with the last goal, though, as McNamara strolled into the open goal square at the hospital end of Fremantle Community Bank Oval to secure the Sharks’ sixth straight win at the venue.

The RediMed Colts clash opened the Foundation Derby WA Day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle defeating East Fremantle 12.5 (77) to 6.7 (43).

Daniel Burke and Jimmy Miller kicked two goals for South Fremantle while Dylan Brown racked up 28 possessions to go with eight tackles, five marks and a goal.

Burke also picked up 20 disposals for the Bulldogs, Deng Maguang 18, Bruno Faulkner 16, Caleb Datson 15, Brodee Knight 15, Miller 15 and Chad Pearson 15. Jacob Warne finished with 34 hit outs in the ruck.

Drew Blurton kicked two goals for East Fremantle with Matthew Burton gathering 21 possessions, Jayden Quill 19, Ben Harding 17, Corey Holmes 17, Liam Rajanayagam 17 and Dwayne Nevill 16.

The reserves then played in the lead in to the Foundation Derby at Fremantle Community Bank with South Fremantle winning 14.16 (100) to 12.7 (79) despite the Sharks kicking five goals to one in the fourth quarter.

Jacob Martinez put his hand up for a league recall following the state game break with 21 possessions and 10 tackles.

Shaun Bewick racked up another 31 disposals for the Bulldogs, James Laurino 25, Brendan Verrier 23, Billy Collier 20, Bailey Matera 19 and ruckman Josh Branchi 17 to go with 29 hit outs and six marks.

Zephaniah Skinner played his second game with South Fremantle and showed some good signs in his nine possessions, three tackles and a goal.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.1    4.7    4.13    6.15    (51)
EAST FREMANTLE        3.3    5.4    8.8    13.12    (90)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Shaw, S Verrier 2; Johnson, Pickett.
Best: Kelly, Hockey, Gundry, Wilson, S Verrier, Cook, Stewart.
EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Perham, Peake 3; Watson, McNamara 2; O’Brien, Perry, Cuneo.
Best: Perham, T Bristow, Crichton, Jupp, Cuneo, Lester-Smith, Anthony.