YOUTH GIRLS STRENGTHEN PREMIERSHIP DEFENCE

SOUTH Fremantle’s premiership defence in the Rogers Cup competition warmed up again on Friday night with a thumping win from the Youth Girls while the league team found the going tougher against the WAFLW league leaders on Saturday.

It was the battle of top against bottom at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday afternoon, and unsurprisingly things played out to expectations.

Swans were back on home turf at Bassendean’s Steel Blue Oval on Saturday to open Round 9 in the WAFLW competition, which was being played this weekend having been forced to be rescheduled back three weeks ago thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Despite Rounds 10 and 11 having already been played, the rescheduled Round 9 was slotted in to take place this weekend and the final four weeks of the home and away season to follow all pushed back one further week.

It did always appear it was a big job ahead of South Fremantle with the Bulldogs heading to Steel Blue Oval on Saturday afternoon searching for their first ever win in the WAFLW competition.

Their challenge was up against a Swan Districts team who reached the first ever WAFL Grand Final back in 2019, again played finals in 2020 and now has been the dominant team of the competition so far in 2021.

The two teams first did battle this season back in Round 2 and on that occasion Swan Districts came away with the 53-point win against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Saturday afternoon’s game was just the second time they have faced one another and the contest played out true to form after the day unfolded at Steel Blue Oval.

In the end, Swan Districts won the game over South Fremantle 6.2 (38) to 0.1 (1) in front of their home fans.

The result means that Swan Districts now sits clear on top of the WAFLW ladder with a perfect 10-0 record while South Fremantle remains winless from 10 attempts this season.

Emma Nanut ended up kicking two goals in the win for Swan Districts with one each to Brianna Hyde, Shannan Rene, Tara Stribley and Sarah Wielstra.

South Fremantle’s WAFLW Reserves team had the bye in Round 9, but the Youth Girls were in action on Friday night at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The Round 9 contest in the Rogers Cup saw the Bulldogs put in a dominant display as well beating East Perth 18.16 (124) to 0.0 (0).

The 124-point victory improves the South Fremantle reigning premiers sitting in second position on the Rogers Cup ladder with a month of the home and away season remaining.

There was plenty to like from the thumping win by the Bulldogs including Poppy Stockwell having a night out by kicking seven goals. Emily Boothman wasn’t far behind kicking five while Caitlin Arnoldi and Leah Garbellini added two each.

Best players on the night for South Fremantle included Noa McNaughton, Darcy Clements, Stockwell, Chloe Boothman and Zoe Keley.