ZAC KICKS FIVE AS BULLDOGS BEAT TIGERS

ZAC Strom matched the five goals brother Noah kicked last week and South Fremantle started on fire and then held out for the one-point home win over Claremont on Saturday.

It wouldn’t be a South Fremantle-Claremont match up unless it was tight, tense and dramatic and Saturday’s clash at Fremantle Community Bank Oval lived up to every bit of that.

South Fremantle did kick the first six goals of the game to lead by as much as 38 points in the first half, but Claremont then kicked three of the four goals in the second half.

However, the Bulldogs held firm with the Tigers kicking eight consecutive behinds in the last term for South Fremantle to win 10.10 (70) to 9.15 (69) to make it back-to-back wins this season.

On the back of his younger brother kicking five goals last week in the win against West Coast, it was time for Zac Strom to have a day out as he kicked five goals for the first time in his 177-game career.

Luke Polson also kicked two goals for the Bulldogs.

Matthew Parker delivered a strong performance in the midfield for South Fremantle with 27 possessions, seven inside 50s, five tackles and a goal.

Isiah Winder also collected 24 disposals, Haiden Schloithe 17 and ruckman Josh Branchi 17 to go with 25 hit outs, five tackles, five inside-50 entries and four tackles.

The Bulldogs held firm down back too led by Chad Pearson (18 possessions, four marks), Toby McQuilkin (18 touches, six marks) and Jordan Boullineau (12 disposals, eight marks).

South Fremantle made the perfect start and it took just over 20 seconds for Luke Polson to kick the first goal of the afternoon.

Only five minutes later and the Bulldogs had a second on the board thanks to Dylan Main before Zac Strom added a first.

The stunning start for South Fremantle continued with another goal to Matthew Parker from long range before Polson and Strom both added a second, and the home team had six goals on the board inside just over 17 minutes.

Claremont did get on the board through Zac Mainwaring at the 19-minute mark, but South Fremantle added a seventh for the first term thanks to Strom kicking a third and despite two late goals to the Tigers, the Bulldogs still led by 25 points.

South Fremantle also kicked the first two goals of the second quarter with Strom booting a fourth and then another to Kyle Russell who was stepping into that small forward role left vacant by Brandon Donaldson.

That had the Bulldogs leading by 37 points but the Tigers cut the deficit down to 17 points by half-time.

South Fremantle’s lone goal of the second half came at the 14-minute mark of the third quarter which was Strom’s fifth of the day, but that 18-point lead would prove enough with the Bulldogs holding on to win a thriller by a point.

The day’s action got underway on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with a thrilling reserves contest which saw Claremont hold out South Fremantle for the 10.10 (70) to 9.12 (66) victory.

Roan O’Hehir kicked two goals for the Bulldogs to go with 19 possessions and six tackles.

Aaron Drage also racked up 34 disposals, George Wessels 23, Riley Vidovich 22, Jaren Carr 22 and Toby Dodds 21.

The colts match up then wrapped up the evening at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle beating Claremont 15.20 (110) to 6.5 (41).

Taj Longmuir picked up 21 possessions for the Bulldogs, Tyler Rowe 18, Nick Campo 17, Mitch Geier 15 and Orlando Keleman 15.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 1

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        7.2          9.4          10.9        10.10     (70)

CLAREMONT                                      3.1          6.5          8.7          9.15        (69)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Z Strom 5; Polson 2; Russell, Main, Parker.

Best: Parker, Z Strom, Branchi, McQuilkin, Winder, Pearson, Schloithe.

CLAREMONT – Goals: Waterman, Manuel 2; Bolton, Alvarez, Gowdie, Mainwaring, Musika.

Best: Eastland, England, Martinis, Mountford, Rogers, Bryant.