Big news on and off field for Bulldogs

SOUTH Fremantle's impressive start to the 2016 WAFL season has been boosted with a new Major Partner that will take over naming rights of the club's home ground while a former AFL talent has signed with the Bulldogs.

South Fremantle began its 2016 season in impressive fashion on Saturday beating last year's grand finalists West Perth by 35 points and the good news continues to come.

In the lead up to Round 1, South Fremantle secured a new Major Partnership with Fremantle Community Bank Branch which will see the club's home ground for WAFL games now be known as Fremantle Community Bank® Oval.

The Partnership is in place for the 2016 and 2017 WAFL seasons and South Fremantle President Haydn Raitt is looking forward to a long and successful Partnership beginning with the Fremantle Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank.

"I am proud to be involved with such a wonderful community partner and an organisation that has done a lot for the City of Fremantle," Raitt commented.

"To become a Major Partner at South Fremantle Football Club is a sign of their long-term commitment to us, WAFL football and the Fremantle community as a whole.

"We would like to thank Debra Rule and the Fremantle Community Bank for supporting the future of our organisation. We look forward to working closely on the partnership together." 

And to top off the encouraging news, South Fremantle will welcome former Western Bulldogs excitement machine Zephaniah Skinner to the club for the rest of the 2016 WAFL season.

Skinner was drafted to the Bulldogs in 2010 AFL Draft and played eight games across 2011 and 2012.

However, the pull of returning home at the end of the 2012 AFL season proved too strong and he went back to be with his Yungngora people at Noonkanbah Station, which sits on Fitzroy River between Camballin and Fitzroy Crossing. 

Being drafted to a Melbourne club proved to be the worst possible scenario for Skinner but he has the urge back to play top level football again and the 26-year-old is looking forward to joining South Fremantle.

The Bulldogs have a rich history of Indigenous talent and that is continuing in 2016 with the likes of Tim Kelly, Marlion Pickett, Steven Edwards, Jacob Martinez, Jordan Matera, Josh Collard, Traye Bennell, Dominic Warrell, Bailey Matera, Tere Yarran and Shai Bolton all part of the club this season.

The club continues to work with Skinner on getting him set up off the field in Perth to a point where he is happy and comfortable with city life, he will soon begin training at the club.

CEO Stuart Kemp is looking forward to the new addition to an already youthful, and exciting group.

"There is still a lot of work to be done to get Zeph settled in Perth however we are very excited about his signing," Kemp said.

"He is a bright and talented kid and we are looking forward to giving him another chance at becoming the best player he can become.  He will be commencing training in the coming weeks."