Bulldogs stay unbeaten in all grades to open 2016

SOUTH Fremantle remains unbeaten in all three WAFL grades this season after a history-making day against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

Coming off the colts, reserves and league sides all opening the season with wins over West Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, the Bulldogs backed that up on a day to remember in difficult conditions at Bassendean on Saturday.

After wins to the colts and reserves to open proceedings, South Fremantle’s league team delivered a dominant performance to beat Swan Districts 9.14 (68) to 2.6 (18).

The 2.6 (18) kicked by Swan Districts is the club’s lowest ever score since joining the WAFL in 1934.

The wet and wintry conditions didn’t trouble the Bulldogs at all and for new recruit Shane Hockey it suited him down to the ground. He finished the game with 28 possessions, 10 tackles and six inside-50 entries.

He received plenty of help in the middle as well with Ashton Hams picking up another 24 possessions to go with six tackles, five inside-50 entries and two goals.

Brendan Verrier worked hard for another 22 disposals and seven tackles with Steven Verrier finishing with 19 touches and nine tackles and Ryan Cook 17.

Zac Strom backed up his strong Round 1 game by splitting his time between centre half-forward and the ruck ending up with 17 disposals and 18 hit outs.

Down back, the Bulldogs were again rock solid with Marlion Pickett leading the way with 23 possessions and six inside 50s. Blayne Wilson also had 16 touches and seven marks.

Ben Saunders also kicked two goals for South Fremantle on a tough day for forwards.

The Bulldogs got off to a perfect start with Saunders booting the game’s opening goal with the first score inside the first three minutes.

Things got decidedly difficult with the conditions from there but Swans got a goal through Rudy Riddoch and led by a point at quarter-time.

South Fremantle again started the second quarter well with an early goal to Haiden Schloithe but then the Bulldogs really began to dominate the game all over the field.

That led to two quick goals to Hams with Brendan Verrier and Tim Kelly booting majors in time-on as well as South Fremantle opened up a 31-point half-time advantage.

The Bulldogs didn’t manage a goal with just the five behinds for the third quarter but Swans couldn’t make much of an impact either. The home team kicked a goal through Ricky Cary but South Fremantle was still up by 28 points at three quarter-time.

It was then again all South Fremantle in the final term keeping Swans scoreless and getting goals through Saunders, Mason Shaw and Matthew Gundry to win by 50 points. Gundry’s goal at the 21-minute mark was the first of his 10-game league career.

South Fremantle’s reserves opened up an 11-point lead by quarter-time and maintained that advantage the rest of the game to end up beating Swan Districts 6.15 (51) to 6.3 (39) at Steel Blue Oval.

Brandon Donaldson, Kendall Mow, Jesse Mirco, Jacob Dragovich, Jordan Matera and Tim Stewart all kicked goals for the Bulldogs.

Bailey Matera racked up 31 possessions, Dragovich 29, Jake Florenca 23, Matthew Ah Siu 22, Shaun Bewick 21, Tom Vandeleur 20, Donaldson 19 and Dominic Warrell 19.

The colts began the day at Steel Blue Oval against the grand finalists of the last two years recording an 8.11 (59) to 7.5 (47) victory.

The Bulldogs didn’t kick a goal in the first quarter but kicked three in the second to lead by five points at half-time. Swans then took a seven-point advantage into the last term but South Fremantle kicked three goals to one to win by 12 points.

Shai Bolton was again terrific for South Fremantle with 19 possessions, nine tackles and three goals.

Daniel Burke also had 21 touches and a goal, and Dylan Brown 27 disposals, seven tackles and a goal.

Zac de san Miguel finished with 23 possessions and nine tackles for South Fremantle, Kyle Russell 19 disposals and Boyd Woods 17 touches.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        1.2    6.5    6.10    9.14    (68)
SWAN DISTRICTS        1.3    1.4    2.6    2.6    (18)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders, Hams 2; Gundry, Shaw, Kelly, B Verrier, Schloithe.
Best: Hockey, Pickett, Wilson, Hams, B Verrier, Strom, S Verrier.
SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Riddoch, Cary.
Best: Elari, Yukich, Clutterbuck, Whitsed, Faulkner, Jetta.