Bulldogs improve to 4-0 with biggest win of WAFL season

SOUTH Fremantle returned from the bye on Saturday to record the biggest win of the WAFL season to date beating Perth by 98 points at Lathlain Park to improve to a 4-0 record.

While South Fremantle's colts lost for the first time to begin the day at Lathlain Park, the Bulldogs reserves and league teams both prevailed over the Demons to improve to 4-0.

The league side put in a commanding performance keeping Perth scoreless in the opening quarter while kicking seven goals. Then South Fremantle finished the job in the second half with 10 of the game's last 11 goals to win 21.10 (136) to 4.14 (38).

With the 98-point victory that is the biggest of the WAFL season, South Fremantle improved to a 4-0 start to the season leading into Saturday's Anzac Derby against East Fremantle at ATOM Stadium.

South Fremantle put together a scintillating patch of six goals in under nine minutes in the first quarter. And then a run nine consecutive goals in the second half to set up the 98-point win over Perth.

It was a dominant display by the Bulldogs who not only had 13 extra scoring shots, but 149 more possessions and 81 extra marks.

Perth did have one more inside-50 entry but it was the game style of South Fremantle that stood out with the Bulldogs patiently maintaining possession across half-back until the chance through the middle opened up.

When it did, they ran and carried the ball, and got it forward to their dangerous forwards where Mason Shaw took full advantage on Saturday with five goals from 21 possessions and nine marks.

The Bulldogs had plenty of goal scoring options with Ryan Cook, Ben Saunders, Blaine Johnson, Steven Edwards, Steven Verrier and Brendan Verrier all booting two apiece.

Haiden Schloithe was again outstanding largely across half-forward with 26 possessions, 11 marks, seven tackles and a goal.

Through the middle, the Bulldogs got on top despite Perth possessing Sandover Medallist Aidan Tropiano, and former AFL players Angus Graham and Clint Jones.

Brendan Verrier racked up 31 possessions for South Fremantle, Ashton Hams 30, Steven Verrier 30, Adam Guglielmana 23, Shane Hockey 21, Tim Kelly 20 and Matthew Gundry 20.

Josh Branchi was again impressive in the ruck with 17 touches and 25 hit outs.

Down back, South Fremantle was also outstanding led by Josh Pullman at full-back who had 20 possessions and 11 marks. Blayne Wilson also finished with 29 disposals and 12 marks at centre half-back while Marlion Pickett was brilliant when he needed to be and had 18 touches.

It took nine minutes for either side to score but once South Fremantle did courtesy of a goal to Shaw, the floodgates quickly opened.

Edwards kicked truly from the pocket almost directly from the resulting centre bounce and then just over one more minute passed before Steven Verrier gave South Fremantle three goals in less than three minutes.

A couple of further minutes passed before Shaw nailed his second goal and when captain Cook goaled from 50 from a set shot, South Fremantle led 5.0 (30) to nothing.

Tim Kelly snapped through a beauty up against the boundary soon after and the Bulldogs had kicked six goals in just over eight minutes in a stunning burst.

Another goal to Steven Verrier just before quarter-time and South Fremantle led 7.4 (46) with Perth scoreless.

Perth finally did score a behind a minute into the second quarter with a rushed behind and then got a goal at the 12-minute mark when ruckman Graham walked into an open goal.

But South Fremantle hit back with goals to Saunders and Brendan Verrier to lead by 48 points at the long break.

South Fremantle made a perfect start to the third quarter when Zac Strom outmarked Aaron Zucconi and turned around to kick a good goal.

After an Aidan Tropiano goal for Perth, the Bulldogs answered with a clever snap from Bailey Matera before the Demons go their last goal for almost 50 minutes courtesy of 17-year-old Zac Fisher.

The Bulldogs pressed home their advantage with Saunders toe-poking through his second goal, Shaw booting a third and Schloithe his first after three behinds with South Fremantle leading by 63 points at the last change.

South Fremantle again played some scintillating football during the fourth quarter with Edwards kicking his second goal, Johnson booting two in succession, Brendan Verrier a second, Shaw his fourth and fifth, and Cook snapped through his second at the 31-minute mark to secure the 98-point win.

The colts started the day at Lathlain Park with Perth handing South Fremantle its only defeat of the season in any grade to date, winning 13.12 (90) to 9.5 (59).

Mitch Dzelebdzic kicked three goals for the bulldogs and Antionne Forrest-Yarran two while Dylan Brown gathered 24 possessions, Deng Maguang 20, Kyle Russell 19 and Zane Sumich 18. Tim English had 14 touches and 25 hit outs in the ruck.

And then in the reserves, South Fremantle improved to 4-0 coming off last year's premiership with a 15.9 (99) to 9.11 (65) victory at Lathlain Park.

Brandon Donaldson kicked three goals for the Bulldogs, Shaun Bewick two and Tim Stewart two while racking up 30 and 27 possessions respectively and combining for 22 marks.

James Laurino gathered 26 disposals for South Fremantle, Jacob Dragovich 24, Jesse Mirco 21 and Jakeb Tartaglia but it was Jake Florenca who had the day to remember with 39 possessions and 10 marks.

Brock Higgins also made a successful return and was particularly dominant up forward in the third quarter. He finished with 16 possessions, seven marks, 11 hit outs, six inside-50 entries and two goals.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        7.4    9.5    14.7    21.10    (136)
PERTH                0.0    1.5    3.10    4.14    (38)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Shaw 5; Cook, B Verrier, Johnson, Edwards, Saunders, S Verrier 2; Schloithe, Matera, Strom, Kelly.
Best: S Verrier, Pullman, Schloithe, Wilson, B Verrier, Shaw, Branchi, Hams.
PERTH – Goals: Graham, Tropiano, Fisher, Wolfenden.
Best: Jacobs, Zucconi, Jones, Tropiano, Sinclair.