Bulldogs stay unbeaten with thrilling ANZAC Derby triumph

SOUTH Fremantle kicked the last two goals of Saturday's ANZAC Derby to defeat East Fremantle by seven points to remain unbeaten this WAFL season heading into Saturday's clash with Subiaco.

South Fremantle put its undefeated start to the season on the line in the annual ANZAC Derby at ATOM Stadium on Saturday.

The Bulldogs appeared in relative control for much of the afternoon against the old enemy but some missed chances in front of goal meant the Sharks were always within striking distance.

And East Fremantle took advantage of that with three goals in seven minutes late in the game to lead by four points when Jack Perham kicked truly at the 26-minute mark.

But South Fremantle wasn’t ready to lose for the first time in 2016 and Haiden Schloithe kicked a clutch goal at the 29-minute mark and then the Bulldogs sealed the deal with a goal to captain Ryan Cook on the siren to win 13.16 (94) to 13.9 (87).

The result means South Fremantle returns to the top of the WAFL ladder after six rounds with a 5-0 record setting up a tantalising clash this Saturday against the also undefeated Subiaco at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The Bulldogs have also won their last seven games against the Sharks at East Fremantle Oval.

Ashton Hams had another tremendous game in the midfield for South Fremantle racking up 32 possessions while Tim Kelly delivered an outstanding second half ending the game with 18 disposals and seven tackles with his hardness at the contest a particular highlight.

Blayne Wilson was again a commanding presence at centre half-back with 25 possessions and nine marks and he got good defensive support from Adam Guglielmana (17 disposals), Matthew Gundry (17, one goal), Adam McIntosh (13), Josh Pullman (11) and Marlion Pickett (16).

Ben Saunders booted three goals up forward for the Bulldogs with Blaine Johnson, Schloithe and Steven Verrier booting two apiece.

Josh Branchi fought bravely in the ruck particularly in the second half and had 32 hit outs.

It took almost 17 minutes for the first goal of the derby and that came to an unlikely source for South Fremantle with Gundry booting the second goal of his 13-match career.

Saunders then added another for the Bulldogs four minutes later and for the second straight week they held an opponent goalless to lead by 11 points at quarter-time.

But unlike the last two games against Perth and East Fremantle, South Fremantle was unable to open up a match-winning lead on this occasion due to inaccuracy in front of goal keeping the Sharks in touch.

East Fremantle was just 11 points down when Matthew Watson kicked his first of five goals at the four-minute of the second quarter.

But the Bulldogs did take control with goals to Schloithe and Johnson heading into time-on of the second term before East Fremantle finished the half strongly with the last three goals to trail by just three points following a huge mark and goal from ex-Docker Josh Simpson.

The Sharks then took the lead for the first time in the game with a goal to start the third quarter before South Fremantle steadied with two in a minute courtesy of Johnson and Steven Verrier.

East Fremantle answered with the next two goals, though, to again lead by four points before the Bulldogs got the last two of the third quarter from Saunders and Steven Verrier to be up by 13 points at the last change.

But six more behinds in the third quarter cost South Fremantle a chance to put the game beyond East Fremantle's reach and then two quick goals to Watson to start the fourth term saw the Sharks close to within two points again.

A double 50m penalty awarded to Shane Hockey saw him kick his first goal in the WAFL for South Fremantle. Saunders then proved too crafty inside the forward 50 and snapped his third on his left foot and the Bulldogs looked comfortable again with a 15-point advantage.

But the Sharks weren’t done with yet. Two quick Brett Peake goals when he got out the back, and then a Jack Perham mark and goal saw East Fremantle lead by four points with 26 minutes gone.

But at the 29-minute mark Schloithe took a mark just inside 50 and went back and while he nearly kicked into the mark and it didn’t look pretty, it managed to sail through.

There was then two more nervous minutes in East Fremantle's forward-line, but South Fremantle got the ball forward of centre where Cook ran on to it, and cruised into an open goal and kicked truly as time expired on a memorable Anzac Derby.

South Fremantle's colts bounced back from its first loss of the season last week against Perth by improving to a 4-1 record after beating East Fremantle 9.11 (65) to 6.8 (44) to open Anzac Derby day at ATOM Stadium.

Daniel Burke finished with 17 possessions, seven marks and two goals for the Bulldogs while Dylan Brown had 17 disposals, Shai Bolton 16 and Tim English 16 along with 32 hit outs.

South Fremantle's reserves remained undefeated after five games of the 2016 holding on against East Fremantle to win a thriller 10.15 (75) to 11.7 (73).

Jesse Mirco and Jordan Matera kicked three goals each for South Fremantle and Brandon Donaldson two.

Jake Florenca compiled another 25 possessions for the Bulldogs, James Laurino 24, Tim Stewart 24, Chris Luff 21, Jacob Dragovich 21, Jacob Martinez 21 and Donaldson 18.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.4    5.8    9.14    13.16    (94)
EAST FREMANTLE        0.5    5.5    8.7    13.9    (87)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 3; Schloithe, S Verrier, Johnson 2; Cook, Hockey, Shaw, Gundry.
Best: Wilson, Hams, Kelly, S Verrier, Branchi, Gundry, Saunders.
EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Watson 5; Peake 3; Simpson 2; Perham, Henson, Hampson.
Best: Simpson, Watson, Crichton, Jupp, McNamara, O'Brien.