WA Day Foundation Derby Countdown – 10 days to go

THE Foundation Derby on WA Day is always the biggest occasion of any WAFL season outside of finals and South Fremantle is guaranteed of heading into the clash with East Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on top of the ladder.

The Sharks could very well be second too depending on what happens this weekend while the Bulldogs have the bye leading into the clash.

We are going to countdown to the Foundation Derby on WA Day, which falls on Monday June 6 by taking a look at 15 of the greatest wins by South Fremantle over East Fremantle on the famous occasion.

NUMBER 15 – 1978
South Fremantle 21.13 (139) defeated East Fremantle 14.14 (98) 

NUMBER 14 – 2006
South Fremantle 35.13 (223) defeated East Fremantle 9.12 (66) 

NUMBER 13 – 1959, 1960, 1961
1959 – South Fremantle 12.17 (89) defeated East Fremantle 11.12 (78)
1960 – South Fremantle 11.7 (73) defeated East Fremantle 10.12 (72)
1961 – South Fremantle 7.15 (57) defeated East Fremantle 7.8 (50) 

NUMBER 12 – 1907
South Fremantle 6.8 (44) defeated East Fremantle 4.9 (33) 

NUMBER 11 – 2007
South Fremantle 15.15 (105) defeated East Fremantle 13.13 (91) 

NUMBER 10 – 2008
South Fremantle 18.11 (119) defeated East Fremantle 14.6 (90)

In what had been a tight first half of the 2008 season behind runaway leaders Subiaco who would go on to win the premiership, South Fremantle was locked in the gridlock of the middle of the ladder as the Foundation Day Derby approached.

East Fremantle had struggled to get momentum going and this derby would likely end the Sharks season while also breathing life into the finals run for the Bulldogs.

And not unlike Foundation Derbies of the past, early on it looked like South Fremantle would rue poor goal kicking as an overall dominance was not able to be translated to the scoreboard with East Fremantle holding an unlikely one-point lead at half-time. 

Spurred into action after the main break, South Fremantle produced one of its best quarters of the season slamming home eight goals to take control of the match.

In a high-scoring and entertaining second half the two teams combined for 21 goals as South Fremantle went on to record an important victory in what had been a topsy-turvy season. 

A relatively young East Fremantle took it to a strong South Fremantle in a terrific Fremantle derby and gave the Bulldogs a scare in the last quarter, but ultimately the home side's experience was enough to get home by 29 points.

Despite the game appearing over early in the last quarter with South Fremantle's lead extending beyond seven goals, the Sharks hit back strongly to close within three, until the Bulldogs steadied with good running goals to Simon O'Keefe and Sam Hunt.

Sharks coach Shane Woewodin moved Matt Spangher forward in the last quarter and it worked a treat with him kicking two goals and with Jamie McNamara and Calib Mourish adding goals quickly East Fremantle looked capable of storming home, but South Fremantle's experience would not allow it.

Ryan Murphy and Josh Head returned for South Fremantle. Murphy starred with six goals and was the main difference between the sides and he had the better of West Coast's Spangher.

While the East Fremantle midfield tried hard, the polish and class of South Fremantle's Simon O'Keefe, Toby McGrath and Hayden North saw the Bulldogs home. O'Keefe found himself in far too much space on the wing at times and finished with 26 possessions and two goals.

Jaymie Graham was also outstanding in the ruck with 23 touches and 19 hit outs getting the better of Sharks pair Rob Young and David Dwyer.

Against his former side, Theo Adams was terrific with his attack at the ball for East Fremantle, while former Sharks pair Kris Miller and Tim Malseed were subdued in their second Foundation Day appearance in red-and-white.

The South Fremantle victory stretched its Foundation Day winning streak to seven over its arch-rivals.

South Fremantle would go on to finish the home and away season in third place and earn the right to a home semi-final, but were upset by a young Swan Districts after seemingly controlling the game in the first half.