WA Day Foundation Derby Countdown – 6 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) 

NUMBER 9 – 2003
South Fremantle 13.9 (87) defeated East Fremantle 13.8 (86)  

NUMBER 8 – 1990
South Fremantle 12.13 (85) defeated East Fremantle 11.6 (72) 

NUMBER 7 – 1992
South Fremantle 12.19 (91) defeated East Fremantle 10.11 (71) 

NUMBER 6 –2011
South Fremantle 12.16 (88) defeated East Fremantle 11.5 (71)

South Fremantle was desperate to make up for missing the finals in 2010 coming off the premiership the previous year, but the Foundation Day Derby loomed as a massive clash with the Bulldogs entering in third position and the Sharks fourth.

In what was a tight affair with scores level at half-time, South Fremantle was made to rue some poor kicking at goal with an inaccurate first half score of 4.9.

The game began to turn in the second half as South Fremantle’s sheer weight of ball started to be rewarded and the Bulldogs began to get scoreboard pressure for their dominance.

A four-goal to two third quarter built the margin and despite a tight final quarter, South Fremantle was able to hold its nerve and record a gutsy hard fought win. 

South Fremantle was without the likes of Jaymie Graham, Adam Guglielmana, Toby McGrath and Chris Bossong for the Fremantle derby, but came away with an outstanding 17-point win following a dominant second half display.

Nathan Phillips made an outstanding return from a knee reconstruction required almost 12 months ago to kick three goals and pick up 21 possessions.

Theo Adams collected 32 possessions, Ryan Cook 30 (in his first Foundation Derby), Toby Bairstow 23, Josh Head 23, Hayden North 23, Joel Palumbo 22 and Ryan Murphy was outstanding mostly in the ruck with 20 touches, nine marks, 15 hit outs and a goal.

Former Claremont player Jayden Woods was dangerous but kicked 1.5 while Cory Dell'Olio continued his strong season with another two goals.

East Fremantle came up short against the Bulldogs but it wasn’t without the very best efforts from Rory and Brock O'Brien. Older brother Rory had 32 possessions and two goals while Brock was outstanding up forward booting a career-best seven goals.

The Sharks only kicked two other goals – from Lewis Fasolo and Ben Bucovaz that weren’t from either O'Brien.

Koby Stevens had 31 possessions also for the Sharks, Tim Houlihan 29, Bradd Dalziell 28, Jamie McNamara 27, Mark McGough 26 and Fasolo 24.

The Bulldogs and Sharks would meet in an even more important derby in the final round of the season with a place in the finals on the line.

South Fremantle would win that clash comfortably by 36 points to book a place in the first semi-final against Subiaco which remains the last final the Bulldogs have played in.

The game also signalled the end of a remarkably successful era for South Fremantle with John Dimmer as coach. Since he took over in 2004, Dimmer led the Bulldogs to premierships in 2005 and 2009, and finals in seven of the eight seasons he was in charge.