Bulldogs end Falcons winning run to return to the top

SOUTH Fremantle returned to the top of the WAFL ending West Perth's seven-game winning streak with a strong performance at HBF Arena on Saturday winning by 35 points.

Despite beating Peel Thunder last Sunday, South Fremantle dropped to second spot on the ladder by percentage but the Bulldogs again replaced Subiaco on top with a game in hand also on the Lions with Saturday's 16.6 (102) to 9.13 (67) victory over West Perth.

The win improves South Fremantle to a 10-2 record on the season and was more impressive considering the Bulldogs' last two fairest and best winners Ashton Hams and Haiden Schloithe were out injured along with reliable defender Adam McIntosh.

Both teams controlled a quarter each in the first half with the advantage of the breeze with scores tied at half-time, but South Fremantle came out to kick the opening seven goals of the second half to end up winning by 35 points.

It continues South Fremantle's impressive record at HBF Arena as well with the Bulldogs having now won five of their last six trips to Joondalup, and 16 of 25 overall since 1994.

South Fremantle needed some different players to stand up particularly in the midfield with Hams and Schloithe absent, and Tim Kelly tagged out of the game by West Perth's Dean Munns.

It was Jacob Dragovich and Tim Stewart who stepped up the most. Dragovich played his best game of the season with 27 possessions, 10 marks and five tackles while Stewart continues to thrive at league level with another 22 disposals and seven marks. 

Shaun Bewick enjoyed his day against his former club as well with 24 possessions, 13 marks, five inside 50s and a goal while Shane Hockey led from the front in the middle with 23 disposals and captain Ryan Cook contributed 22 touches, nine marks and seven inside-50 entries.

Brock Higgins continued his strong form in the ruck with 16 possessions, seven marks and 41 hit outs.

South Fremantle's forward-line was again on fire led Ben Saunders who kicked six goals including five with his first five kicks of the afternoon opposed to state defender Luke Meadows.

Mason Shaw booted four goals for the Bulldogs with three of those coming in the last quarter while Blaine Johnson returned from a hamstring injury to kick two and second-gamer Brandon Donaldson kicked two as well.

South Fremantle's defence was also strong led by Adam Guglielmana limiting the influence of Max Duffy and Josh Pullman returning to shut down Michael Lourey.

West Perth started strongly when big man Mark Hamilton marked his return from an ankle injury with a conversion at the five-minute mark. The Bulldogs had the next couple of scoring shots before Saunders kicked truly for their first goal of the day.

Saunders then added a second minutes later before second-gamer Donaldson also showed he is adjusting quickly to league football with another at the 23-minute mark with South Fremantle's lead growing to 13 points.

The Falcons got one back before quarter-time courtesy of Corey Chalmers but the Bulldogs had the last say of the term with a goal to Shaw after the siren to see them lead again by 13 points.

It took just 30 seconds of the second quarter for West Perth to score when Duffy kicked a trademark clever major. Scores were level soon after when Strijk kicked his first of the day and the Falcons had all the momentum kicking with the breeze.

West Perth was struggling to convert in front of goal, though, to not get reward for its dominance. South Fremantle grabbed two chances in a minute with Saunders and Donaldson both goaling to see the visitors lead again by eight points.

The Falcons regained control in general play and Strijk did manage a second goal, but West Perth kicked just 3.7 for the quarter with scores tied up at the long break.

The game was in the balance at half-time and it stayed that way for the first 10 minutes of the third quarter until South Fremantle took over the contest.

It started with Saunders booting his fourth goal of the day with his fourth kick from well outside 50 before Steve Edwards showed his class by balking an opponent and then kicking truly. A fifth goal to Saunders following a 50m penalty then put South Fremantle 17 points up.

Bewick nailed another goal for the Bulldogs from outside 50 near the boundary and the Bulldogs continued to pile on the pressure with Johnson making the Falcons pay for some horror turnovers coming out of defence with the last two goals of the third quarter.

South Fremantle kicked the only six goals of the term to lead by 35 points and that was out to 42 early in the last term when Shaw added his second.

West Perth showed brief signs of a fightback with Strijk's third and fourth goals, but the Bulldogs steadied with Shaw kicking a third and fourth, and Saunders his sixth as South Fremantle recorded the 35-point victory to return to the top of the WAFL and end West Perth's winning run.

South Fremantle's colts began the day at HBF Arena with an 11.8 (74) to 3.6 (24) victory over West Perth.

Jarren Colpitts kicked two goals for South Fremantle as did Chad Pearson and Jimmy Miller.

Dylan Brown finished with 27 possessions and 12 tackles for the Bulldogs with Daniel Burke amassing 27 disposals, Alexander Cabassi 18, Kyle Russell 17 and Travis Abbott 17.

Then in the reserves contest, South Fremantle defeated West Perth 9.10 (64) to 7.9 (51) with the Bulldogs fighting back from a one-goal first half to kick eight goals to three after half-time to win by 13 points.

Jesse Mirco kicked three goals for the Bulldogs and Noah Strom two. 

Brendan Verrier racked up 34 possessions and nine tackles for South Fremantle, Dylan Main 25 disposals and 12 tackles, Jake Florenca 29 touches, Blake Lee 23 possessions, Tyson Pickett 21 disposals and Jordan Matera 19 touches.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        4.3    6.3    12.4    16.6    (102)
WEST PERTH            2.2    5.9    5.10    9.13    (67)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 6; Shaw 4; Johnson, Donaldson 2; Bewick, Edwards.
Best: Dragovich, Stewart, Bewick, Saunders, Higgins, Hockey, Guglielmana, Cook.
WEST PERTH – Goals: Strijk 4; Chalmers 2; Leeson, Duffy, Hamilton.
Best: Nelson, Munns, Strijk, Keitel, Potente, Black, van Berlo.