Bulldogs lose again in annual NAIDOC Round clash with Tigers

SOUTH Fremantle wasn’t able to adjust to Saturday's horrendous conditions as well as Claremont illustrated by a goalless first half with the Tigers going on to score a 31-point win at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The weather was at its worst in the first half and Claremont adjusted the better with the only six goals of the first quarter, and the only major of the second.

South Fremantle did rally with four goals during the third quarter but two goals in the final minute for Claremont put the result beyond doubt with the Tigers going on to win 11.3 (69) to 5.8 (38).

The loss is a second straight for the Bulldogs meaning they are just holding on to second spot by percentage ahead of West Perth, but with the bye this weekend they could slip to third spot by the time of bounce down on Thursday July 21 against Subiaco at Medibank Stadium.

The game on Saturday also continued Claremont's dominance of the two teams' traditional clash for NAIDOC Round with the Tigers having won nine of the 10 clashes over the Bulldogs since the concept began back in 2007.

South Fremantle was still missing Ashton Hams, Haiden Schloithe and Adam McIntosh with key defender Josh Pullman and ruckman Brock Higgins not coming up from the previous week's loss to East Perth.

That meant Zac Strom had to carry the ruck duties against Mitch Andrews and Darcy Cameron, and he worked hard with 24 possessions and 19 hit outs.

Shane Hockey was suited to the conditions and battled hard for the Bulldogs with 31 possessions and 12 tackles while Jacob Martinez stepped up with 25 disposals and eight tackles.

Jacob Dragovich also gathered 28 possessions for South Fremantle, Shaun Bewick 26, Brendan Verrier 25 and Tim Kelly 22.

Marlion Pickett was solid in the back-line for the Bulldogs moving on to Gerrick Weedon midway through the first quarter after he kicked two goals and held him to three kicks the rest of the day.

Tyson Pickett, Marlion's younger brother, also made his debut and was impressive in a difficult day for a small forward with a goal from 12 possessions and four tackles.

Ben Saunders kicked two goals for South Fremantle.

The rain began to pour down during the opening quarter and it was Claremont who handled the conditions much better and it was Weedon who took full advantage in the first nine minutes kicking two quick goals to give the Tigers the confidence they would go on with.

The Bulldogs had a couple of chances but couldn’t capitalise while the Tigers found ways to scramble four more goals for the quarter with Justin Speed, Harrison McCracken, Ian Richardson and Darcy Cameron all combining to see Claremont lead by a dominant 34 points at quarter-time.

The rain and the conditions were at their worst for the second quarter and as a result South Fremantle managed just the one behind but Claremont did manage another goal to Beau Maister and that saw the Tigers with a match-winning 41-point half-time advantage.

South Fremantle's first half was summed up on the siren when Blaine Johnson didn’t come close with a set shot and Claremont's players quickly let him know about it.

South Fremantle's goal drought eventually ended 13 minutes into the third quarter and it took debutant Tyson Pickett to do it when he snapped truly as he showed plenty in his first appearance to show he has a long career ahead despite the horrendous conditions.

Claremont had all the answers on the day, though, and it took the Tigers just two minutes to respond to that South Fremantle goal when Keifer Yu kicked truly to restore a 38-point advantage.

The Bulldogs did build some momentum, though, leading into three quarter-time with goals to Ryan Cook, Saunders and Adam Guglielmana. When Guglielmana toe pocked a goal through at the 28-minute mark, the margin was just 20 points and South Fremantle wasn’t without a sniff.

But the final minute of the quarter summed up the day for the Bulldogs with Maister kicking his second goal at the 30-minute mark and then right on the siren, Richardson snapped truly defying the conditions and his celebration signalled how much it meant for the struggling Tigers.

Saunders kicked an early goal in the last quarter for the Bulldogs but it was a relatively uneventful final term with both teams desperate to get into the change rooms and out of the conditions. But Maister's third goal at the 24-minute saw Claremont take out the 31-point victory.

The day began at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle's colts beating Claremont 9.9 (63) to 8.10 (58).

The Tigers led by three points at three quarter-time but the Bulldogs kicked three goals to one in the final term to win by five points.

Shai Bolton returned from his time with the WA State 18s by kicking three goals for South Fremantle to go with 16 possessions and five marks.

Jimmy Miller also had a strong performance for the Bulldogs with 21 disposals, five marks, 21 hit outs and two goals.

Daniel Burke also gathered 19 touches for South Fremantle, Tim English 19 (nine marks, 27 hit outs), Chad Pearson 19, Kyle Russell 17 and Boyd Woods 17.

Then in the reserves contest at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Claremont beat South Fremantle 11.8 (74) 2.12 (24).

The Bulldogs were without plenty of players required in the league team with a mounting injury toll and then ruckman Josh Branchi also went down injured early. He kicked one of South Fremantle's goals before he went off with Kendall Mow booting the other.

Dylan Main gathered 29 possessions for South Fremantle, Matthew Gundry 28, Matthew Ah Siu 27, Bailey Matera 25, Jesse Musika 21 and Jake Florenca 20.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        0.2    0.3    4.6    5.8    (38)
CLAREMONT            6.0    7.2    10.2    11.3    (69)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 2; Guglielmana, T Pickett, Cook.
Best: Hockey, Martinez, Strom, M Pickett, Dragovich, B Verrier, Bewick. 
CLAREMONT – Goals: Maister 3; Weedon, Richardson 2; Yu, Cameron, Speed, McCracken.
Best: Lim, Bolton, Maister, Murphy, Richardson, Yu, Watson.