Slow start again proves costly for Bulldogs

SOUTH Fremantle again made a slow start and couldn’t come from behind to win falling to Subiaco by 11 points in Thursday night WAFL action at Medibank Stadium.

After conceding the opening six goals against Claremont two weeks ago prior to the bye, South Fremantle again gave up the first five on Thursday night in 16 minutes against Subiaco and it proved a mountain to high to hold on to the lead once the Bulldogs worked so hard to claim it.

Wet, cold and windy conditions greeted Thursday night WAFL football as the top two teams put in a hard fought contest at Medibank Stadium to open Round 18 that saw Subiaco prevail over South Fremantle by 11 points to move two games clear in first place.

Subiaco started on fire with five goals in the opening 16 minutes of the game and while South Fremantle fought back to lead briefly during both the second and third quarters, the Lions responded to dominate the final quarter to end up winning 10.9 (69) to 9.4 (58).

The result means that the premiers of the last two years are again on track to win the minor premiership of 2016 with Subiaco improving to a 12-4 record to be two wins clear of the now 10-5 South Fremantle.

While it was the first televised WAFL night fixture, it was actually a third Thursday evening clash between Subiaco and South Fremantle over the past decade.

The first Thursday night clash was the season-opener to 2008 in a battle of the previous two WAFL premiers and it was Subiaco who prevailed by 40 points at Fremantle Oval.

Then a year later on Easter Thursday, it was the Bulldogs beating the Lions by 55 points at Medibank Stadium in Kris Miller's 200th WAFL appearance.

South Fremantle was still missing Ashton Hams, Haiden Schloithe, Blaine Johnson and Adam McIntosh, but did regain ruckman Brock Higgins and key defender Josh Pullman.

Higgins fought hard for 11 touches, 48 hit outs and a goal while Pullman had a good battle with Hamish Shepheard having 17 possessions himself.

Steven Verrier worked hard in the midfield for the Bulldogs with 28 possessions and a goal with Shane Hockey another who battled away with 27 disposals and six tackles. Jacob Dragovich also had 22 touches for the Bulldogs and Brendan Verrier 19.

Ben Saunders was South Fremantle's most lively option in attack kicking three goals from 10 kicks and five marks.

South Fremantle captain Ryan Cook was particularly effective in the first half off half-forward and finished with 21 possessions, seven marks, seven inside 50s and a goal on the night he became the Bulldogs' longest ever serving captain.

Down back, Blayne Wilson had 26 possessions and eight marks for South Fremantle while Marlion Pickett was terrific defensively as well as with 20 disposals, seven marks and a goal.

Subiaco came out of the blocks ready to make a statement and by the 16-minute mark of the opening quarter the Lions already had five goals on the board before South Fremantle knew what had hit them.

Hamish Shepheard kicked the first goal of the game with a clever snap over his shoulder after a mark near the goal square before small forward James Garcia kicked truly and Brett Robinson did the same.

The dangerous Liam Ryan added the fourth and then on-baller Leigh Kitchin drilled one from just inside-50.

South Fremantle did manage to steady with the last goal of the first quarter thanks to record-setting captain Cook, but Subiaco was still in control leading by 24 points at quarter-time.

The Bulldogs turned things around completely in the second quarter and they made it two goals in succession when ruckman Higgins drilled a set shot from 50 at the five-minute mark.

Over 10 minutes later and Saunders drilled his first of the night before big man Zac Strom kicked well on the run from 50 and suddenly the Bulldogs were right back in the contest trailing by just four points and having kicked the last four goals of the game.

Saunders then kicked his second following a strong mark on the lead after a 50m penalty paid against the Subiaco runner.

That gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the night but it was only brief with Ryan kicking Subiaco's lone goal of the first half just before the siren and that gave the Lions a four-point advantage at the main break.

Both teams played some attractive football during the third quarter despite the rain continuing to fall and the tough conditions.

The Lions stretched their lead to 10 points early with a goal to Greg Broughton before the Bulldogs responded with two goals in three minutes to Steve Verrier and Tyson Pickett.

That gave South Fremantle a two-point lead but again it lasted less than two minutes with Subiaco responding with Clancy Wheeler kicking truly. Another three minutes later and the Bulldogs were back in front when Saunders kicked his third goal of the night.

But Subiaco had the last say of the third term with Ryan kicking a terrific goal after the siren from 50 to see the Lions go into the last term leading by four points.

Subiaco then went on to dominate the fourth quarter. The Lions kicked away to a 12-point lead with Shepheard kicking his second goal but they couldn’t find another major despite seven behinds for the quarter.

South Fremantle didn’t score until after the siren when Marlion Pickett goaled but that only cut Subiaco's final winning margin to 11 points.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        1.1    5.3    8.4    9.4    (58)
SUBIACO            5.1    6.1    9.2    10.9    (69)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 3; S Verrier, Strom, Higgins, M Pickett, Cook, T Pickett.
Best: Hockey, S Verrier, Saunders, M Pickett, Wilson, Higgins, Cook.
SUBIACO – Goals: Ryan 3; Shepheard 2; Wheeler, Robinson, Garcia, Broughton, Kitchin.
Best: Phelan, Ryan, Twomey, Wheeler, Lockyer, Cockie, Kitchin.