Scintillating qualifying final display by Bulldogs to beat Falcons

SOUTH Fremantle played its first WAFL final since 2011 and delivered an outstanding performance on Saturday to beat West Perth by 52 points to advance to the second semi-final.

The Bulldogs have qualified for the first time since 2011 and won their first finals match since the 2009 grand final on Saturday proving too good for the Falcons on their home deck in front of a strong crowd of 3801 people.

South Fremantle made a blistering start kicking five goals in the opening 12 minutes with Blaine Johnson and Mason Shaw on fire combining for four of those.

But West Perth worked its way back into the contest and with 14 of the Falcons' players having taken part in last year's grand final and 10 of them premiership players from 2013, they were able to steady the ship.

That saw the Falcons kick four consecutive goals either side of quarter-time but the Bulldogs were able to steady to still lead by 18 points at the main break.

South Fremantle then turned in a scintillating third quarter with seven goals to one, including three to Ben Saunders, and that was enough for the Bulldogs to set up the 18.13 (121) to 10.9 (69) victory.

The result means that South Fremantle advances to next Sunday's second semi-final against Subiaco at Medibank Stadium with a grand final berth up for grabs.

Meanwhile, West Perth will return home to HBF Arena to host a first semi-final against the winner of Sunday's elimination final at Bendigo Bank Stadium between Peel Thunder and East Perth.

South Fremantle had 16 players taking part in a WAFL final for the first time with 20 of the 22 playing in a final with the Bulldogs for the first time, but that lack of experience in September proved far from a factor even against a finals experienced West Perth team.

There were stars all over the field for the Bulldogs and none more so than the forward with Saunders kicking four goals from seven kicks, Shaw four goals from 10 kicks and seven marks and Blaine Johnson three goals from 16 possessions and five tackles.

Just as impressive as the goals was the pressure put on by South Fremantle forwards highlighted by Shaw and Saunders both catching West Perth defender Nick Rodda holding the ball during the day.

Ashton Hams also went forward to kick three second half goals to go with his 27 possessions.

Brock Higgins worked hard in the ruck for 42 hit outs and at ground level Brendan Verrier gathered 30 possessions, Dylan Main 27, Tim Kelly 25, Haiden Schloithe 24, Jacob Dragovich 23 and Shane Hockey 22.

The Bulldogs' back-line was every bit as impressive as those further up the ground led by Marlion Pickett who was dynamic ending up with 25 possessions and nine marks.

Matthew Gundry also had 25 disposals and 10 marks and Steve Verrier 25 touches, seven marks and a goal in a battle with Kody Manning.

Blayne Wilson and Josh Pullman were again strong in the key defensive roles while Jason Maskos held Max Duffy to one goal and six kicks.

South Fremantle might not have played finals since 2011 but that turned into a positive with their excitement and intensity right up from the outset.

It took only two minutes for a goal to Shaw and that got the ball rolling with Johnson adding another at the five-minute, Shaw his second just over a minute later and then just one more minute further on Johnson booted a second.

Suddenly at the eight-minute mark South Fremantle had four goals on the board and that was soon five with a goal to Main.

West Perth then steadied, though, and got some control back of the game and the Falcons kicked the last three goals of the first quarter thanks to Joel Leeson, Andrew Strijk and Jay van Berlo.

The Falcons then continued that momentum into the second term with a goal to Lourey to make the margin just six points, but that would be the high point of the game for the visitors.

The Bulldogs responded with two goals in two minutes just before time-on with Johnson's third and Saunders' second to steady to a 17-point lead. West Perth got another back through Kody Manning but South Fremantle had the last say of the half when Shaw booted his third.

The Bulldogs led by 18 points at half-time and that soon became 24 and 31 with goals to Hams and Saunders in the opening six minutes of the third quarter.

Leeson kicked his second to keep West Perth somewhat in touch, but the Bulldogs then piled on five more goals before three quarter-time including two more to Saunders, a second to Hams, third to Shaw and one to Hockey as the lead ballooned to 60 points at the last change.

Just 30 seconds into the last term saw West Perth get a goal through Duffy with Lourey adding a couple and Rodda another but all that did was bring the final margin to 52 points. South Fremantle got final quarter goals from Hams, Shaun Bewick and Steve Verrier.

The colts qualifying final started the day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with Claremont proving too good for South Fremantle, with the reigning premiers winning 10.11 (71) to 6.3 (39).

As a result, Claremont will take on Perth in a second semi-final next Sunday with a grand final spot on the line. South Fremantle plays East Perth in a first semi-final looking to advance to a preliminary final.

Shai Bolton kicked four of South Fremantle's six goals for the day to go with 17 possessions and five marks. Antionne Forrest-Yarran and Zane Sumich were the Bulldogs' other goal scorers.

Bruno Faulkner collected 21 possessions and laid seven tackles for South Fremantle while Kyle Russell finished with 20 disposals, Dylan Brown 17, Daniel Burke 15, Brodee Knight 15 and Seaton Thompson 15. Jacob Warne had 12 touches and 14 hit outs in the ruck.

Then in the reserves qualifying final also at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, it was again Claremont and South Fremantle doing battle. The Bulldogs dominated the first quarter with four goals with the Tigers not scoring, but Claremont took over from there.

The Tigers kicked nine goals to four after quarter-time to end up winning 9.11 (65) to 8.8 (56).

Claremont now moves onto next Sunday's second semi-final against East Perth at HBF Arena while South Fremantle will play East Fremantle in the first semi-final at Medibank Stadium.

Brandon Donaldson kicked three goals for South Fremantle and Anthony Nodari two.

Adam Guglielmana returned from a hamstring injury and was terrific with 32 possessions while Billy Collier had it 28 times, Matthew Ah Siu 26, Josh Collard 24, Jake Florenca 24, Steve Edwards 23, Jesse Musika 21 and Tim Stewart 20.

Young ruckman Tim English was again impressive for South Fremantle with 20 possessions, nine marks and 29 hit outs.

SOUTH FREMANTLE    5.2    8.5    15.12    18.13    (121)
WEST PERTH        3.2    5.5    6.6    10.9    (69)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders, Shaw 4; Johnson, Hams 3; Bewick, Hockey, S Verrier, Main.
Best: Hams, M Pickett, Kelly, Saunders, Main, Maskos, Shaw, Gundry.
WEST PERTH – Goals: Lourey 3; Leeson 2; Strijk, van Berlo, Rodda, Duffy, Manning.
Best: Manzone, Nelson, Kerr, van Berlo, Wilhelm, Manning.