Bulldogs resurgent season ends at hands of Thunder

SUNDAY'S WAFL preliminary final didn't start well for South Fremantle and never really improved against Peel Thunder but that doesn't change the fact that 2016 was a giant step forward for the Bulldogs.

The result at Fremantle Community Bank Oval might not have gone South Fremantle's way with Peel running out 39-point winners to advance to the grand final, but it doesn’t hide the fact that it's been a successful 2016 season for the Bulldogs.

Having not played in the finals since 2011 or won a final since the 2009 grand final, South Fremantle finished the 2016 season in second position on the ladder with a 15-5 record.

The Bulldogs then went on to beat West Perth by 52 points in the qualifying final at Fremantle Community Bank Oval before losing in the second semi-final to Subiaco by 40 points at Medibank Stadium.

South Fremantle still had another chance to qualify for a grand final in Sunday's preliminary final, but Peel proved too strong winning 16.13 (109) to 10.10 (70).

It could prove to be a season to build future success upon for the Bulldogs, though, with Ashton Hams, Blayne Wilson and Josh Pullman still the only three players from Sunday's preliminary final team who have previously played in a WAFL grand final.

From the 22 players from the preliminary final team, 17 of the South Fremantle side was playing in their first finals series meaning there is plenty to now build upon heading towards 2016.

Peel was coming off the first two finals victories in the club's history over East Perth by 49 points and West Perth by 60, but South Fremantle had finished second spot on the ladder and had also beaten West Perth by 52 points before a second semi-final loss last week to Subiaco.

It was Peel who made the fast start with three goals inside the first 11 minutes of the game. When the Thunder then kicked five goals to nil in the second quarter and the first two goals of the third, the contest was all but over.

South Fremantle did rally late in the third quarter to close to within 28 points but it was Peel who had all the answers to end up winning 16.13 (109) to 10.10 (70).

That means that Peel is into the club's first ever WAFL Grand Final on Sunday at Domain Stadium. Awaiting the Thunder is a Subiaco team looking for a third straight premiership and a seventh flag of the past 13 years in the Lions' 10th Grand Final in the past 14 years.

South Fremantle was playing a ninth straight match since its last bye and up against the running power of the Thunder, the Bulldogs looked a tired outfit and one that could have been significantly fresher if it had a bye since their last one in Round 17.

Then the Bulldogs also lost Bernie Naylor Medallist Ben Saunders at half-time when he was taken to hospital while Steven Verrier continued to soldier on bravely despite a sore shoulder and nasty head knock. He still managed to lay 14 strong tackles for the game.

South Fremantle's back-line had some strong performers highlighted by Josh Pullman holding Michael Apeness to one kick and one goal.

Blayne Wilson was also terrific for the Bulldogs with 24 possessions and eight marks while Marlion Pickett did well opposed to Shane Yarran while also spending time in the ruck. He ended the day with 18 disposals.

Brock Higgins worked hard in the ruck for South Fremantle opposed to Clarke and Jonathon Griffin with Shane Hockey finishing with 23 possessions, Haiden Schloithe 21, Brendan Verrier 21, Ashton Hams 20, Tim Kelly 20, Jacob Martinez 19, Jacob Dragovich 19 and Dylan Main 18.

Then up forward, Steven Edwards bobbed up with three goals as the Bulldogs' only multiple goal scorer for the preliminary final.

Peel was playing in its first ever preliminary final but started on fire with the opening three goals of the game after just 11 minutes.

South Fremantle steadied in the second half of the first quarter and kicked goals through captain Ryan Cook and midfielder Kelly. The Bulldogs had several more shots on goal but failed to convert in particular to set shots from Zac Strom.

But South Fremantle had done well to stem the flow after the slow start to trail by just eight points at quarter-time.

Peel, though, dominated the second quarter holding South Fremantle to just one behind while kicking five goals themselves to be in control leading by 42 points at the main break.

The Thunder then also kicked the opening to goals of the third quarter to open up a game-high 54-point advantage.

The Bulldogs did show some fight late in the third quarter kicking five of the last six goals of the term to be in with a sniff at three quarter-time trailing the Thunder by just 28 points.

Any hope South Fremantle had of a remarkable comeback quickly ended to start the last quarter with Peel goals from Shane Yarran, Tendai Mzungu and Matt de Boer. 

The Bulldogs did finish the preliminary final with goals to Hams, Higgins and Edwards but that only served to cut the final margin to 39 points.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.3    2.4    7.7    10.10    (70)
PEEL THUNDER            3.5    8.10    11.11    16.13    (109)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Edwards 3; Hams, Cook, Shaw, Main, Higgins, Kelly, Schloithe.
Best: Wilson, Hockey, Pullman, M Pickett, S Verrier, Schloithe.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Ugle, O'Brien, de Boer, Yarran, Bell 2; Apeness, Griffin, Deluca, Langdon, Mzungu.
Best: Blakely, de Boer, Tucker, Collins, Clarke, O'Brien, Silvagni, Nyhuis.