Bulldogs continue great run at Joondalup and against Falcons

SOUTH Fremantle made if five straight wins over West Perth, six of the last seven at HBF Arena and moved clear again in second position on the WAFL ladder with 47-point win on Saturday.

The Bulldogs came into the clash with the Falcons having lost three of their last four matches to only be clinging to second position still. 

That spot went on the line at HBF Arena on Saturday with West Perth looking to leapfrog South Fremantle, but once again the Bulldogs showed their recent dominance over the Falcons and their enjoyment of playing at the Joondalup venue.

South Fremantle dominated the first half leading by as much as 56 points before going on to win 16.15 (111) to 10.4 (64).

The win improves South Fremantle to an 8-4 record on the season to be a game and percentage clear now in second position.

It was also the fifth straight win for South Fremantle over West Perth with the Bulldogs having won six of their last seven games as well at HBF Arena on top of 17 of 26 in history since the Falcons made the move for the 1994 season.

West Perth remains a game clear in third position despite the loss and still having a game in hand on the top two teams.

Dylan Main and Haiden Schloithe put in brilliant performances for South Fremantle. Both midfielders finished the game with 30 possessions and four goals. Schloithe also had nine marks while Main also had six tackles, five tackles and four entries inside the forward 50.

Tim Kelly racked up another 30 disposals for South Fremantle to go with eight inside 50s.

Brendan Verrier made his return to the league line-up following a stint in the reserves and played well for 25 possessions and seven marks too with Steve Verrier gathering 21 disposals (nine tackles) and Shane Hockey 20.

Brock Higgins was the dominant ruckman in the game ending up with 17 possessions, six marks and 40 hit outs.

Cory Dell'Olio, Blaine Johnson and Mason Shaw also kicked two goals each for the Bulldogs.

South Fremantle got good drive out of defence with Marlion Pickett finishing with 26 possessions, Blayne Wilson 23, Steven Edwards 22 and Adam McIntosh 17.

It took almost seven minutes for the first goal of the game between the two teams with second spot on the line and it went the way of Saunders when he was able to get out the back and run into the open goal.

West Perth responded soon after when Tyler Keitel kicked his first of the day after the Falcons had applied some good pressure to force a turnover inside its forward 50.

But two goals in a minute in time-on for the Bulldogs from Schloithe and Main saw South Fremantle take a 15-point advantage into quarter-time.

It was then all South Fremantle in the second quarter with the pressure of the visitors immense leaving West Perth unable to escape its defensive 50. Subsequently turnover after turnover went back over their heads and the Bulldogs put together a match-winning quarter.

Shaw, Steve Verrier, Johnson, Schloithe, Main and then Schloithe again all kicked goals for the Bulldogs as they led by 49 points at half-time with West Perth's only goal coming just prior to the siren through Joe Morrow.

Things again looked ominous when the Bulldogs got the first goal of the third quarter from Dell'Olio, but West Perth was able to steady and kicked the next two goals through Keitel on both occasions.

Once more it was Schloithe and Main responded for South Fremantle to put the lead back out beyond nine goals before the Falcons finished off the third term with goals to Steve Potente and Nick Rodda to be within 43 points at the last change.

It was four goals apiece in the last quarter and West Perth had managed to get on level pegging with South Fremantle, but the damage had been done and the Bulldogs cruised to the 47-point victory to move back to being a game clear in second spot.

The day began at HBF Arena with the colts contest with West Perth claiming the 7.8 (50) to 5.10 (40) victory.

Matthew Ward, Ryan Burrows, Luke Moore, Lachlan Feeney and Thomas Weston were South Fremantle's goal scorers.

Brodee Knight gathered 22 possessions for the Bulldogs, Bruno Faulkner 18, Regan Spooner 18 and ruckman Jacob Warne 14 disposals and 25 hit outs.

Then in the reserves contest at HBF Arena, South Fremantle responded to a challenge by West Perth in the third quarter to kick away with five goals to one in the last term to win 14.8 (92) to 9.9 (63).

Zac Strom responded to his demotion for South Fremantle with four goals to go with 18 possessions and 10 marks. Mitch Dzelebdzic also kicked four goals for the Bulldogs, Jarrod Parry three and Daniel Roy-McGregor two.

Parry also compiled 30 possessions for South Fremantle with Jacob Dragovich also gathering 25 disposals, Josh Collard 24, Chad Pearson 22, Jesse Musika 21, Tom Vandeleur 20, Kyle Russell 19, Matthew Gundry 18 and Andre Coutinho 18.

South Fremantle now takes on Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Sunday.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.4    9.10    12.11    16.15    (111)
WEST PERTH            1.1    2.3    6.4    10.4    (64)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Schloithe, Main 4; Dell'Olio, Johnson, Shaw 2; Saunders, S Verrier.
Best: Main, Schloithe, Higgins, Kelly, Pickett, Edwards, B Verrier.
WEST PERTH – Goals: Keitel 4; Rodda 2; Chalmers, Morrow, Potente, Moulton.
Best: King, Hamilton, Keitel, Meadows, Nelson, Black.