Bulldogs continue derby dominance over Sharks

SOUTH Fremantle made it eight consecutive derby victories over East Fremantle commemorating ANZAC Day on Saturday with a thumping 91-point victory at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

It was a commanding performance by South Fremantle who kicked the opening five goals of the contest and were never seriously headed from there.

The result meant that the Bulldogs have won eight straight clashes against East Fremantle and they now have started the new season with a 3-1 record and the only loss was a narrow one to Perth who are undefeated.

Mason Shaw kicked four goals to lead the way for the Bulldogs in attack while Steve Verrier chimed in with three majors and Haiden Schloithe, Shaun Bewick and Dion Munkara all kicked two apiece.

Jacob Dragovich racked up 32 possessions for the Bulldogs to continue his career-best start to the season while Brendan Verrier had 28 touches, Steve Verrier 21, Brandon Donaldson 20 and Chad Pearson 20.

Brock Higgins dominated the ruck for the fourth straight week to open the season with another 18 disposals, five tackles and 45 hit outs.

The now annual ANZAC Derby took place on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle continuing its recent dominance over East Fremantle with a 91-point thumping victory.

Derbies in commemoration of ANZAC Day have become an annual event since 2009 and in the 11th instalment of the clash, it was dominated by South Fremantle who have now won their past eight clashes against East Fremantle.

South Fremantle has now started the season winning three of four matches while East Fremantle remains winless under new coach Bill Monaghan with their losing run stretching back to last year now standing at 14.

It took almost 11 minutes for the first goal of the game which came from long-range from South Fremantle utility Steve Verrier.

Brandon Donaldson, Dion Munkara and Jacob Dragovich all added goals in the first quarter as well before Zac Strom ensured the Bulldogs kicked the opening five goals in the game to start the second term.

East Fremantle eventually got its first goal thanks to Andrew Stokes, but the Bulldogs responded with a couple of goals to Mason Shaw and another to Chad Pearson following a 50m penalty. 

By the time Haiden Schloithe added another on the stroke of half-time, the Bulldogs were in control with a 51-point advantage.

Schloithe kicked his second to open the second half before Dylan Main also kicked truly to give South Fremantle the 63-point edge before Blaine Boekhorst managed East Fremantle's third goal of the contest.

A late third quarter goal for South Fremantle to Shaun Bewick saw the home team lead by 65 points at three quarter-time.

The Bulldogs didn’t let up adding another five goals to one in the final term to claim the 19.12 (126) to 5.5 (35) victory.

The day got underway at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with the reserves contest and East Fremantle proved too strong winning 15.8 (98) to 3.10 (28) over South Fremantle.

Zac De San Miguel, Andre Coutinho and Jacob Warne were the goal scorers for South Fremantle.

Kyle Russell gathered 20 possessions for the Bulldogs, Tom Blechynden 18, Jonathon Frampton 16 922 hit outs), Cody Ditchburn 16, Seaton Thompson 15, Jye Depane 15 and Matthew Ward 15.

ANZAC Derby day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval concluded with the colts contest on Saturday evening and it saw South Fremantle come away with a 25-point win over East Fremantle.

South Fremantle had lost its opening three games of the colts season under new coach Luke Tedesco, but they turned that around with a strong showing on Saturday evening against an East Fremantle team who had won two of their first three matches.

After a tight first quarter, South Fremantle kicked away in the second quarter kicking four goals to one to head into half-time leading by 21 points.

The Bulldogs added another two goals to one in the third term, and then it was two goals apiece in the final quarter with South Fremantle running out 10.5 (65) to 5.10 (40) winners.

Robert Woods, Darryl Anderson and Ben Pears all kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle.

George Wessels finished the game with 26 possessions for the Bulldogs, Adam Correia 25, Brodie Plunkett 23 (10 tackles), Jaxon Bellchambers 21, Toby McQuilkin 19, Jacob Sax 19, Jarrod Salmeri 13 and ruckman Solomon James 13 (34 hit outs, five marks).

South Fremantle is now back at home at Fremantle Community Bank Oval this Saturday to take on the West Coast Eagles for the first time in the last game of the season prior to the State game against South Australia.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        4.4    10.6    14.9    19.12    (126)
EAST FREMANTLE        0.2    2.3    4.4    5.5    (35)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Shaw 4; S Verrier 3; Schloithe, Bewick, Munkara 2; Dragovich, Stewart, Pearson, Strom, Donaldson, Main. 
Best: Dragovich, S Verrier, B Verrier, Higgins, Schloithe, Bewick, Pearson, Wilson.
EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Boekhorst, Stokes, Fletcher, Jansen, Monaghan.
Best: Jansen, Murdock, Davies, Bennett, Boekhorst.