Brave Bulldogs continue derby domination

SOUTH Fremantle had to overcome a 22-point deficit and the loss of three key players to dominate the second half of the WA Day Foundation Derby on Monday to beat East Fremantle by 32 points.

The 2019 WA Day Foundation Derby took place at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park and the challenge was firmly put in front of South Fremantle when the Sharks started the game well and the injuries mounted for the Bulldogs.

But South Fremantle would kick 10 goals to three in the second half and the only five goals of the final term to run out 16.7 (103) to 10.11 (71) victors.WA DAY FOUNDATION DERBY PREVIEW
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The result means that South Fremantle has won six straight games this season to improve to a 7-1 record while East Fremantle is now 2-6.

It is a ninth straight derby win for South Fremantle as well with the Bulldogs also having now won on their last 11 visits to Shark Park.

Captain Dylan Main kicked four goals for South Fremantle, Mason Shaw three and Zac Strom two.

Brendan Verrier racked up 28 possessions for the Bulldogs with Jacob Dragovich finishing with 24 disposals, Kade Stewart 20, Steve Verrier 20, Blayne Wilson 18, Zac Dent 17, Andrew Haydon 17, Nick Suban 16 and ruckman Brock Higgins 15 to go with 29 hit outs and four tackles.

East Fremantle threw the gauntlet at South Fremantle with a tremendous start to the WA Day Foundation Derby but despite losing three important players to injury, the Bulldogs dominated the second half to win by 32 points.

South Fremantle came into the 2019 version of the WA Day Foundation Derby as the form team in the WAFL having won five straight games including handing Subiaco its first defeat since the 2017 Grand Final.

But East Fremantle, too, had won its past couple of matches setting the stage for what loomed as a tremendous contest with a strong crowd of over 5000 people on hand at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park.

The Sharks started impressively with their attack on the ball and opponents fierce as they clearly come out fired up and ready to make a statement against a Bulldogs team that has toyed with them in recent seasons, including a 91-point win in the ANZAC Derby earlier in 2019.

East Fremantle would kick the first goal of the derby thanks to Milan Murdock before South Fremantle eventually got on the board 15 minutes into the game thanks to captain Dylan Main.

But the Sharks' strong start continued with goals to Tom Monaghan, Blaine Boekhorst and Cameron Eardley. Despite the Bulldogs getting one back before quarter-time, East Fremantle still led by 14 points after one.

It took just 20 seconds for South Fremantle to make the perfect start to the second term with a snapped goal from Andrew Haydon, playing in his first WA Day Foundation Derby.

But East Fremantle would respond with the next two majors courtesy of Jarrad Jansen and Ambrose Ryan to lead by 22 points before South Fremantle got rolling for the first time in the contest with goals to Brendan Verrier, Zac Strom and Mason Shaw.

That saw South Fremantle close to within five points but East Fremantle was still up by 10 at half-time with a late goal to Monaghan.

Once again South Fremantle made the perfect start to the third quarter, this time thanks to a goal to Jake Florenca. Then suddenly when Main also kicked truly the Bulldogs were in front for the first time in the afternoon.

They would soon have just one man left on the interchange when Florenca suffered a heavy knock to join injured pair Haiden Schloithe and Shaun Bewick out of the game, but the Bulldogs would never again surrender the lead.

But it was only a one-point lead South Fremantle held by three quarter-time with the job ahead of them to hold on with three players already down and out for the day.

There was no need for concern for the Bulldogs, though, as they kicked the only five goals of the last quarter, starting with two quickly from Main despite a sore shoulder and then another from debutant Tom Blechynden.

Brandon Donaldson and Shaw then capped the day with goals and to secure the 32-point win for South Fremantle.

The Foundation Derby in the colts on WA Day took place at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park on Monday morning with South Fremantle beating an inaccurate East Fremantle by 17 points.

With South Fremantle coming into the game having won just once so far this season and East Fremantle having two wins to its name, it was a big game as well to start derby day at Shark Park.

East Fremantle then started the game strongly with the only two goals of the opening term.

Despite having plenty more scoring shots, however, the Sharks would only kick one more goal for the rest of the contest.

South Fremantle worked its way on top during the third quarter kicking three goals to just four behinds from East Fremantle to see the Bulldogs assume a four-point half-time advantage.

The Bulldogs then kicked another three goals in the third quarter to just one from the Sharks and that saw them extend their three quarter-time advantage to 15 points.

South Fremantle kicked a goal in the last quarter with East Fremantle managing only five behinds which saw the Bulldogs claim the 7.8 (50) to 3.15 (33) victory.

Darryl Anderson kicked two goals for South Fremantle from 13 possessions.

Manfred Kelly racked up 32 possessions for the Bulldogs, Eric Botha 26, Jaxon Bellchambers 25, George Wessels 23, Jacob Sax 19 and Regan Ward 18.

Then in the reserves, East Fremantle claimed a thrilling 11.7 (73) to 10.11 (71) victory over South Fremantle on the back of kicking four goals to two in the last term.

Andrew Coutinho and Guy Barnes kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle while Kyle Hamersley collected 26 possessions, Trent Reed 22, Jye Depane 20, Matthew Ward 20, Seaton Thompson 17 and Zane Sumich 17.
 

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.2    6.3    11.4    16.7    (103)
EAST FREMANTLE        4.4    7.7    10.9    10.11    (71)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Main 4; Shaw 3; Z Strom 2; Dragovich, Florenca, S Verrier, B Verrier, Donaldson, Haydon, Blechynden.
Best: B Verrier, Main, Wilson, Dragovich, Stewart, S Verrier, Dent, Suban.
EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Monaghan 3; Loersch 2; Ryan, Boekhorst, Eardley, Jansen, Murdock.
Best: Boekhorst, Kommer, Eardley, Jansen, Manning, Monaghan, Jupp.