Bulldogs lose consecutive games for first time in 2019

SOUTH Fremantle lost consecutive matches for the first time in 2019 with Saturday's defeat to the West Coast Eagles at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with the Bulldogs slipping from second position on the WAFL ladder in the process.

The Bulldogs' seven-game winning run came to an end the previous week with a 33-point defeat to Subiaco and they were unable to bounce back suffering a 21-point loss also on home turf to the Eagles on Saturday.

That means South Fremantle now sits in third position after Round 12 of the 2019 WAFL season but with a chance to reclaim second spot with a win this Saturday against Claremont at Claremont Oval.

Mason Shaw kicked another three goals for South Fremantle to maintain his lead in the Bernie Naylor Medal race while Haiden Schloithe also kicked three goals to go with 25 possessions.

Jacob Dragovich continued his fine season with another game made up of 25 possessions and 12 tackles for the Bulldogs.

Steve Verrier also collected 23 disposals for South Fremantle, Chad Pearson 21, Jake Florenca 17, captain Dylan Main 17 and Zac Strom 15 to go with seven marks, six hit outs and a goal.

Ruckman Brock Higgins returned after missing the loss to Subiaco through suspension and put in another standout performance made up of 22 disposals, 35 hit outs and nine inside-50 entries.

South Fremantle came into Saturday's clash with West Coast having had its seven-game winning streak ended the previous Saturday at the hands of Subiaco with the Bulldogs needing to beat the Eagles for a second time this season to maintain their hold on second position.

But West Coast was coming off a thumping 72-point victory over East Fremantle the previous Saturday just down the road so were feeling confident ahead of their second visit to Fremantle Community Bank Oval for the season.

The Eagles completely dominated the opening 25 minutes of the contest holding the Bulldogs scoreless while having the game's first six scoring shots, resulting in goals to Nick Reid, Nathan Vardy and Josh Smith.

South Fremantle did eventually get on the board with a goal just before quarter-time thanks to Haiden Schloithe, but West Coast maintained a 14-point lead at the first break.

The Eagles' lead was back to 20 points to start the second term with a goal to Jake Waterman. Mason Shaw did get on the board for South Fremantle at the six-minute mark before Waterman added his second to ensure West Coast remained on top.

Schloithe managed a second for South Fremantle before half-time but so did Smith for West Coast to ensure they were up by 21 points at the major break.

South Fremantle peppered the goals early in the third term but couldn’t quite find a goal but the Eagles did thanks to Waterman to extend their lead back to 25 points.

Zac Strom and Shaw responded with quick South Fremantle goals, but Eagles goals to Reid and Hamish Brayshaw had them again leading by 27 points at three quarter-time.

South Fremantle wasn’t quite done with yet and the Bulldogs kicked the first three goals of the final term with two to Shaw and another to Schloithe.

Kade Stewart then had a chance to bring South Fremantle within a goal, but his show missed and then the Eagles dominated the rest of the way with the game's last two goals to win, 11.12 (78) to 8.9 (57).

The win is a second straight for the Eagles to improve to a 4-7 record on the season to be just a game outside the top five.

The Bulldogs have now lost two games in-a-row for the first time in 2019 to slip to an 8-3 record in third position ahead of a crucial match in the annual NAIDOC Round clash this Saturday with the now second placed Claremont at Claremont Oval.

With the West Coast Eagles not possessing colts or reserves teams, it was only South Fremantle's league side in action on Saturday.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        1.1    3.5    5.8    8.9    (57)
WEST COAST EAGLES        3.3    6.8    9.11    11.12    (78)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Schloithe, Shaw 3; Z Strom, Main.
Best: Higgins, Schloithe, S Verrier, Dragovich, Pearson, Main, Z Strom, Wilson.
WEST COAST EAGLES – Goals: Waterman 4; Smith, Reid 2; Vardy, Brayshaw, Williams.
Best: Smith, Mutimer, Rotham, Waterman, Ah Chee, Reid, Cole.