Demons break Bulldogs hearts for second time in 2019

FOR the second time this season South Fremantle had their hearts broken at the hands for Perth this time with the Demons kicking the last three goals including one after the siren on Saturday night.

South Fremantle looked set to snap its losing run when leading by 18 points midway through the last quarter on Saturday night at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

The Bulldogs still led by 13 points at the 24-minute mark before the Demons kicked the last three goals, including one after the siren, the claim the 15.5 (95) to 13.11 (89) victory.

Bernie Naylor Medal leader Mason Shaw kicked another three goals for South Fremantle from 16 possessions and seven marks while Kade Stewart kicked two goals to go with 22 touches, nine marks, seven inside 50s and three tackles.

Jacob Dragovich did all he could to try and lift the Bulldogs with 36 possessions as did Haiden Schloithe with 31 touches, five marks, four tackles and a goal.

Captain Dylan Main spent more time in the midfield and had 27 disposals, eight tackles and six marks while Zac Dent collected 25 possessions, Chad Pearson 20, Caleb Datson 20, 100-gamer Steve Verrier 19 and ruckman Brock Higgins 19 to go with 24 hit outs.

Perth produced the most remarkable five minutes to kick the last three goals, including one after the siren to Gordon Narrier, to storm home and break the hearts of South Fremantle to win by a goal on Saturday night.

It always loomed as a massive game for both clubs who came into the clash sitting third and fourth on the WAFL ladder respectively with South Fremantle having lost three straight matches while Perth had also lost five of their previous eight matches.

Throw in the fact that they played out a thriller back in Round 2 where Perth won by three points and the game had all the makings of a season-defining one when they locked horns under lights on Saturday evening at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

South Fremantle started strongly kicking the game's first two goals thanks to Kade Stewart and Dylan Main, but Perth soon steadied starting with Marshall Jones running into an open goal.

Zareth Roe and Matthew Rogers then kicked first quarter goals too and the Demons led by four points at quarter-time.

It took just 45 seconds into the second term for Perth to extend its lead thanks to Jones kicking his second goal but South Fremantle answered quickly with Brandon Donaldson finding some space and finishing well on his left boot kicking into the new Eagles headquarters.

Haiden Schloithe then finished well too to put the Bulldog back in front before the Demons regained the momentum with three goals in six minutes, including a beauty from the boundary by captain Corey Yeo and then two in succession by Roe.

The Bulldogs did get one back before half-time thanks to 100-game Steve Verrier but the Demons still led by 10 points at the major break.

South Fremantle came out firing to start the second half with two quick goals to Mason Shaw and that saw the visitors regain the lead. Perth responded with the next two goals from Rogers and Cody Ninyette before the Bulldogs drew back level with Jacob Dragovich kicking truly.

The Bulldogs then went up by seven points thanks to Zac Strom booting a goal which was answered quickly when Roe booted his fourth of the night for the Demons.

But South Fremantle had the last say of the third term with a Daniel Cabassi goal to lead by seven points at the last change.

South Fremantle twice led by 18 points in the last quarter after goals to Caleb Datson and Stewart, and the Bulldogs were still 13 points to the good at the 24-minute mark.

But Perth wasn’t done with yet and got back to within seven points with Roe kicking his fifth goal. Cody Leggett then added another and it was a one-point ball game before a shot from Roe was rushed through for a behind for scores to be tied.

Perth continued to do all the attacking and then out of a ball up, Michael Bennell found the ball and his quick snap forward found Gordon Narrier at the top of the goal square as the siren sounded.

He went back and kicked the goal for Perth to win 15.5 (95) to 13.11 (89) as the Demons celebrated wildly as they took another giant step towards a first finals appearance since 1997.

It was a tough loss to take for South Fremantle who looked to have the game won and finished with 34 extra possessions than Perth, 28 more marks, 13 more inside-50 entries and 24 scoring shots to 20.

But in the end it was a fourth straight loss to the Bulldogs who do remain in third position but only percentage ahead of the Demons with both teams holding 8-5 records.

Perth kept its slim finals hopes alive in the colts on Saturday with a 16-point victory against South Fremantle at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

The two teams got to enjoy a later start to the game than normal with the league clash not taking place until that evening and it was the Demons who ended up victorious in a game where both sides struggled to convert in front of goal.

It was a tight opening quarter with both the Demons and Bulldogs kicking 1.3 apiece.

It was then one goal apiece again in the second term but Perth kicked five behinds to two from South Fremantle and that saw the Demons lead by three points at the half-time break.

Perth's inaccuracy continued in the third quarter as they kicked 2.5 but that did see them extend their lead to 12 points by three quarter-time.

The Demons finally found their radar in the final quarter kicking four goals to three from the Bulldogs to run out 8.14 (62) to 6.10 (46) winners.

The result improves Perth to a 4-8 record on the season to remain an outside hope of reaching the finals while South Fremantle remains in bottom place at 2-9.

Bailey Smith, Zac Sanderson and Tarkyn Brogan-Henry all kicked two goals apiece for Perth with Brogan-Henry collecting 21 possessions to go along with it.

Nathan O'Driscoll gathered 28 possessions to go with 12 tackles for the Demons while Regan Clarke picked up 26 disposals, Simon Hayward 22, Cain Evans 18, Sanderson 17 and Elijah Taylor 17.

Manfred Kelly put in a huge performance for South Fremantle with 30 possessions, 10 tackles, nine inside-50 entries, five marks and two goals.

Darryl Anderson also kicked two goals for the Bulldogs while Nash Miller had a good performance in the ruck with 13 touches, 35 hit outs and a goal.

Jack Musika collected 19 disposals, Eric Botha 18, Jacob Sax 18 and George Wessels 16.

Then in the reserves, Perth also prevailed 14.10 (94) to 5.6 (36) against South Fremantle.

Lachlan Feeney kicked two goals for the Bulldogs while Matthew Ward collected 24 possessions, Glenn Byron 19, Andre Coutinho 18, Tom Blechynden 18, Kyle Hamersley 17 and Jye Depane 17.
 

WAFL ROUND 14
SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.4    5.5    10.10    13.11    (89)
PERTH                3.2    7.3    10.3    15.5    (95)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Shaw 3; Stewart 2; Schloithe, Dragovich, Verrier, Z Strom, Donaldson, Main, Cabassi, Datson.
Best: Schloithe, Main, Dragovich, Dent, Stewart, Datson, Pearson, Higgins.
PERTH – Goals: Roe 5; Ninyette, Rogers, M Jones 2; Yeo, Leggett, Narrier, Bennell.
Best: Yeo, C Jones, Roe, Taylor, Leggett, Rogers, Colledge.