Bulldogs beat Tigers to book second semi spot

SOUTH Fremantle is no stranger to WAFL qualifying final day and after dominating most of Saturday contest with Claremont at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, the Bulldogs held on for a seven-point victory.

After Claremont kicked the first goal of the game, South Fremantle took control of the contest kicking 10 of the next 11 goals to lead by as much as 39 points during the third quarter.

South Fremantle was playing in a fourth straight qualifying final having finished the home and away season in second position for a fourth consecutive season, and while Claremont kicked the last thee goals, the Bulldogs still prevailed 11.5 (71) to 9.10 (64).

Mason Shaw, Josh Collard and Kade Stewart all stepped up to kick two important goals apiece for South Fremantle.

Haiden Schloithe continued his brilliant form for South Fremantle to finish with another 22 disposals, seven tackles, five inside-50 entries and a goal. 

Captain Dylan Main also ended up with 19 disposals, Jake Florenca 17 (nine tackles), Matthew Ward 17 (eight tackles), Jacob Dragovich 15 and Blayne Wilson 15. Steve Verrier also finished with 12 touches and 15 tackles.

Chad Pearson was again outstanding down back as well with 21 possessions and four marks.

Brock Higgins also had a fascinating battle in the ruck Jeremy Goddard and finished with eight touches and 46 hit outs.

South Fremantle and Claremont did battle for a spot in the second semi-final against Subiaco and for the second straight week the Bulldogs build up a match-winning lead before then holding on in a frantic finish.

The Bulldogs had finished in second position at the end of the home and away season for the fourth consecutive season meaning they earned the hosting rights for a qualifying final for the fourth straight year too.

That meant South Fremantle hosted Claremont at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday afternoon after the two teams had done battle with little separating them for second position most of the 2019 season.

Claremont made a bright start with the first three scoring shots of the qualifying final and that saw Haydn Busher kick the opening goal as he was a surprise starter in the forward-line in the absence of Tom Lee leaving Dylan Smallwood to line-up on Mason Shaw at full-back.

It was Shaw who would kick South Fremantle's first goal of the game shortly after and then Josh Collard added another in quick succession kicking a beauty from outside 50 after being rewarded for a strong tackle.

Then leading into quarter-time, South Fremantle kicked three goals in a four-minute burst to break the game open with Shaw booting his second and then Dylan Main and Matthew Ward also kicking truly.

That saw the Bulldogs lead by 21 points at quarter-time but Claremont made the perfect start to the second term with a quick goal to Jack Bradshaw.

They might have been 10 minutes apart, but South Fremantle would kick the only other two goals of the second quarter courtesy of Haiden Schloithe and Kade Stewart to see the Bulldogs remain in control with the 27-point half-time advantage.

South Fremantle then pulled away further to start the second half with Shaun Bewick kicking an impressive running goal and then when Kade Stewart nailed another, the lead was out to a game-high 39-point advantage.

Claremont did get a goal back thanks to Declan Mountford and then another from the left boot of Matthew Palfrey, but South Fremantle steadied just before three quarter-time thanks to Brandon Donaldson to hold a 25-point edge still despite Anton Hamp keeping Claremont just within touch.

Bradshaw and Collard traded goals for either team to start the fourth quarter and South Fremantle remained in control with the 25-point lead until Claremont started to build some momentum.

Tom Ledger threw the ball on his boot and found the goals at the 14-minute mark to make it a 19-point game. 

Ian Richardson then kicked two goals in three minutes and all of a sudden the Tigers were within seven points, but ultimately ran out of time as South Fremantle held on to win 11.5 (71) to 9.10 (64).

South Fremantle now advances to this Sunday's second semi-final against Subiaco at Leederville Oval as the Bulldogs attempt to win their way into a first Grand Final appearance since 2009.

WAFL QUALIFYING FINAL
SOUTH FREMANTLE        5.0    7.1    10.3    11.5    (71)
CLAREMONT            1.3    2.4    5.8    9.10    (64)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Stewart, Shaw, Collard 2; Schloithe, Bewick, Donaldson, Main, Ward.
Best: Schloithe, Pearson, Main, Ward, Wilson, Verrier, Florenca.
CLAREMONT – Goals: Richardson, Bradshaw 2; Mountford, Ledger, Busher, Palfrey, Hamp.
Best: Mitchell, Bolton, Rogers, Martinis, Ledger, Mountford.