BULLDOGS HOLD OFF TIGERS TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED

IT was a hard fought contest as expected but South Fremantle managed to maintain an edge the whole way to beat Claremont by eight points at Fremantle Community Bank Oval to continue the unbeaten start to 2020.

Claremont did manage to work on top briefly with two quick goals to start the second quarter, but South Fremantle were in control for the most part the rest of the way in the battle of two of the remaining undefeated WAFL teams on Saturday.

It also doubled as a rematch of last year's preliminary final which South Fremantle won to advance to the Grand Final, and once again the Bulldogs shook off a tenacious Tigers showing to win, 7.6 (48) to 5.10 (40).

South Fremantle has now won four straight matches against Claremont while also having now won the opening three games of the 2020 Optus WAFL Premiership Season to remain clear on top of the ladder after three rounds.

South Fremantle didn’t have a multiple goal kicker on the day with Haiden Schloithe, Jake Florenca, Kyle Russell, Kade Stewart, Dylan Main, Mason Shaw and Travis Abbott managing one apiece.

Brock Higgins was again the best ruckman on the ground and had 10 possessions and 31 hit outs for South Fremantle which gave good use to his midfield led by Jacob Dragovich who had 25 disposals, seven tackles, five inside 50s and three marks.

Florenca continued his outstanding start to the season for South Fremantle with another 21 possessions, six tackles and the match-sealing goal.

South Fremantle's defence was again outstanding conceding only five goals with Nick Suban (22 possessions, five tackles), Blayne Wilson (18 disposals), Ben Rioli (16 possessions, three tackles), Chad Pearson (16 touches), Zac Dent (16 disposals), Jason Maskos and Noah Strom tremendous.

Zac Strom worked hard again in a variety of roles for 21 possessions and seven marks while Haiden Schloithe was clean with everything he did from 16 disposals, eight tackles, six inside 50s and a goal.

It was a grind early in the contest with neither team willing to give an inch but eventually it was returning Sandover Medallist and 150-game player Haiden Schloithe that gave South Fremantle the only goal of the first quarter, and a five-point quarter-time edge.

Claremont then made a flying start to the second term. After managing just the four behinds in the first quarter, the Tigers kicked two goals in five minutes to start the second quarter thanks to Anton Hamp and Alex Manuel.

That gave Claremont a seven-point advantage briefly before South Fremantle got back within a point thanks to a responding goal from emerging Bulldogs forward Travis Abbott.

Mason Shaw then added another to give back South Fremantle the lead and the advantage was out to 10 points by half-time as well thanks to a goal from Kyle Russell who made the most of his reprieve in the team as a late replacement for Brandon Donaldson.

Goals certainly didn’t become any easier to come by in the second half as the tough grind continued, bt South Fremantle did move further in front when Kade Stewart earned a free-kick for being held without the ball, and then kicking truly.

Returning captain Dylan Main then also kicked a goal from the square following a 50m penalty to put South Fremantle on top by a game-high 21 points.

Claremont got one back to stay in touch just before three quarter-time through Hamp, and then suddenly it was a 10-point game early in the fourth quarter when Callan England snapped truly from the top of the goal square.

Alec Waterman then converted another chance and the Tigers were within four points and had the momentum, but South Fremantle was able to steady and then kicked the game winning goal thanks to Jake Florenca.

It was a beautiful piece of forward 50 ruck work. Shaw tapped it down to Florenca who snapped truly and that was enough for South Fremantle to secure the 7.6 (48) to 5.10 (40) victory.

South Fremantle's reserves also scored a strong win over Claremont on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, winning 11.12 (78) to 6.3 (39).

The day started with a tough encounter for the South Fremantle colts with Claremont winning 16.12 (108) to 2.5 (17).

South Fremantle's goals in the colts came courtesy of Ira Jetta and Jaxon Bellchambers.

Bellchambers also gathered 26 possessions while Adam Correia had 22 disposals, Toby Dodds 19, Solomon James 17 (14 hit outs), Jesse Heywood 14, Riley Clayton 12, Caleb Stephens 12 and Jayden Foote 12.

South Fremantle now gears up for a Grand Final rematch this Saturday at Leederville Oval against Subiaco.
 

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON - ROUND 3

SOUTH FREMANTLE        1.3    4.3    6.5    7.6    (48)
CLAREMONT            0.4    2.5    3.7    5.10    (40)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Schloithe, Florenca, Russell, Stewart, Main, Shaw, Abbott.
Best: Dragovich, Suban, Wilson, Z Strom, Schloithe, Higgins, Rioli, Florenca.
CLAREMONT – Goals: Hamp 2; Waterman, England, Manuel. 
Best: Mountford, Rogers, Waterman, Busher, Mitchell, Lewsey, Bolton.