BULLDOGS REMAIN UNDEFEATED WITH BIG WIN OVER LIONS

SOUTH Fremantle delivered a dominant second half with 12 goals to three to end up beating Subiaco by 50 points at Leederville Oval on Saturday to remain unbeaten this WAFL season.

The Bulldogs improved to a perfect 4-0 record on the season which marks the halfway mark with all teams playing eight matches before the top four sides heading into the finals.

Subiaco did kick the game's opening three goals, but from there South Fremantle kicked 14 to three to beat the reigning premiers of the past two years impressively, 15.7 (97) to 7.5 (47).

Sandover Medallist and dual fairest and best winner Haiden Schloithe was a cut above most on the field to lead the way for South Fremantle splitting his time between the midfield and forward-line. He finished with 24 possessions, six inside-50 entries and two goals.

Without Jacob Dragovich alongside him in the midfield, Jake Florenca continued his fine season with another 26 possessions while Kade Stewart also had 21 disposals to go with seven tackles and a goal.

Zac Strom had a big ball-winning first half on the wing and then when Brock Higgins went off injured, he went into the ruck and was equally effective to end the game with 21 possessions, 17 hit outs and four marks.

Captain Dylan Main also kicked three goals for South Fremantle as did vice-captain Mason Shaw all coming in the fourth quarter. Brandon Donaldson and Steve Verrier also kicked two goals each.

Noah Strom did a tremendous job defensively job holding Simpson Medallist Ben Sokol to just the one goal for Subiaco.

The signs were ominous early with Subiaco looking like the team of old to start the contest with. It took the Lions only seven minutes to have three goals on the board with small forwards Rhys Waters and Bailey Matera doing the damage.

If the Bulldogs were shellshocked, they didn’t panic and were able to stem the tide and then get a goal back through Nick Suban before quarter-time to be back within nine points at the first change.

Subiaco big man Andrew Doyle grabbed a chance to put Subiaco back on top by 15 points early in the second term when he kicked the first goal of his league career. 

But again the Bulldogs steadied and this time managed two more goals to close the quarter thanks to Brandon Donaldson and Steve Verrier to be within four points of Subiaco by half-time.

The Bulldogs then pulled in front to open the second half when Haiden Schloithe kicked a goal. Verrier then added his second when he finished impressively by taking advantage.

Subiaco did get one back through reigning Bernie Naylor Medallist Ben Sokol, but South Fremantle was starting to grow in belief and when both Schloithe and captain Dylan Main kicked goals after 50m penalties, the Bulldogs were on top by 19 points at three quarter-time.

It was then party time in the fourth term for South Fremantle starting with Main kicking his second and third goals inside the opening three minutes. The Bulldogs went on to kick seven goals to two for the quarter and ran out 15.7 (97) to 7.5 (47) winners.

South Fremantle's reserves played prior to the league match as usual but it was Subiaco coming away with the narrow 5.5 (35) to 4.6 (30) victory over the Bulldogs.

The colts contest then took place on Saturday night at Leederville Oval with Subiaco making a flying start with seven goals to nothing in the opening quarter.

The Bulldogs worked their way back into the contest from there, but the Lions still ended up winning 16.14 (110) to 5.3 (33).

Solomon James had a remarkable game for South Fremantle finishing the evening with 20 possessions, 25 hit outs, four marks and two goals while Shannon Neale was also outstanding with 20 disposals, 14 hit outs and two goals.

Caleb Stephens also gathered 26 possessions for the Bulldogs, Jacob Sax 25, Jaxon Bellchambers 23, Adam Correia 21, Jesse Heywood 19, Angus Fraser 18 and Baxter Jones 16 to go with eight marks.

South Fremantle is now back to Fremantle Community Bank Oval this Saturday to take on Swan Districts.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 4

SOUTH FREMANTLE        1.4    3.5    8.5    15.7    (97)
SUBIACO            3.1    4.3    5.4    7.5    (47)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Main, Shaw 3; Schloithe, Verrier, Donaldson 2; Stewart, Suban, Miller
Best: Schloithe, Florenca, Z Strom, Stewart, Donaldson, N Strom, Main.
SUBIACO – Goals: Matera 2; Waters, Delahunty, Sokol, Doyle, Martin.
Best: Kitchin, Clark, Delahunty, Newton, Litherland, Waters.