BULLDOGS FALL TO TIGERS IN GF REMATCH

SOUTH Fremantle might have just come up short against Claremont on Saturday but there was once again a lot to like including Mason Shaw and Cody Ninyette in attack, Brock Higgins in the ruck and Blake Schlensog down back.

It was yet another tight and tense battle between last year's Grand Finalists at Revo Fitness Stadium only this time Claremont was able to finish the better to beat South Fremantle by 16 points.

Claremont and South Fremantle had met in both the qualifying and preliminary finals of 2019 with the Bulldogs winning both those games on the way to a Grand Final, and then by 2020 they emerged as the WAFL's top two teams.

They met in a second semi-final with Claremont winning by 47 points to book their place in the Grand Final but then on the big day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, South Fremantle turned the tide to win by three points to claim the 2020 premiership.

So Saturday at Claremont's Revo Fitness Stadium was the first battle between the two teams since that day and it was a see-saw contest right the way through, but this time the Tigers finished the stronger to claim the 17.6 (108) to 13.14 (92) victory.

That leaves Claremont undefeated after the opening two games of 2021 under returning coach Ashley Prescott while the defending premier South Fremantle are 1-1.

Reigning Bernie Naylor Medallist Mason Shaw kicked another five goals for South Fremantle from just six kicks while Cody Ninyette kicked another four goals for the Bulldogs.

Brock Higgins delivered a dominant ruck performance for the Bulldogs with 15 possessions and 39 hit outs while captain Dylan Main picked up 26 disposals.

Haiden Schloithe also finished with 24 touches, Tom Blechynden 19, Nick Suban 19, Jacob Dragovich 18, Chad Pearson 18, Zac Strom 18, Brandon Donaldson 18 and Blake Schlensog 18.

Claremont got off to the flying start and it was former captain and Sandover Medallist Kane Mitchell who played opportunist twice in the first 15 minutes to give the Tigers the opening two goals of the Grand Final rematch.

South Fremantle did steady, though, and Matthew Parker and Cody Ninyette kicking two late goals just before quarter-time to give the Bulldogs a three-point edge.

But again Claremont started the second quarter the better with the first goal to Anthony Treacy but South Fremantle regained the lead thanks to Brandon Donaldson. 

The Tigers kicked the next two, though, through Alex Manuel and Jake Patmore but again the Bulldogs finished off the quarter with the momentum with Ninyette adding his second and third goals, and Mason Shaw his first to see the reigning premiers head into half-time leading by nine points.

Claremont then again kicked the first two goals of the third quarter and then this time the Tigers were able to keep that momentum going. Ninyette did respond for South Fremantle with his fourth, but the Claremont kicked another three goals to be 14 points on top.

South Fremantle wasn't going away, though, and Travis Abbott and Shaw kicked goals before three quarter-time but late Claremont goals to Bailey Rogers and Mitchell saw the Tigers back out to a 14-point break at the last change.

South Fremantle grabbed hold of the momentum again, though, to start the last quarter. Shaw kicked his third and fourth goals to make it a two-point game, but Rogers responded for the Tigers.

Haiden Schloithe then kicked another for South Fremantle to make it a one-point game, but Claremont had the answers and would kick away again to claim the 16-point victory over last year's premiers.

Also on Saturday at Claremont Oval saw the reserves do battle with Claremont beating South Fremantle 6.9 (45) to 4.7 (31).

Darryl Anderson kicked two goals for the Bulldogs with Seaton Thompson gathering 28 possessions, Matthew Ward 25, George Wessels 19, Manfred Kelly 19 and Jacob Sax.

The colts contest then took place on Sunday with Claremont also prevailing 8.8 (56) to 6.12 (48) over South Fremantle.

Julian Hulten kicked three goals for the Bulldogs and Ira Jetta two while Jesse Motlop compiled 21 disposals, Lochlan Bloomer 19, Jetta 19, Hulten 19, Mitchell Sinnott 19, Aaron Drage 17 and Toby Dodds 17.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 2

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.5    6.11    9.13    13.14 (92)
CLAREMONT            2.2    6.2    13.3    17.6 (108)

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Shaw 5; Ninyette 4; Schloithe, Donaldson, Abbott, Parker.
Best – Main, Schloithe, Ninyette, Shaw, Schlensog, Z Strom, Dragovich.
CLAREMONT: Goals – Mitchell, Manuel 3; Rogers, England, Treacy 2; Bolton, Patmore, Hamp, Barton, McCracken.
Best – Mitchell, Bolton, Patmore, Martinis, Rogers, Treacy, England.