BULLDOGS HAND LIONS FIRST LOSS OF SEASON

SOUTH Fremantle delivered some scintillating football either side of half-time to set up their win over Subiaco by 18 points at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

It always loomed as a fascinating contest on Saturday afternoon as the WAFL season resumed after a forced week's break thanks to the lockdown over COVID-19 throughout Western Australia.

South Fremantle and Subiaco have shared the last three WAFL premierships between them, and both are looking to be contenders again in 2021 meaning that Saturday's match up could be an early sign of where both teams sit.

Subiaco's hopes weren’t helped when they lost both Max Walters and Rowen Powell before half-time after a sickening collision with one another, but they kept fighting even though South Fremantle did lead by as much as 41 points during the third quarter.

South Fremantle did play some scintillating football late in the second quarter and through the first half of the third, and the Bulldogs kicked 11 goals to four in the second and third terms, but they wouldn’t have been overly happy with their start and finish to the game.

Despite suffering their first loss of the season, Subiaco never gave in and did close that 41-point gap to 17 during the last quarter but South Fremantle did enough to hold on and win 12.8 (80) to 9.8 (62) to improve to a 3-1 record as part of their premiership defence.

Haiden Schloithe delivered another best on ground performance for South Fremantle with 39 possessions, nine marks, nine tackles, five inside 50s and two goals.

Reigning Bernie Naylor Medallist Mason Shaw kicked another three goals for the Bulldogs with Cody Ninyette adding another two majors.

Jacob Dragovich finished with 29 disposals and seven tackles as well for South Fremantle, George Wessels 19 possessions and eight tackles, Tom Blechynden 17 possessions, Matthew Parker 17 disposals and ruckman Brock Higgins 17 touches, 34 hit outs, five marks, four inside 50s and three tackles.

Subiaco came to Fremantle Community Bank Oval to take on the reigning premiers defending their undefeated record to open the 2021 season, and the Lions started well with the first goal of the game thanks to Nick Martin.

South Fremantle soon responded through Matthew Parker but Subiaco managed the only other goal of the first term through Lachlan Delahunty to see them lead by seven points at the first change.

Mason Shaw marked and goaled to start the second term to put South Fremantle within a point but former Bulldog Ben Sokol responded soon after to put the Lions back up by seven points.

The Bulldogs soon gained the lead, though, with majors to Haiden Schloithe and Brandon Donaldson before Cody Ninyette stretched the lead to 10 points. 

South Fremantle then closed the quarter with three goals in the last three minutes including a beauty on the run from Ben Rioli to see the reigning premiers lead by 22 points at the major interval.

Cam McCarthy kicked a nice goal for South Fremantle to signal he still has plenty to offer at WAFL level before Schloithe added another soon after, and so did Shaw to open up a 41-point advantage for the Bulldogs.

Chad Harris got one back for Subiaco but Shaw responded with his third to give South Fremantle a game-high 42-point lead but the Lions kept a degree of touch with Martin's second goal just before three quarter-time.

Aaron Heal then brought the Lions back within 31 points to start the final term and 10 minutes later Jordan Faraone kicked truly to make it a 23-point game. 

Sokol then brought Subiaco within 17 points but the Lions couldn’t get any closer and the Bulldogs held on for the 18-point win despite going goalless for the last 40 minutes of the game.

It turned out to be a winning day all-round for South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval beginning with the colts beating Subiaco 12.3 (75) to 10.7 (67).

Liam Brandis kicked four goals for the Bulldogs and Jacob Plunkett three with Caleb Stephens gathering 29 possessions, Ashwin Malik 18, Steely Green 15 and Regard Ward.

Then in the reserves contest, South Fremantle also defeated Subiaco 10.12 (72) to 9.7 (61).

Ira Jetta kicked two goals for the Bulldogs with Matthew Ward collecting 25 disposals, Regan Spooner 22, Zane Sumich 20, Jarrad Doney 19 and Glenn Byron 18.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 5

SOUTH FREMANTLE        1.1    8.1    12.6    12.8 (80)
SUBIACO            2.2    4.3    6.5    9.8 (62)

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Shaw 3; Schloithe, Ninyette 2; Rioli, Donaldson, McCarthy, Parker, Datson.
Best – Schloithe, Dragovich, Higgins, Wessels, Schlensog, Maskos.
SUBIACO: Goals – Sokol, Martin 2; Delahunty, Harris, Putt, Faraone, Heal.
Best – Clark, Kitchin, Marsh, Delahunty, Martin.