BULLDOGS FALL TO LIONS AT LEEDERVILLE

SOUTH Fremantle took some tremendous form into Sunday's clash with Subiaco but couldn’t quite maintain it against the ladder-leading Lions at Leederville Oval.

It loomed as a terrific contest at Leederville Oval on Sunday with the winner out of Subiaco and South Fremantle every chance to finish Round 16 on top of the WAFL ladder.

They are the two teams who have combined to win the last three WAFL premierships as well with Subiaco thrashing South Fremantle in the 2019 Grand Final, but the Bulldogs haven’t lost to the Lions since coming into Sunday's game.

South Fremantle then kicked the opening two goals of the game in an encouraging start at Leederville Oval, but the Bulldogs only kicked two goals the rest of the day as the Lions produced a dominant performance.

Subiaco would go on to win 10.13 (73) to 4.5 (29) on the back of having 23 scoring shots to nine for the game, 51 inside-50 entries to 34 and having 100 more disposals on the afternoon and taking 110 marks to 63 while laying 14 extra tackles.

The win moves Subiaco back to the top of the WAFL ladder while South Fremantle slips down to fourth below West Perth on percentage.

South Fremantle came into the game missing reigning fairest and best winner Zac Strom along with captain Dylan Main and premiership stars Brock Higgins, Zac Dent and Ben Rioli who they will be hoping to welcome back ahead of the finals.

South Fremantle's lone goals came courtesy of Cody Ninyette, Mason Shaw, Blake Schlensog and Jesse Motlop.

Haiden Schloithe battled hard against the tide for South Fremantle with 29 possessions while Chad Pearson picked up 25 disposals, Tom Blechynden 23, Blake Schlensog 18 (12 marks), Jacob Dragovich 17 and Toby McQuilkin 16.

The teams who have shared the last three WAFL premierships were battling over top spot at Leederville Oval on Sunday and South Fremantle's talls and smalls up forward got off to a good start.

Blake Schlensog was providing a strong target in attack and kicked the first goal of the game and then goal sneak Cody Ninyette kicked truly at ground level and the Bulldogs were up by 11 points at the 11-minute mark having made the perfect start.

That would be as good as the day would get for South Fremantle though. Subiaco kicked the next two goals of the opening quarter through Ben Sokol and Nick Martin and scores were all square by quarter-time.

Martin kicked a second to put Subiaco on top for the first time since the opening behind of the game with former Bulldog Bailey Matera kicking truly soon after to put the Lions up by 13 points.

Jesse Motlop stepped up to kick a goal for South Fremantle in response but Subiaco closed the half with a 10-point lead with the defences of both teams on top ensuring there were no more goals for almost 20 minutes heading into half-time.

Michael Braut kicked a goal on the line to open the second half for the Lions but the home team couldn’t put their advantage in general play on the scoreboard having kicked a string of behinds before Mason Shaw snapped truly to keep South Fremantle in touch.

The Bulldogs were hanging tough but a mark and goal on the three quarter-time siren to Braut saw Subiaco get some reward for effort and pull away to a 21-point lead.

The Lions then dominated the last quarter to enhance their hold on top spot on the WAFL ladder and likely as premiership favourites in the eyes of most with the four goals to nil in the last term to end up 44-point winners against the Bulldogs.

The day started at Leederville Oval with a thrilling win for South Fremantle colts 9.11 (65) to 9.10 (64) against Subiaco.

Chase Bourne and Morgan Bropho kicked two goals each for the Bulldogs with Tyler Piazzola gathering 22 possessions, Caleb Stephens 22, Bourne 16, Lawerence Winmar 15 and Riley Colborne 15.

Then in the reserves, Subiaco beat South Fremantle 16.13 (109) to 6.2 (38). Travis Abbott and Ira Jetta kicked two goals apiece for the Bulldogs while Kye Barker finished with 27 possessions, George Wessels 20, Jarrad Doney 20 and Glenn Byron 16.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 16

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.1    3.2    4.3    4.5 (29)
SUBIACO            2.1    4.6    6.12    10.13 (73)

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Ninyette, Shaw, Schlensog, Motlop.
Best – Schloithe, Schlensog, Pearson, Blechynden, Kelly.
SUBIACO: Goals – Braut 3; Sokol, Martin 2; Kitchin, Marsh, Bailey Matera.
Best – Kitchin, Clark, Lockyer, Marsh, Dewar, Sokol, Brandon Matera, Rohde.