POSITIVES FOR BULLDOGS IN LOSS TO FALCONS

SOUTH Fremantle might not have quite been able to make it six straight wins against West Perth at Joondalup on Sunday but it was a day of positives with the league return of Jake Florenca and Brock Higgins getting through a reserves it out.

South Fremantle would have all but locked up a top two position and moved into first place ahead of Subiaco with a win against West Perth on Sunday, and the Bulldogs looked on track to do just that leading by 26 points midway through the third quarter.

The Bulldogs had won the last five against the Falcons, and 14 of the last 15, with the only blip being a stunning upset in the 2018 preliminary final, and that trend looked well on track to be continuing.

There was plenty on the line for both clubs and South Fremantle would have been sitting on top of the ladder with two rounds remaining had they won, but West Perth could improve its prospects of a top three finish and finals double chance at the same time.

From the moment West Perth fell 26 points down, the Falcons finished the game by kicking seven of the last nine goals and it was a Tyler Keitel sealer at the 28-minute mark of the last term that secured the 11.7 (73) to 10.7 (67).

It's a significant result in the context of the season with West Perth moving up into third spot at 11-5 while South Fremantle stays second at 11-5 as well with Subiaco on top at 12-4 and Claremont fourth at 11-5.

South Fremantle finishes its season with home games against Swan Districts and West Coast with West Perth finishing away to East Fremantle and Perth.

Haiden Schloithe, Mason Shaw and Zac Strom all kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle.

Jake Florenca was the story of the day for the Bulldogs despite the final result. Last year's fairest and best runner-up made his return for the first time since the preliminary final when he ruptured his achilles and was tremendous with 29 disposals, eight marks, eight tackles and a goal.

Tom Blechynden racked up another 29 possessions for South Fremantle, Jacob Dragovich 24, Schloithe 22, Chad Pearson 22 and Jason Maskos 17 while Hamish Free had 14 touches, five tackles and 52 hit outs in the ruck.

South Fremantle has had a long love affair with playing up at Joondalup and has enjoyed terrific recent success against West Perth, which looked set to continue on Sunday when the Bulldogs kicked the first two goals of the game.

The first came through goal sneak Cody Ninyette when he capitalised on a West Perth dropped mark and then Jake Florenca marked his first game of the season in style kicking truly from deep in the pocket to give the Bulldogs a second in the first 13 minutes.

West Perth got one back, though, courtesy of Conal Lynch before South Fremantle kicked away again to a 13-point lead at quarter-time thanks to Mason Shaw.

South Fremantle threatened to run away to a big first half lead when Zac Strom kicked truly to open the second quarter, but West Perth soon steadied and goals to their three main forward options Tyler Keitel, Rudy Riddoch and Keegan Knott had scores all level.

The Bulldogs, though, got a second goal from Strom for the term just before half-time to head into the major break with a narrow seven-point advantage.

The game was right up for grabs at half-time and it would be the Bulldogs who made the first move of the second half starting with a quick goal to Brandon Donaldson who was fresh off a career-best five goals two weeks ago in South Fremantle's derby win.

Schloithe then showed his class to kick another for the Bulldogs and a second for the day for spearhead and stand-in skipper Shaw saw the visitors open up a game-high 26-point lead.

They couldn’t quite put the Falcons away, though, and goals to Riddoch and Steve Potente heading into three quarter-time saw the home side back within just the 13 points.

West Perth continued that momentum with three quick goals to start the fourth quarter including a couple to Keitel who had been well held by Noah Strom up to that point.

But his third goal made scores level and then Lynch's second put West Perth in front for the first time in the entire game.

South Fremantle answered with their own two quick goals from Schloithe and Blake Schlensog, but West Perth wouldn’t be denied and were back level with Riddoch's third of the afternoon.

Keitel then received a free-kick in front of goal, ironically for a high-tackle call against Schloithe, and he went back to drill it and West Perth beat South Fremantle for the first time since the 2018 preliminary final, 11.7 (73) to 10.7 (67).

The day began at Joondalup for South Fremantle with a loss in the colts, with West Perth winning 14.9 (93) to 6.10 (46).

South Fremantle's goals came from Lochlan Bloomer, Mitchell Brown, Juliah Hulten, Jacob Plunkett, Aaron Drage and Max Roso while Caleb Stephens picked up 26 possessions, Drage 22, Christian Wilson 20 and Chase Bourne 19.

Then in the reserves, South Fremantle defeated West Perth 8.10 (58) to 6.10 (46) with Brock Higgins returning for 19 touches and 38 hit outs.

Jack Musika kicked two goals for the Bulldogs while Kye Barker finished with 27 disposals, Matthew Ward 25, Seaton Thompson 23 and Jaxon Bellchambers 21.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 20

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.3    5.4    8.5    10.7 (67)
WEST PERTH            1.2    4.3    6.4    11.7 (73)

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Schloithe, Z Strom, Shaw 2; Florenca, Ninyette, Donaldson, Schlensog.
Best – Florenca, Blechynden, Schloithe, Z Strom, Pearson, Maskos, Dragovich.
WEST PERTH: Goals – Keitel 4; Riddoch 3; Lynch 2; Knott, Potente..
Best – Black, Nelson, Hobley, Keitel, Wilhelm, Riddoch, Pegoraro.