SHAW THE HERO AS BULLDOGS HOLD OFF SWANS

IT took until the last goal of the game to secure it but South Fremantle made it eight straight wins against Swan Districts to consolidate second place at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

South Fremantle had done enough to appear in control with a 20-point lead by three quarter-time against the also finals bound Swan Districts, but 20 minutes later and Swans had hit the front.

However, the Bulldogs secured the win thanks to a late mark and goal to stand-in captain Mason Shaw and South Fremantle prevailed 10.16 (76) to 11.5 (71).

It was a crucial win for South Fremantle to see the reigning premiers remain in second spot on the WAFL ladder but just 0.39 per cent ahead of Claremont with one game of the season to go this Saturday back on home turf against the West Coast Eagles.

Nick Suban had a good afternoon for the Bulldogs with two crucial third quarter goals to go with 17 possessions while stand-in skipper Mason Shaw kicked two goals in a good battle with Chris Jones.

The remarkable return from his ruptured Achilles continued for Jake Florenca with last year's South Fremantle fairest and best runner-up delivering 34 possessions in just his second game back in 2021.

Haiden Schloithe was tremendous as well for the Bulldogs with 33 disposals while Tom Blechynden finished with another 25 touches, Jacob Dragovich 22, Zac Dent 22, Chad Pearson 20 and Brandon Donaldson 18.

Down back, Noah Strom was brilliant holding Nathan Ireland to two kicks for the afternoon while having eight touches, four marks and three tackles himself.

Brayden Noble continued his impressive form for Swan Districts with three goals from seven kicks and five marks while Greg Ottaviano was a second half livewire with three goals.

Sam Fisher battled hard in the midfield again for Swans finishing with 24 possessions and five tackles while Jesse Turner finished with 24 disposals, Aidan Clarke 17 (13 tackles) and Jackson Beck 16.

The Swans' back-line stood up well with Chris Jones finishing with 21 disposals and 10 marks in his match up with Mason Shaw while Brandon Erceg had 20 disposals and seven marks opposed to Jimmy Miller, Alex Howard 16 touches and six marks while playing on Brandon Donaldson, and Tony Notte 14 possessions and six marks on Blake Schlensog.

South Fremantle started impressively with two goals inside the opening seven minutes to Blake Schlensog and Manfred Kelly, but Swan Districts was able to work its way into the game and then kick a goal through Aidan Clarke.

However, when Mason Shaw kicked truly just before quarter-time the Bulldogs were in control on top by 12 points.

It took just 10 seconds into the second quarter for Swan Districts to halve that deficit with a goal to Nathan Ireland.

Both teams would trade goals throughout the second term but late goals for Swans to Jesse Palmer and Brayden Noble saw the visitors close the gap on the Bulldogs to just two points by half-time.

South Fremantle started the second half well again with a goal to Nick Suban to extend their lead to double-figures again, but Swan Districts answered courtesy of Greg Ottaviano.

However, the Bulldogs closed the third term strongly with goals to Chad Pearson and another to Suban to take a game-high 20-point edge into three quarter-time.

Swans quickly worked back into the game with a mark and goal near the top of the goal square to Warrick Wilson. Ottaviano then kicked two goals inside two minutes and suddenly Swans were only five points behind the Bulldogs.

Noble then kicked a beauty from outside the boundary deep in the pocket to put Swan Districts in front at the 21-minute mark.

The onus was back on South Fremantle to respond and they eventually did it with stand-in captain Shaw marking truly at the top of the goal square. He went back to kick the goal and South Fremantle secured the 10.16 (76) to 11.5 (71) victory.

Meanwhile earlier in the day, Swan Districts' colts scored a 15.12 (102) to 6.7 (43) win against South Fremantle. 

Julian Hulten kicked two goals for the South Fremantle colts with Caleb Stephens racking up another 33 possessions, Mitchell Brown 18, Roan O'Hehir 16 and Caden Turnbull 15.

It was a much closer affair in the reserves but Swan Districts also prevailed 12.9 (81) to 11.4 (70).

Jack Blechynden and Ira Jetta kicked two goals each for South Fremantle with Regan Spooner finishing with 22 disposals, Matthew Ward 21, Jarrad Doney 20 and Brock Higgins 19 to go with 43 hit outs and a goal.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 21

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.2    5.4    9.11    10.16 (76)
SWAN DISTRICTS        1.2    5.2    7.3    11.5 (71)

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Suban, Shaw 2; Dragovich, Ninyette, Pearson, Donaldson, Kelly, Schlensog.
Best – Florenca, Schloithe Blechynden, Suban. N Strom, Dent, Pearson.
SWAN DISTRICTS: Goals – Noble, Ottaviano 3; Palmer, Clarke, Fisher, Ireland, Wilson.
Best – Jones, Clarke, Erceg, Fisher, Turner, Noble, Notte.