IMPRESSIVE BULLDOGS BEAT THUNDER AT HOME

DESPITE the absence of coach Todd Curley and captain Dylan Main, South Fremantle put together an impressive display to beat Peel Thunder by 26 points at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

South Fremantle had lost their previous two matches prior to the State game against Claremont and West Perth after starting the season with wins against Subiaco and West Coast.

The Bulldogs were then without senior coach Todd Curley on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with Steve Wasley in charge for the day against a Peel team also having won two of their opening four matches.

South Fremantle was also minus captain Dylan Main but were on top virtually the whole afternoon to end up beating Peel 13.11 (89) to 9.9 (63).

Mason Shaw stood tall to kick three goals for South Fremantle from nine kicks and seven marks while his forward partner Jimmy Miller also kicked two goals.

Jake Florenca returned for the Bulldogs after playing in the AFL for West Coast two weeks ago and then in the WAFL State game last Sunday. 

He produced a stunning performance for South Fremantle in the midfield and drifting forward to finish with 41 possessions, eight inside 50s, six marks, four tackles and two goals.

Brendon Ah Chee produced his second straight superb showing too with 24 disposals and two goals while Haiden Schloithe added 26 touches, 10 tackles and a goal.

Toby McQuilkin was outstanding down back as well for the Bulldogs with 29 touches and 13 marks while Tom Blechynden finished with 25 disposals, Chad Pearson 25, Jarrad Doney 18 and Hamish Free 14 in the ruck to go with 23 hit outs, six inside 50s and a goal.

It took only a couple of minutes for South Fremantle to open their account through Jimmy Miller, but Peel managed the next two goals courtesy of Liam Henry and Sam Sturt.

However, the Bulldogs finished the term strongly with a second goal to Miller and then with Jake Florenca kicking a couple, and Brendon Ah Chee another to see the home team on top by 20 points at quarter-time.

South Fremantle also started the second quarter strongly with a goal through Haiden Schloithe to open up a 27-point advantage, but Peel stayed in the contest when Josh Treacy kicked truly.

The Bulldogs did kick the last goal of the half, though, courtesy of Ah Chee and that saw the home team in command by 27 points at the major break.

Peel again started well to start the second half with a goal to Jye Amiss but they couldn’t build momentum from it. 

A first career goal from debutant Riley Colborne extended the South Fremantle lead before Hamish Free kicked a beauty on the run in the pocket to put the Bulldogs out to a 31-point advantage.

The Bulldogs were still leading by 30 points at three quarter-time and even though Peel kicked four goals to three in the last quarter, including two each from Sturt, South Fremantle kicked another three including a couple from Mason Shaw.

That saw South Fremantle go on to record the 13.11 (89) to 9.9 (63) despite the absence of the majority of the majority of their coaching staff including senior coach Todd Curley.

The day began at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with a thrilling colts contest with South Fremantle winning 7.8 (50) to 6.13 (49) thanks to a goal after the siren from Chase Bourne.

Along with the winning goal, Bourne kicked two goals from seven kicks for the Bulldogs with Callum Copeland also kicked two majors.

Christian Wilson racked up 38 touches for South Fremantle's colts, Roan O'Hehir 35, Seth Connor 29, Caden Turnbull 20, Jaren Carr 20 and Jordan Rodriguez 20.

Then in the reserves, South Fremantle also defeated Peel Thunder 14.9 (93) to 7.7 (49).

Nathan Spooner kicked five goals from six kicks for the Bulldogs with Jack Blechynden also kicking three goals from seven kicks and six marks.

George Wessels amassed 25 possessions, Jaxon Bellchambers 24, Lachlan Taylor 21 and Josh Cuneo 17.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 5

SOUTH FREMANTLE        5.3    7.6    10.7    13.11 (89)
PEEL THUNDER            2.1    3.3    5.8    9.9 (63)

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Shaw 3; Florenca, Ah Chee, Miller 2; Schloithe, Colborne, Byron, Free.
Best – Florenca, Ah Chee, McQuilkin, Schloithe, Pearson, Shaw, Blechynden, Free.
PEEL THUNDER: Goals – Sturt 3; Amiss, Treacy 2; Anderson, Henry.
Best – Tucker, Crowden, Blakely, Sturt, Bennell, Wilson, Henry.