BULLDOGS TOO GOOD FOR ROYALS

SOUTH Fremantle worked hard to string consecutive wins together and continue a good recent run against East Perth an 11-point win at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

The last game of Round 8 of the 2022 WAFL season took place at Leederville Oval on Sunday and while both teams struggled to get much flow going with just the 14 goals for the day, and only four the entire second half, the Bulldogs got an important win.

South Fremantle opened up a 26-point advantage when Brandon Donaldson kicked truly to start the fourth quarter before going on to win 8.9 (57) to 6.10 (46).

The win stabilises South Fremantle inside the top five while also continues the Bulldogs' good run against the Royals in recent times having now won eight of the last nine games with East Perth, and 16 of the past 18.

Jimmy Miller ended up kicking two goals for South Fremantle but they both came in the opening nine minutes and he finished the afternoon with just the three kicks and two marks.

Toby McQuilkin produced a stunning performance out of the back-line for South Fremantle to rack up a career best 42 possessions to go with 11 marks.

Haiden Schloithe also gathered 24 disposals for the Bulldogs, Tom Blechynden 23, Glenn Byron 23, Steve Verrier 21, Zac Strom 21, Blake Schlensog 21, Chad Pearson 18, Brendon Ah Chee 17, Jordan Boullineau 17 and ruckman Hamish Free 17 along with 33 hit outs and a goal.

Jake Florenca was on track for another big game for South Fremantle with 16 touches, six tackles and a goal before being forced from the ground with a leg injury.

It was an ominous start to the game in attack for South Fremantle from Jimmy Miller who looked ready and able to tear the game apart in the absence of fellow tall forward from the Bulldogs, Mason Shaw.

He took a pair of strong marks and kicked two goals inside the game's first nine minutes to give the Bulldogs the perfect start, but the Royals gradually worked their way back into the contest from there.

East Perth's first goal came courtesy of their own key forward target Tom Medhat, but South Fremantle ruckman Hamish Free added another just before quarter-time to give the Bulldogs the 11-point advantage.

Medhat's second goal brought the Royals closer to open the second term before Jake Florenca steadied South Fremantle to a 13-point advantage when he kicked truly.

Zac Strom then stretched the South Fremantle lead to 19 points before East Perth finished the term strongly with goals to Medhat and Ben McGuire to be within seven points at the major break.

Goals proved tough to come by for either team in the second half but South Fremantle kicked the only two of the third quarter courtesy of Haiden Schloithe and Caleb Datson to lead by 22 points at three quarter-time.

South Fremantle kicked away further through Brandon Donaldson to start the final term and while East Perth got one back thanks to Damon Greaves, it was their only major of the second half.

South Fremantle went on to win 8.9 (57) to 6.10 (46) to make it eight wins in the last nine clashes with the Royals.

The day began at Leederville Oval with South Fremantle's colts beating East Perth 7.8 (50) to 5.9 (39).

Jermaine Pickett and Liam Brandis kicked two goals each for the Bulldogs while Jordan Rodriguez racked up 28 possessions, Seth Connor 26, Christian Wilson 25 and Roan O'Hehir 21 to go with 11 tackles.

South Fremantle's reserves also defeated East Perth 10.6 (66) to 8.7 (55) at Leederville Oval.

Nathan Spooner kicked three goals for the Bulldogs with two each to Jack Blechynden and Caden Turnbull.

Captain Dylan Main made a successful return with 28 possessions while Jaxon Bellchambers gathered 26 touches, Travis Abbott 21, George Wessels 19 and Aiden Hall 19.
 

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 8

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.1    5.5    7.9    8.9 (57)
EAST PERTH            1.2    4.4    4.5    6.10 (46)

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Miller 2; Schloithe, Florenca, Z Strom, Donaldson, Free, Datson.
Best – McQuilkin, Byron, Blechynden, Schloithe, N Strom, Verrier, Z Strom, Free.
EAST PERTH: Goals – Medhat 3; McGuire 2; Greaves.
Best – Scott, Schumacher, Watts, Wright, Willcocks, Jones, Brayshaw, Medhat.