BULLDOGS LOSE TIGHT ONE IN MANDURAH

SOUTH Fremantle couldn’t quite overcome Peel Thunder in Mandurah on Saturday setting up a massive last three weeks of the 2022 WAFL season heading towards finals.

The Bulldogs arrived at Lane Group Stadium fresh off the Round 16 bye on the back of an impressive run against fellow finals contending teams with wins over Swan Districts, Claremont and East Fremantle, and a draw with the league-leading West Perth.

However, Peel also came into Saturday's game in impressive form with a three-game winning streak setting up a fascinating contest.

It turned out to be a tight affair all afternoon including South Fremantle getting back within a goal late in the piece, but Peel ended up prevailing 10.12 (72) to 8.10 (58).

The result means that South Fremantle remains in fourth position on the WAFL ladder with nine wins, five losses and a draw this season to now be just half a game ahead of both Peel and Swan Districts, but still also half a game behind East Fremantle.

South Fremantle's home and away season now finishes at home this Saturday to Subiaco before taking on East Perth also at Fremantle Community Bank Oval and then against Perth at Lathlain.

Mason Shaw returned for his first league game since Round 7 and kicked two goals from 15 touches and three tackles in an encouraging performance. Fellow key forward Jimmy Miller also kicked two goals.

Haiden Schloithe continued his strong form for the Bulldogs approaching game 200 with another hard working performance made up of 20 possessions, four tackles, four inside 50s, three marks and a goal.

Toby McQuilkin also gathered another 20 touches to go with six marks while Tom Blechynden collected 18 possessions, Brendon Ah Chee 16 (seven tackles), Chad Pearson 16, Blake Schlensog 16 (eight marks) and Steve Verrier 15 (six tackles).

South Fremantle started the game well with a spectacular kick from the outside of his right boot from ruckman Hamish Free for the first goal of the contest at the 11-minute mark.

Riley Smith and Ethan Hughes then answered with the next couple for the Thunder before the Bulldogs ended the first term the better with goals to Haiden Schloithe and the returning Mason Shaw to see the visitors leading by a goal at quarter-time.

Peel was back level to start the second quarter when big man Smith took another mark inside-50 and converted after just over a minute.

Travis Colyer then added another for the Thunder in his first WAFL appearance of the season before South Fremantle regained the lead head into time-on courtesy of Steve Verrier.

However, Jye Amiss ensured the Thunder went into the half-time break with a narrow lead after he kicked truly and put Peel on top by five points.

It took more than 18 minutes into the third quarter for a goal to be kicked and that went the way of Peel's dual premiership veteran Blair Bell. However, South Fremantle stayed in touch thanks to Caleb Datson and it was just a four-point ball game by three quarter-time.

Peel was then able to answer every challenge from South Fremantle in the last quarter as the teams traded goals with three apiece up until Jimmy Miller goaling for the Bulldogs at the 26-minute mark to make it a six-point game.

However, the Thunder had the last say with a late goal to Matthew Johnson and the home team went on to win 10.12 (72) to 8.10 (58).

The day started in Mandurah with Peel Thunder's colts defeating South Fremantle 11.8 (74) to 6.4 (40).

Liam Brandis kicked two of the six goals for the game from the Bulldogs with Seth Connor amassing 30 touches, Roan O'Hehir 19, Christian Wilson 18, Caden Turnbull 17 and Zachary Jones 17.

South Fremantle's reserves were then able to scoring a thrilling win over the Thunder, winning 7.5 (47) to 5.12 (42).

Jacob Sax finished with 22 possessions and seven tackles while George Wessels contributed 21 touches and 11 tackles and Tyson 17 disposals, Jarrod Salmeri 16, Steve Edwards 14 and Tim Hogan 14.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 17

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.3    4.5    5.8    8.10 (58)
PEEL THUNDER            2.3    5.4    6.6    10.12 (72)

SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Shaw, Miller 2; Schloithe, Verrier, Free, Datson.
Best – Schloithe, Ah Chee, McQuilkin, Blechynden, Shaw, Schlensog.
PEEL THUNDER: Goals – Smith, Amiss, Colyer 2; Johnson, Bell, Hughes, Sturt.
Best – Blakely, Meek, Crowden, Erasmus, Thorne, Henry, Worner, Hughes.