DOGS BITE HARD IN MANDURAH

SOUTH FREMANTLE 12.10 (82) def, PEEL THUNDER 1.2 (8)

Words courtesy Chris Pike 

South Fremantle created another slice of history in Mandurah on Sunday beating Peel Thunder for the first time in a dominant performance to win by 74 points.

Peel had won the first five matches in the WAFLW competition against South Fremantle by an average of 36 points, but things changed dramatically at Lane Group Stadium in their first match up on 2023.

The Bulldogs were fresh off a first ever derby win against East Fremantle last week and dominated the Thunder kicking 12 goals to one on the way to the 12.10 (82) to 1.2 (8) victory.

Makaela Tuhakaraina was dynamic up forward in the win for South Fremantle kicking three goals from six kicks to go with four marks and two tackles.

Beth Bond was also brilliant kicking three goals from 20 possessions with Hunter Cronin adding two goals from seven kicks, three marks and two tackles.

It was another dominant showing in the ruck from Ariana Hetherington as she finished with 19 touches, 26 hit outs, seven inside-50 entries and a goal.

Bulldogs captain Lauren Vecchio was also tremendous with 26 possessions, nine marks and three tackles with Kloe Bassett collecting 24 touches, Charli Wicksteed 19, Pia Durk 19, Kahra Sprlyan 16 and Casey Byrne 15 as she celebrated her 100-game milestone.

Peel's lone goal came from Tanisha Anderson with one of her four kicks for the game.

Thunder captain Ebony Dowson did what she could to lead her team off half-back with 24 possessions and four tackles.

Chelsea Hutchinson also had 20 disposals, Greta McKinley 17, Ebony Bilcich 13 and Krystal Carter 12 to go with six tackles.

It took almost seven minute for the first goal of the game and that was kicked by South Fremantle thanks to Kiara Templeman.

Makaela Tuhakaraina soon added another and then a third goal of the quarter for the Bulldogs from Hunter Cronin and South Fremantle were leading by 19 points by quarter-time.

The Bulldogs made the perfect start to the second quarter and it took less than a minute for Tuhakaraina to kick her second goal of the contest.

Bethany Bond soon added another for South Fremantle before Cronin kicked her second, and Ella Ward another with the Bulldogs holding the Thunder goalless in the opening half to be on top by 46 points by the main break.

A third goal for Tuhakaraina gave the Bulldogs a terrific start to the second half as well with the lead growing to 53 points. It was out to 10-goal margin by three quarter-time with Leila Fotu kicking another shortly before the final break.

Ariana Hetherington then kicked the first goal of the last quarter before Bond had a purple patch with two more in quick time. Peel did close the game with its lone goal of the contest courtesy of Tanisha Anderson, but it didn’t stop South Fremantle winning by 74 points.