LATE SURGE NOT ENOUGH FOR BULLDOGS

SOUTH Fremantle caught fire to start the fourth quarter to breathe life into the clash with Subiaco on Saturday at Leederville Oval but it wasn’t quite enough with the Lions ending up winning by 12 points.

It was a bit of a defensive grind for both teams at Leederville Oval on Saturday in Round 5 of the 2023 WAFL season, but when the Bulldogs kicked the first three goals of the last quarter, suddenly they had all the momentum and the lead for the first time.

South Fremantle threatened to overrun Subiaco, but it wasn’t quite to be and the Lions ended up claiming the 7.10 (52) to 6.4 (40) victory.

It was a bit of a grind early on with stoppage after stoppage, particularly a whole slew of boundary throw-ins in the first 15 minutes until eventually Subiaco kicked a goal after a dubious free-kick to Zac Clarke out of a ruck contest with Solomon James.

That started off Subiaco grabbing the momentum, though, to capitalise on their monopolising the possession. 

While the Bulldogs got a goal from debutant Caleb Stephens with a clever snap, two Subiaco goals to Ryan Borchet after he returned after an early scare with a knee and that saw the Lions up by 14 at quarter-time.

It took another eight minutes for the first goal of the second quarter and it again went to Subiaco through Liam Hickmott. That would prove the only goal of the quarter with the Lions leading by 21 points at half-time.

South Fremantle did manage the first two goals of the second half thanks to Dylan Main and Jordan Gallucci to cut the Subiaco lead to 11 points, but a goal to Ben Sokol helped Subiaco hold sway by 17 points still at three quarter-time.

South Fremantle had only kicked three goals up to that point, but then suddenly opened the fourth term on fire. It started with a second goal to Gallucci, before Brendon Ah Chee added another and then Gallucci added his third.

It gave the Bulldogs three goals inside 14 minutes and they were in front for the first time in the game, but it didn’t last five minutes. 

Sokol added a second to put Subiaco back in front and then Borchet kicked his third to seal the 12-point win for the Lions.

Victorian recruit Jordan Gallucci returned to the South Fremantle team and was the team's only multiple goalkicker in the game and kicked three goals from his seven kicks to manage half the goals for the Bulldogs on the day.

South Fremantle's back-line did their best to again keep them in the contest. While Borchet did kick three goals, Noah Strom did well for the most part to limit his influence while Jordan Boullineau had a good battle with Sokol.

Chad Pearson also finished with 28 possessions, Toby McQuilkin 26 and Glenn Byron 25 while further up the field, Tom Blechynden had 24 disposals, Brandon Donaldson 20, Brendon Ah Chee 19 and debutant Caleb Stephens 19 to go with a goal.

Meanwhile in Round 5 of the Reserves, Subiaco beat South Fremantle 8.14 (62) to 4.4 (28).

Jermaine Pickett kicked two goals for the Bulldogs while Jake Florenca continued to build with another 22 possessions. George Wessels also had 27 disposals, Jarrad Doney 25 and Toby Dodds 25.

And in the Colts, Subiaco downed South Fremantle 11.13 (79) to 5.5 (35).

Ed Graham kicked two goals for South Fremantle while Jacob Whan collected 30 possessions, Ashton Ferreira 19 and Graham 19.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        1.2    1.3    3.4    6.4    (40)
SUBIACO            3.4    4.6    5.9    7.10    (52)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Gallucci 3; Ah Chee, Main, Stephens.
Best: Pearson, Byron, McQuilkin, N Strom, Gallucci, Blechynden, Stephens.
SUBIACO – Goals: Borchet 3; Sokol 2; L Hickmott, Clarke.
Best: L Hickmott, Schofield, Dewar, Clarke, Savigni, W Hickmott, Giro.