BULLDOGS LOSE HOME THRILLER TO DEMONS

SOUTH Fremantle suffered a tough loss with Perth kicking the last goal of the game on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval but Jake Florenca made an exciting return for the Bulldogs and Zac Strom kicked four goals.

The Bulldogs played host to the Demons at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday, and despite Perth ending up winning 12.5 (77) to 11.7 (73), it was an afternoon with plenty of positives still for South Fremantle in the Round 7 match up.

It's a tough loss for South Fremantle who while they have won three matches this season, the Bulldogs still have just the four premiership points and one official victory to their name after seven rounds.

The stage was set for the afternoon with two standout performances from the two full forwards with Zac Strom kicking first goal for South Fremantle and Jaiden Hunter doing the same for Perth.

The goal fest early in the game continued when Charlie Thompson put Perth in front before Caleb Stephens responded for South Fremantle, and then a second to Strom pushed the Bulldogs out to a seven-point edge.

Then after Oscar Bird kicked another for the Demons, the Bulldogs closed the first term with goals to Jordan Gallucci and Brandon Donaldson to see the home team head into quarter-time leading by 13 points.

After the eight goals that were kicked in the first quarter, it took almost 15 minutes for one to be kicked in the second term and that went South Fremantle's way thanks to Caleb Datson.

The Bulldogs' lead got out to as much as 19 points but Perth stayed in touch with a goal to ruckman Dakota Baldwin-Wright just before half-time.

It only took Perth nine minutes of the third quarter to not only eclipse that deficit, but to pull ahead with goals to Hunter, Michael Sinclair and Denzel More.

South Fremantle responded with two goals in as many minutes to Strom and Gallucci before eventually it was a one-point ball game with the Bulldogs in front by three quarter-time after a goal just before the siren to Thompson.

It's not often that the Bulldogs don't get the job done in a close game on their home ground, but the Demons were an inspired outfit and were back in front with two quick goals to start the last term to excitement machine Hunter.

The Bulldogs did answer with a fourth goal to Strom and then another to Datson to put them back in front at the 23-minute mark. However, Perth dug deep and kicked the game's last goal from the most unlikely of sources.

It was a rushed snap from 101-game defender Matt Taylor and it proved the match winner in what was his first goal since Round 18 last year and sixth of his career.

Zac Strom has been remarkably versatile throughout his 163-game career with South Fremantle and through necessity he is playing as the full-forward right now and did a terrific job of it on Saturday. He kicked four goals for the Bulldogs from 13 touches and six marks.

Jordan Gallucci, Brandon Donaldson and Caleb Datson also kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle.

Jake Florenca made a superb return for South Fremantle showing his quality in the midfield in his first league appearance since Round 8 last year. He finished with 28 touches, 10 tackles, five marks and five inside-50 entries.

Tom Blechynden ended up with another 24 disposals and nine tackles for the Bulldogs while Glenn Byron finished with 22 touches, Matthew Parker 22 (12 inside 50s), Chad Pearson 21 and Toby McQuilkin 19.

Earlier in the day, Perth scored the 13.8 (86) to 6.8 (44) colts win against South Fremantle.

South Fremantle's six goals came from individual sources with Callum Copeland finishing with 20 touches, Nick Campo 18 and Tamate Oakley 17.

In the Reserves, South Fremantle proved too strong for Perth, winning 13.14 (92) to 5.8 (38) at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Riley Colborne kicked another three goals for the Bulldogs as did Kaiden Harbour with Seth Connor picking up 27 touches, Jaren Carr 25, Jarrad Doney 24, Mitch Sinnott 23, Jacob Sax 23, Tom Regan 22, Kyle Russell 21 and Chase Bourne 21.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        5.1    6.3    9.4    11.7    (73)
PERTH                3.0    4.3    9.3    12.5    (77)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Z Strom 4; Gallucci, Donaldson, Datson 2; Stephens.
Best: Florenca, Parker, Z Strom, Blechynden Donaldson, Byron, Pearson.
PERTH – Goals: Hunter 5; Thompson 2; Sinclair, Taylor, Bird, Baldwin-Wright, More.
Best: Thompson, Cooley, Hunter, Avery, Taylor, D Hill, Stubbs, Byrne.