BULLDOGS BEAT FALCONS IN JOONDALUP

SOUTH Fremantle's momentum continues to impressively build this WAFL season with a terrific performance to beat West Perth by 18 points on Saturday at Joondalup.

While the Bulldogs have historically enjoyed their trips north to Pentanet Stadium, they were looking for their first win in Joondalup since 2021 when they took on the Falcons on Saturday.

South Fremantle ended up producing a strong performance too including four goals to one in the last quarter to end up scoring the 10.11 (71) to 7.11 (53) victory.

It's a first win for the Bulldogs against the Falcons since the opening round of 2022 and came despite the loss of star midfielder Jake Florenca early in the game to a hamstring injury.

South Fremantle has now won three straight matches to improve to a 3-1 record on the season to sit in third position on the WAFL ladder at the end of Round 5.

Former South Fremantle captain Dylan Main provided a strong option in attack especially in the first half to kick three goals in the absence of the suspended Noah Strom.

He also finished with 15 possessions, six marks and four tackles while Zac Strom kicked another two goals for the afternoon.

Haiden Schloithe racked up 33 possessions for South Fremantle with Tom Blechynden also picking up 29 disposals, Matthew Parker 26 (10 tackles), Isiah Winder 24, Chad Pearson 24, Toby McQuilkin 19 and Robbie Turnbull 18 to go with six marks, six tackles, three inside 50s and a goal.

Josh Branchi also had another 25 hit outs in the ruck to go with 10 possessions.

West Perth made an ominous start to the game with a goal to Tyler Keitel inside the opening minute and then another three scoring attempts before South Fremantle got a crucial goal into the breeze thanks to former skipper Dylan Main.

Main then added a second soon after with a couple more goals from the Bulldogs before quarter-time through Robbie Turnbull and Ashton Ferreira ensuring the visitors stayed in touch of the Falcons who had the breeze.

West Perth's lead was just four points with South Fremantle's efficiency impressive in the opening quarter before Main kicked a third goal already to start the second term and restore the lead for the Bulldogs.

There was one more goal apiece to either team the rest of the half and it was a narrow two-point lead by the long break in the favour of the Bulldogs.

There was just one goal kicked the entire third quarter and it went the way of West Perth's Jack Demarte and that saw the Bulldogs down by a solitary point at three quarter-time.

The stage was set for a big finish and the two teams traded goals inside the opening 11 minutes of the final term with West Perth clinging to a two-point advantage.

It was all the Bulldogs the rest of the way, though, and goals to Isiah Winder, Zac Strom and Haiden Schloithe saw South Fremantle seal the deal for the 18-point victory.

The day got underway at Pentanet Stadium on Saturday morning with the colts contest which saw West Perth beat South Fremantle 12.9 (81) to 5.11 (41).

Following the defeat, South Fremantle has lost its first three games of the colts season.

Latrell Yarran kicked two of the five goals in the game for the Bulldogs with Fred Rodriguez racking up 23 possessions, Millar Rank 19, Rhyder James 18 and Mitch Geier 16.

Next up was the reserves match up and it was a massive win for the Bulldogs as they defeated the Falcons 18.8 (116) to 4.2 (26).

The win improves the Bulldogs to a 2-1 record so far this reserves season to current sit in third position on the ladder at the end of Round 5.

Jack Blechynden kicked four goals in the win for South Fremantle with Ed Graham also booting three majors, Cooper Osborne three and Roan O'Hehir two.

Jaxon Bellchambers also racked up 29 possessions for the Bulldogs, George Wessels 28, Aaron Drage 26, Jacob Sax 23, O'Hehir 20 and Toby Dodds 20.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 5

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        4.0          6.4          6.8          10.11     (71)

WEST PERTH                                      4.4          5.8          6.9          7.11        (53)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Main 3; Strom 2; Schloithe, Ferreira, Winder, Colborne, Turnbull.

Best: Schloithe, Parker, Blechynden, Pearson, Main Winder, McQuilkin, Turnbull.

WEST PERTH – Goals: Keitel 5; Demarte 2.

Best: Shane Nelson, West, Keitel, Julian, Bevan, Black, Guadagnin.