HUGGETT KICKS FOUR AGAINST SWANS

DESPITE four goals from Zoe Huggett, South Fremantle wasn’t quite able to come away from Steel Blue Oval on Saturday with the win as Swan Districts claimed the 11-point victory.

Fourth position in the WAFLW went on the line between the two teams for the Round 12 contest at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday afternoon, and South Fremantle did manage to open up an 11-point lead during the second quarter.

However, Swan Districts would end up kicking the next five goals of the contest either side of the half-time break and from there, the black-and-whites ended up winning 8.8 (56) to 7.3 (45).

By the end of Round 12, South Fremantle now sits in sixth position on the WAFLW ladder with a 4-6 record but just a game still outside of fourth spot with four rounds of the home and away season remaining.

Zoe Huggett ended up kicking four goals on the day for South Fremantle from eight kicks, four marks and while laying two tackles.

Hunter Cronin finished the afternoon collecting 19 possessions for the Bulldogs while Noa McNaughton compiled 18 disposals, Alira Fotu 15, Ella Matthews 13 and Caitlin Pears 12 while Jasmine Bazeley had 11 touches and 16 hit outs in the ruck.

The first goal of the crucial match up went the way of Swan Districts when Emily McGuire kicked truly at the seven-minute mark but soon after South Fremantle responded courtesy of Zoe Huggett.

Molly O'Hehir added another just two minutes later for the Bulldogs but then just before quarter-time it was a goal to Kayley King for Swan Districts that brought scores back level at the first break.

It only took four minutes into the second quarter for the Bulldogs to reclaim the lead with a second goal courtesy of Huggett. She kicked a third just minutes later and that saw South Fremantle with all the momentum an 11-point advantage midway through the second term.

However, Swan Districts hit back impressively to close the opening half starting with a goal to Taylah Edwards before McGuire then added two more in quick succession to see the black-and-whites having turned that 11-point deficit into a nine-point lead at the main break.

Swans kept the momentum going to start the second half and it was McGuire proving the difference in attack. She kicked her fourth goal a minute into the third quarter before Emma Humphries added another and it was five consecutive goals for the black-and-whites.

That pushed the home team out to a 22-point lead before South Fremantle stayed in touch thanks to a goal from Jasmine Bazeley.

Swan Districts quickly answered through Hope Ugle-Hayward but the Bulldogs did remain within striking distance on three quarter-time with Huggett kicking a fourth goal of the afternoon with the margin back to 16 points.

Poppy Stockwell then kicked the first goal of the last quarter to bring South Fremantle back within 11 points at the 11-minute mark, but that would prove the only goal for either team in the final term with Swan Districts going on to score the 11-point home victory.

Meanwhile, South Fremantle's Rogers Cup team had the bye in Round 12 and will be back in action this coming Saturday up against West Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 12
SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.1    4.2    6.2    7.3    (45)
SWAN DISTRICTS        2.1    5.5    8.6    8.8    (56)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Huggett 4; Stockwell, Bazeley, O'Hehir.
Best: McNaughton, Cronin, Huggett, Matthews, Bazeley, Fotu, Pears.

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: McGuire 4; King, Edwards, Ugle-Hayward, Humphries.
Best: Paterson, Baker, McGuire, Hyde, D'Addario, Quaife, Humphries, King.