BULLDOGS BITE IN FRONT OF HUGE CROWD

SOUTH Fremantle kicked the first six goals on the way to a seventh consecutive WA Day Derby win over East Fremantle with Dylan Main kicking six goals in the 14-point win in front of a monster crowd.

It turned out to be a tremendous day all-round for the Bulldogs with a crowd of 7468 people turning out for the occasion at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on the biggest day of the home and away season on the West Australian football calendar.

The Bulldogs came out on fire too with the first six goals of the contest and then to secure the eventual 13.9 (87) to 10.13 (73) victory over the Sharks.

It makes it 16 wins in the last 17 derbies now for South Fremantle overall and seven straight on WA Day with the Bulldogs improving to a 6-2 record on the season to be just percentage out of second spot and a game off top by the end of Round 9.

Former South Fremantle captain Dylan Main kicked a career-best six goals from his 10 kicks for the day to go with eight marks. It was the first time he has kicked six goals in his 148-game WAFL career with his previous best also coming against East Fremantle when he kicked five back in Round 21, 2018.

Main was South Fremantle's only multiple goal scorer for the game but seven other players did kick a goal in the eventual 14-point win despite the Bulldogs having 51 fewer possessions, five less inside-50 entries and one less scoring shot.

It was a South Fremantle midfield without Haiden Schloithe and Jake Florenca as well, but Isiah Winder continued his career-best form with another dynamic performance made up of 28 possessions, four marks and four tackles.

Matthew Parker also finished with 23 possessions and eight inside-50 entries while Zac Strom delivered 19 touches, nine marks, nine hit outs, four tackles, four inside 50s and a goal.

Captain Chad Pearson was outstanding down back for South Fremantle in his first derby officially as skipper where he not only kept Jono Marsh to one goal but had 18 possessions and four marks himself.

Jason Carter also did well down back for 17 possessions and seven marks with fellow defenders Toby McQuilkin (13 touches, five tackles), Lewis Rayson (12 disposals, six marks), Glenn Byron (11 possessions, five marks) and Jordan Boullineau (six touches, four tackles) rock solid as well.

Aaron Drage gathered 17 possessions as well for the Bulldogs with Riley Colborne ending up with 16 disposals, Tom Blechynden 12 and Lachlan Mitchell 12.
South Fremantle made the perfect start to the derby with a goal to former skipper Dylan Main at the six-minute mark before he added a second soon after.

Manfred Kelly took his chance to add another and all of a sudden after just 12 minutes the Bulldogs had three goals on the board and were leading by 21 points.

Main added another shortly before quarter-time to have three in the opening term and that saw South Fremantle in front by 25 points with East Fremantle managing just the four behinds.

Main then caught East Fremantle captain Matthew Jupp for holding the ball to then go on to kick a fourth goal already to start the second term. Riley Colborne banged home another for the Bulldogs to have the first six goals on the board and to be leading by 36 points.

East Fremantle eventually got its first goal of the derby thanks to Cody Leggett at the 13-minute mark and from there the Sharks did kick another four goals heading towards half-time.

However, South Fremantle maintained its advantage with goals to Noah Strom and a fifth to Main to go into the main break with a handy 18-point lead.

The second half got underway with a goal each inside the first four minutes including a sixth of the day for Main to keep South Fremantle 18 points in front.

The Sharks did get back within 11 points after a second goal to Cody Legett, but the Bulldogs remained 14 points in front at three quarter-time with Zac Strom managing to get one back for the home team.

East Fremantle did keep on coming and Mitchell Zadow brought the margin back to seven points early in the last term.

However, South Fremantle finished the game in a similar vein to how it started with the last three goals of the contest to Josh Branchi, Lachlan Turley and Kaden Harbour to secure the eventual 14-point derby triumph.

The derby day action at Fremantle Community Bank Oval began with the reserves match up that saw East Fremantle kick five goals to two in the last quarter to beat South Fremantle 14.4 (88) to 12.8 (80).

Brandon Donaldson kicked three goals for South Fremantle, Ed Graham two and Caleb Datson two while Roan O'Hehir gathered 26 possessions, George Wessels 23, Toby Dodds 22 and Callum Copeland 17.

Ruckman Solomon James was also back from injury and was impressive with 54 hit outs to go with 11 possessions and five tackles.

The WA Day action then finished at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle's colts winning 10.8 (68) to 9.10 (64) on the back of kicking the first four goals of the final quarter.

Hudson Pivac kicked three goals in the win for the Bulldogs and Lucas Cattalini two with Mitchell Geier racking up 25 possessions, Orlando Keleman 19, Rhyder James 18 and Taj Longmuir 15.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 9
SOUTH FREMANTLE        4.5    8.5    10.9    13.9    (87)
EAST FREMANTLE        0.4    5.5    8.7    10.13    (73)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Main 6; Kelly, Z Strom, Colborne, Branchi, Harbour, N Strom, Turley.
Best: Winder, Main, Pearson, Z Strom, Parker, Drage, Boullineau, Colborne.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Boekhorst 3; Leggett 2; Marsh, Bennett, Jansen, O'Reilly, Zadow.
Best: Murdock, Boekhorst, Joyce, Baskerville, Jansen, McDonald, Bennett.