WOUNDED DOGS FALL TO THUNDER

IT was always going to be a challenge for South Fremantle up against the league-leading Peel Thunder with some key players sidelined, and while the Bulldogs fought hard, they did end up going down by 10 points.

The Bulldogs were back home at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday afternoon in Round 19 of the WAFL season to play host to the league-leading Thunder, but took them on without Haiden Schloithe, Matthew Parker, Jordan Gallucci, Dylan Main and Solomon James.

That made the task an even more challenging one and in the end Peel did prevail 10.11 (71) to 9.7 (61).

The result sees South Fremantle slip outside of the top five with eight wins, seven losses and a draw for the season with games to finish against Perth and West Perth. 

Win those two games and the Bulldogs are still a chance to play finals in 2024 but they remain locked in a battle with Claremont who took fifth spot and also finish against out of finals contending teams West Coast and Subiaco.

Ed Graham ended up kicking three goals for South Fremantle from his seven kicks and four marks with Manfred Kelly the other multiple goal scorer with two.

Tom Blechynden finished the afternoon with 26 possessions for the Bulldogs, Glenn Byron 26, Isiah Winder 24 (10 tackles), Chad Pearson 20, Lewis Rayson 19, Toby McQuilkin 19, Robbie Turnbull 18, Aaron Drage 18 and Zac Strom 14 to go with 14 hit outs and five tackles.

South Fremantle made a flying start to the contest and it was goals to defenders turned forwards that got the ball rolling when Jordan Boullineau and Noah Strom got on the board.

Peel did respond with the next two goals before South Fremantle were back in front thanks to Kaden Harbour but the Thunder answered just before quarter-time through Will Brodie to take the one-point lead into the first break.

South Fremantle were then back in front to start the fourth quarter with a goal from Ed Graham, but the Bulldogs couldn’t manage another for the half. Peel did manage to kick three goals in the space of 10 minutes and that saw the visitors leading by 12 points at half-time.

Peel then added another goal less than a minute into the third quarter to push that lead out to 18 points but the Bulldogs stayed in touch when Manfred Kelly kicked a goal.

The only other goal that quarter went the way of South Fremantle thanks to Kelly again and it was just a seven-point ball game by three quarter-time.

The Thunder did get a goal from Nathan Wilson less than 30 seconds into the last quarter with another from Cooper Simpson pushing their lead out to 20 points.

South Fremantle did close the game with a couple of goals to Graham, and another to Isiah Winder but the Bulldogs couldn’t quite get any closer than nine points with the Thunder going on to win by 10.

The colts contest got proceedings underway at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday morning with South Fremantle securing the 9.11 (65) to 7.7 (49) victory against Peel Thunder.

The result sees the Bulldogs improve to a 5-9 record on the season in sixth position with two matches remaining and still a chance to break into the top five with two victories.

Ivan Starr kicked another three goals for South Fremantle from seven kicks with Hudson Pivac also kicking two majors.

Fred Rodriguez picked up 28 possessions for the Bulldogs, Toby Whan 20, Jacob Donald 20, Tom Bell 19 and Millar Rank 18 to go with eight tackles and seven marks.

Then in the reserves match up, South Fremantle scored the 13.8 (86) to 9.9 (63) victory against Peel Thunder to remain in fourth position on the ladder with two games remaining and an 8-6 record.

Brandon Donaldson kicked four goals from his six kicks in the win for the Bulldogs with Ashton Ferreira and Kyle Russell also kicking two goals each with Russell collecting 22 possessions as well.

Jake Florenca marked his return with 22 disposals and six tackles well while Toby Dodds had 22 touches, Jacob Sax 21, Roan O'Hehir 19, Connor McDonald 18, Ferreira 16 and Josh Branchi 11 to go with 46 hit outs in the ruck.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 19

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.1    4.4    6.7    9.7    (61)
PEEL THUNDER            3.2    6.4    7.8    10.11    (71)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Graham 3; Kelly 2; Winder, Harbour, N Strom, Boullineau.
Best: Byron, Winder, Blechynden, Pearson, Graham, Rayson, Pearson, McQuilkin.

PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Wyburd 3; Simpson, Wilson 2; Colton, Delean, Brodie.
Best: Brodie, Erasmus, Aish, Reidy, Hughes, Bell, Wyburd, O'Driscoll.