BULLDOGS WIN NOT QUITE ENOUGH

SOUTH Fremantle did all it could do on the last weekend of the WAFL season by beating West Perth but unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough to play finals in 2024 or to extend the coaching tenure of Todd Curley.

Coming into Saturday's clash with the Falcons at Fremantle Community Bank Oval and all South Fremantle could do was win and then hope other results fell their way in order to play finals.

The Bulldogs did take care of business themselves with the 12.9 (81) to 9.9 (63) victory but unfortunately Swan Districts, East Fremantle and Claremont all won their games across the weekend to leave South Fremantle finishing in sixth position.

Zac Strom finished another standout season highlighting his versatility with the 190-game South Fremantle veteran kicking three goals from 13 possessions, five marks and 12 hit outs.

Isiah Winder also kicked two goals in the win for the Bulldogs as did Brandon Donaldson and Kaden Harbour.

Aaron Drage, much like last season, finished off in blistering form in the South Fremantle midfield with 32 possessions while Haiden Schloithe picked up 26 disposals, Winder 17, Chad Pearson 16, Glenn Byron 15 and Jason Carter 15.

Josh Branchi was back into the team to play in the ruck and did well to finish with 18 possessions, 36 hit outs and five tackles.

The breeze at Fremantle Community Bank Oval made for a tricky day for both teams and it was West Perth going to the scoring end in the first quarter, but the Bulldogs had the first two goals of the contest thanks to Zac Strom and Kaden Harbour.

However, West Perth did build some momentum from there with four goals to one in the rest of the opening period to head into quarter-time with the eight-point advantage.

South Fremantle were back within a point to start the second term with a goal to Isiah Winder before captain Chad Pearson kicked another to put the Bulldogs in front.

Dylan Main then also kicked truly to stretch that lead to 10 points, Brandon Donaldson made it 16 and Zac Strom kicked his third of the half to ensure South Fremantle went into the half-time break on top by 21 points.

West Perth regained the scoring end in the third quarter and did manage to kick the only three goals as a result to close the deficit to just six points by three quarter-time.

West Perth even managed to hit the front after goals to Kayle Gerreyn and Tyler Keitel in the last quarter with South Fremantle's finals hopes hanging by a thread.

However, the Bulldogs responded with the last three goals of the game courtesy of Donaldson, Ed Graham and Harbour to claim the 18-point win and to put the pressure back on Claremont on Sunday to determine the last finals spot.

South Fremantle's colts played West Perth at East Fremantle Oval on Saturday morning and it was the Falcons who defeated the Bulldogs 10.10 (70) to 5.10 (40).

South Fremantle's colts season finish with a 5-11 record in seventh position with Orlando Keleman and Rhys Mercer kicking two goals apiece for the Bulldogs.

Fred Rodriguez picked up 30 possessions, Keleman 26, Lucas Robinson 24, Taj Longmuir 22, Toby Whan 21 and Nic Davidson 14 to go with 19 hit outs and six tackles.

The reserves were then in action at Fremantle Community Bank Oval and it proved to be a thriller with West Perth snatching the 9.7 (61) to 8.12 (60) victory thanks to kicking the last two goals of the contest.

South Fremantle's reserves will still be playing finals having finished in fourth position with a 9-7 record to now be taking on Perth in an elimination final this Saturday morning at Mandurah's Lane Group Stadium.

Robbie Turnbull kicked four goals for the Bulldogs with Toby Dodds gathering 32 possessions, Roan O'Hehir 24, Mitch Sinnott 21, Jaxon Bellchambers 19, Tarkyn Etherington 19, George Wessels 18 and Callum Copeland 18.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 21

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.1    8.2    8.7    12.9    (81)
WEST PERTH            4.3    4.5    7.7    9.9    (63)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Z Strom 3; Winder, Donaldson, Harbour 2; Pearson, Main, Graham.
Best: Drage, Branchi, Z Strom, Schloithe, Winder, Pearson, Carter.

WEST PERTH – Goals: Keitel 3; Knott, Gerreyn 2; Sprigg, Rundle.
Best: Sprigg, Nelson, Meadows, Keitel, Bevan, Hinder, Johnson.