Further good signs despite loss to Falcons

SOUTH Fremantle might have gone down to West Perth in Saturday night's pre-season hit out at Fremantle Oval, but once against there were plenty of encouraging signs for the Bulldogs.

West Perth did prevail in its first pre-season contest 17.11 (113) to 8.9 (57) under lights at Fremantle Oval on Saturday night, but results count for nothing at this point of the year and coach Paul Hasleby came away still with plenty of positives.

South Fremantle's midfield in particular won plenty of the ball on Saturday night and the fact that some experienced players, youngsters and recruits are all finding so much of the football two weeks out from Round 1 is a strong sign.

Once the chemistry is ironed out between the midfielders and forward-line featuring the likes of Ben Saunders, Alistair Gillespie and Paul Mugambwa, the Bulldogs look set to have a dangerous side.

Captain Ryan Cook showed that he is once again set for a big season leading South Fremantle as he gathered a game-high 27 possessions to go with seven marks and a goal.

Returning vice-captain Craig White is back from a year coaching and playing in Sydney with the Balmain Dockers, and he was in good form on Saturday night finishing with 26 disposals and 11 marks.

Port Adelaide recruit Mitch Banner was brilliant last week in his first game in Bulldogs colours against Perth, and backed that up with another strong performance against West Perth with 25 possessions, eight marks and a goal.

Toby Bairstow missed the last 10 games of 2012 with a hand injury, but is ready to fire up again in the midfield in 2013 and had 23 disposals and five marks.

Running half-back Adam McIntosh has been added to the leadership group this year and played well also with 20 disposals and two entries inside-50. Dylan Ross and Brendon Gulley were also solid in South Fremantle's back-line.

There was some good performances from young players as well with Jason Maskos collecting 19 disposals, Jacob Martinez 11 and Myles Bolger had 10 hit outs.

West Coast's Ashton Hams picked up 15 touches and kicked a goal while last year's Bernie Naylor Medal winner as the league's leading goalkicker Saunders booted two.

The Bulldogs can still add Warrick Andreoli, Tyler Hall, John Sgherza, Nick Borovac, Adam Doughty, Shannon Burnett and Nick Borovac to what is their likely best line-up for Round 1 against Claremont.

The reserves lost narrowly to West Perth with Lewis Harvey breaking his leg against his former side in a terrible case of bad luck, but the colts showed they could be well be on track for a third straight premiership with a massive victory over the Falcons.