Second quarter lets down Bulldogs v Swans

ONCE again it was one quarter of football that cost South Fremantle on Saturday with Swan Districts taking advantage in the second term to end up beating the Bulldogs by 21 points at Steel Blue Oval.

South Fremantle started the game on fire with the first three goals of the game, but Swan Districts wrestled back the momentum with seven goals to nil in the second quarter and ended up winning 15.12 (102) to 12.9 (81) from there.

It leaves the Bulldogs still winless from four games so far to start the 2013 WAFL season, but once again it was just that second quarter that proved costly.

Outside of that, the Bulldogs kicked the first three goals of the game and still by 12 points at quarter-time. South Fremantle then kicked four goals to two in the third quarter and broke even with three as did Swan Districts in the last.

Between the first, third and fourth quarters, South Fremantle kicked 12.6 to Swan Districts' 8.9 to win those three terms by 21 points, but the disappointing second stanza is what let the Bulldogs down and was behind the eventual 21-point defeat.

Kingsley Smith made the most of his limited opportunities up forward kicking three goals from just five kicks and four marks. John Sgherza also continued to gather some form and fitness coming back from injury with 13 touches, four tackles and three goals.

Paul Mugambwa presented hard up forward all afternoon and finished with two goals from 12 possessions and just the one mark.

Sean Tighe again worked tirelessly in the ruck for South Fremantle and ended up with 19 possessions, five marks, 20 hit outs and a goal.

The midfield had to make up for the absence of 282-game veteran and three-time fairest and best winner Kris Miller, and a host of players stepped up including captain Ryan Cook who had 28 possessions, seven marks, seven inside 50s and a goal.

Mitch Banner and Toby Bairstow both racked up 23 possessions apiece with Haiden Schloithe gathering 22, Mitch Carter 22 and promising young defender Jason Maskos 20.

South Fremantle's reserves lost a nail-biter with Swan Districts ending up winning 12.5 (77) to 10.14 (74). Sam Lowrie and Anthony van Manen kicked two goals each for the Bulldogs with Brendan Verrier picking up 22 possessions, Adam Carter 21, Anthony Collica 21 and Shannon Burnett 19.

The Bulldogs' colts prevailed in another tight affair beating Swan Districts 8.11 (59) to 8.6 (54). Cameron McCarthy kicked three goals with Blaine Johnson adding two and Ben Sokol picked up 21 possessions, Matthew Gundry 18 and Bradley McPhail 18.

SOUTH FREMANTLE                                        5.2          5.3          9.9          12.9        (81)

SWAN DISTRICTS                                             3.2          10.5        12.8        15.12     (102)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Sgherza, Smith 3; Mugambwa 2; Adams, Tighe, Gillespie, Cook.

Best: Cook, Tighe, Carter, Maskos, Schloithe, Banner.

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Ugle 5; Geappen 4; Twomey 2; Robinson, Daly, Neale, Cameron.

Best: Robinson, Ugle, Neale, Geappen, Simpson, Garlett.

By Chris Pike