Bulldogs go down in front of big Anzac Day crowd

SOUTH Fremantle and East Fremantle paid tribute to Anzac Day with a crowd of 5120 turning out to Fremantle Oval for the occasion on Thursday, but it was the Sharks who prevailed by 29 points.

The Fremantle derby on Anzac Day has now become one of the traditional fixtures on the WAFL calendar and the game on Thursday was played in honour of Sir Hughie Edwards and after a tight first two and-a-half quarters, East Fremantle worked on top and won 12.11 (83) to 7.12 (54).

Even though East Fremantle kicked the first goal of the game through West Coast's Brad Dick, South Fremantle picked up the momentum with the next three goals firstly to Mitch Banner and then two in three minutes to John Sgherza.

The Sharks got a couple of goals back before quarter-time, but the Bulldogs had started well and were still three points in front at the first change.

Sgherza then added his third goal for South Fremantle to start off the second term in perfect fashion to stretch the home side's lead back out to eight points.

The Sharks got a couple of goals back to assume the lead soon after, but then the Bulldogs pulled off a good passage of play with ruckman Sean Tighe getting over the back in the forward 50 and dishing off to Alistair Gillespie who ran into the open the goal.

After dishing off the handball, Tighe laid a solid shepherd but nobody at the ground except the officiating umpire thought the ruckman made high contact on his opponent and Gillespie's goal was cancelled.

Immediately, East Fremantle whisked the ball down the other end and Eagle Brad Sheppard goaled to put his team 10 points up when it should have been South Fremantle in front.

That decision shifted momentum in the Sharks' favour and Sean Henson added another goal just minutes later to stretch their lead to 16 points before the Bulldogs got it back to just nine by half-time thanks to a late goal to Kingsley Smith.

South Fremantle then started the third quarter in scintillating fashion with quick goals to Banner and Sgherza to see the Bulldogs hit the front, but things didn’t pan out from there with the Sharks kicking the derby's last five goals to win by 29 points.

Port Adelaide recruit Banner was outstanding for South Fremantle in his best performance for the Bulldogs in his first season at the club. He finished with 34 possessions, five marks, eight tackles, five inside 50s and two goals.

Sgherza also showed why he was so missed in the early rounds after an injury-interrupted pre-season getting the better of his battle with state defender Andrew Stephen, and kicking four goals and putting on good pressure with five tackles.

Bulldogs captain Ryan Cook again worked tirelessly with 29 possessions and five inside-50 entries while veteran Kris Miller was also a strong performer against his former side with 26 disposals, five marks, five tackles and four inside 50s.

Toby Bairstow collected 25 disposals, Haiden Schloithe 21 and Sean Tighe worked hard in the ruck having the better of his battle against East Fremantle pair Cameron Symonds and Fraser MacDougall. Tighe finished with 15 touches and 27 hit outs.

South Fremantle's back-line held up the best it could as the night unfolded with Nick Borovac, Brendon Gulley, Dylan Ross and Adam McIntosh doing all they could.

The reserves got the day off to a perfect start for South Fremantle winning 14.8 (92) to 11.9 (75) over East Fremantle.

Kaiden Matera kicked three goals for the Bulldogs with Dale Hamilton and Simon Panizza adding two apiece. Sam Lowrie picked up 31 possessions, seven marks, seven inside 50s and a goal with Brendan Verrier finishing with 24 disposals, Shannon Burnett 21 and Rhys D'Alton 20.

Justin Monaco again showed good signs against his former team and in just his second appearance for the Bulldogs this season with 13 touches, seven marks and a goal.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 3.3 5.6 7.8 7.12 (54)

EAST FREMANTLE 3.0 7.3 10.11 12.11 (83)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Sgherza 4; Banner 2; Smith.

Best: Banner, Sgherza, Cook, Miller, Tighe, Borovac, Schloithe.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Henson 4; Lester-Smith, Dick 2; Hadley, O'Brien, Sheppard, Simpson.

Best: McGough, Bayliss, Henson, O'Brien, Cooper, Dodd, Jupp.

By Chris Pike