Bulldogs miss golden opportunity against Royals

SOUTH Fremantle twice appeared to have Saturday's game against East Perth in hand at Leederville's Medibank Stadium but in the end went down by 19 points heading into the State game break.

The Bulldogs were hunting for their first win of the 2013 season and dominated the majority of the first half against the Royals to lead by 29 points at half-time.

It could have been by more as well if the Bulldogs had kicked better than 8.13 in the first half, but they still were well in control of the contest at the main break.

However, East Perth hit back in the third quarter kicking seven goals to two to head into the final term with a two-point advantage.

The Bulldogs again went up a gear, though, and two of the first three goals of the final quarter had South Fremantle 14 points up again at the 17-minute mark but East Perth kicked the last five goals of the game from that point to end up 18.13 (121) to 14.18 (102) winners.

South Fremantle was out of the box quickly taking just 45 seconds to score the game's first goal through the returning Adam Guglielmana.

When Alistair Gillespie and captain Ryan Cook also added majors in the first nine minutes, South Fremantle was 18 points up before the Royals knew what had hit them.

Two more goals before quarter-time to Jacob Martinez and Paul Mugambwa had South Fremantle in front by as much as 26 points before still leading by 19 at the first break.

East Perth did kick the first goal of the second quarter through Garry Moss just 50 seconds in, but South Fremantle again asserted its control with the next two through Guglielmana and Cook to regain the 26-point advantage.

A Mitch Banner goal before half-time had South Fremantle up by a game-high 29 points at the main break.

The Royals kicked four quick goals to open the second half and cut South Fremantle's lead to four points before Gillespie and Haiden Schloithe both kicked steadying goals.

However, three more goals just before three quarter-time for the Royals had the home side in front for the first time of the game.

South Fremantle wouldn’t go away, though, and three goals to open the final term through Mugambwa, Banner and Kingsley Smith steadied things.

East Perth got one goal back, but when Mugambwa booted his third of the day and South Fremantle was 14 points at the 17-minute mark, things looked like heading towards South Fremantle's first win of the year before the Royals kicked the last five goals of the game.

Banner continued his outstanding form for the Bulldogs finishing with 32 possessions, 10 marks, four clearances, three inside-50 entries and the two goals.

Toby Bairstow also gathered 25 disposals while driving the ball inside-50 on nine occasions while Cook finished with 22 touches and two goals, Kris Miller 19, Nick Borovac 18, Jacob Martinez 18 and Jarrad Winter 18.

Sean Tighe worked tremendously hard in the ruck up against giant East Perth pair Paul Johnson and Scott Lycett. Tighe finished with 21 possessions, 22 hit outs, six inside 50s and five clearances.

Sam Lowrie came in for his first game of the season and was tremendous as well ending up 23 disposals, four marks, four inside 50s and three clearances.

South Fremantle's reserves went down to East Perth by 16 points with Willie Rioli kicking three goals and Brendan Verrier racking up 29 possessions, Tim Kelly 28, Alex Grima 22, Simon Panizza 20 and Andrew Moody 19.

The Bulldogs' colts started the day at Leederville on a winning note beating East Perth by nine points.

Ben Sokol kicked three goals with Cameron McCarthy, Dylan Main and Bailey Matera all kicking two goals apiece.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 5.7 8.13 10.17 14.18 (102)

EAST PERTH 3.0 5.2 12.7 18.13 (121)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Mugambwa 3; Banner, Gillespie, Cook, Guglielmana 2; Smith, Schloithe, Martinez.

Best: Banner, Cook, Tighe, Lowrie, Borovac, Bairstow, Martinez.

EAST PERTH – Goals: Smith 5; Lycett 3; Seal, Lee 2; Bennell, Sweet, Selwood, Higgins, Moss, Cadwallader.

Best: Johnson, Lycett, Smith, Sweet, Rosa, Wulff, Morton.

By Chris Pike