Bulldogs just fall short in Kris Miller's 300th WAFL game

PERTH stormed home at Fremantle Oval on Friday night to come back from 44 points behind to beat South Fremantle by five points in Kris Miller's 300th WAFL match.

The Bulldogs shot out of the blocks with eight goals to two in the first quarter and then were 44 points in front when Jacob Martinez kicked his third goal to start the second term, and looked on track to celebrate the remarkable feat of Miller in the best possible way.

However, the Demons have new found belief, confidence and hardness it appears in 2014 and they managed to whittle down that deficit, hit the front in the fourth quarter to lead by 17 points in the dying minutes.

Two late goals to Craig White and captain Ryan Cook, trying desperately to win for their teammate Miller, brought South Fremantle back to within five points with the ball back to the middle with only 40 seconds left on the clock.

South Fremantle made one more attacking foray and full-forward Ben Saunders almost latched onto a mark in the goal square, but it wasn’t paid and the siren sounded as Perth recorded a remarkable 19.9 (123) to 18.10 (118) victory.

It was a night of WAFL football that simply had it all.

Miller's achievement of reaching 300 WAFL games is something that is unlikely to be repeated in the modern game.

The 33-year-old previously played 153 games at East Fremantle before joining South Fremantle in 2007 where he has now added a further 147 matches, won three fairest and best awards and played in the 2009 premiership.

It was a heart-warming scene seeing him enter Fremantle Oval on Friday night carrying his newborn son Noah in his arms while his daughters Hannah and Charlotte ran out with him decked out in Bulldogs jumpers with No. 9 on the back and 'Daddy' written above the number.

Their mother, and his wife Jenae was there to greet them after they led the South Fremantle team out through the banner.

Miller then went on to spend most of the game on the ball for the Bulldogs and worked tirelessly finishing with 19 possessions and eight tackles before being chaired off by Craig White and Adam Guglielmana, as both teams formed a guard of honour.

On top of Miller's milestone, a good crowd turned out to Fremantle Oval to watch the clash that turned into a classic contest.

South Fremantle was clearly inspired by Miller's milestone and after a disappointing Round 1 showing, played brilliant football in the first quarter and-a-half to lead by 44 points.

However, Perth was coming off a 65-point win over Claremont and with the experience of the three Morton brothers playing together for the first time – Jarryd, Cale and Mitch, the Demons never gave in and stormed home for a victory they will remember for years to come.

The Morton brothers were all outstanding as well with Sydney premiership player Mitch spending most of the game on the ball and ending up with 18 possessions and two goals.

Cale added 18 touches and two goals as well as six inside-50 entries while across half-back, Jarryd finished with 18 possessions.

Young small forward Callum Collard booted five goals for the Demons as well while Brennan Stack kicked three goals.

Dene White was outstanding in the midfield with24 possessions, six tackles and two goals with Gerald Ugle collecting 23 disposals, Kieran Hug 21, Reese Richardson 20, Cameron Manuel 20 and Michael Florio 20.

The ruck battle between Mitchell Lleyendekkers and James Sellar was also fascinating with the Demon finishing with 11 touches, seven tackles, 41 hit outs and a goal and the Bulldog 13 possessions and 32 hit outs.

Martinez kicked his three goals early for the Bulldogs and finished the night with 19 possessions and fellow young Indigenous star Marlon Pickett was simply brilliant with 26 possessions, six hit outs, five tackles and three goals.

Adam Guglielmana and Ben Saunders both kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle as well.

Captain Cook also finished with 25 possessions while Brendan Verrier had 21 touches, Tim Kelly 24 and Shaun Bewick 18.

Nick Borovac was outstanding in defence especially in the first half shutting down Perth captain Paul Bevan forcing him to be moved into defence in the second half.

Both the colts and reserves played at Fremantle Oval on Saturday, with each South Fremantle coming away with a victory over Perth.

The reserves beat the Demons 10.17 (77) to 4.9 (33) with Traye Bennell booting three goals while Toby Bairstow gathered 24 possessions, Tim Stewart 24, Mitch Carter 22 and Joe Pantano 18.

To start the day, the colts also recorded an impressive 16.19 (115) to 8.8 (56) win over the Demons.

James Culleton, Jye Depane, Jesse Mirco, Kade Stewart and Cameron Loersch all kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle with Will Frampton finishing with 25 possessions (and 26 hit outs), Braden Fimmano 24, Matthew Ah Siu 24, Bailey Matera 22, Mirco 21, Jacob Dragovich 19 and Jarrod Pickett 19.