Bulldogs overrun by Swans in the wet at Fremantle Oval

SOUTH Fremantle dominated Swan Districts for more than three quarters on Saturday at Fremantle Oval, but the WAFL's second-ranked team found something late to steal a five-point victory away from the Bulldogs. 

The terrible weather conditions with solid rain throughout the game, a reasonably strong breeze and a waterlogged surface always meant that scoring was going to be difficult at Fremantle Oval, but it was the Bulldogs who put the score on the board early.

South Fremantle kicked the only three goals of the first quarter and still led comfortably by 25 points at half-time and by 32 at three quarter-time.

The Bulldogs' lead was out to as much as 35 points during the second quarter with Swans going scoreless on the back of only two entries inside the forward 50 in the first quarter.

South Fremantle still appeared to have the game sewn up when Ben Saunders added his third major just before three quarter-time, but the Bulldogs did not score the rest of the day.

Swan Districts kicked the first goal of the last quarter early through Justin Simpson, but it took 13 minutes for them to add another.

However, that initiated a burst of five consecutive goals for Swans culminating in Ryan Davis booting the winning major as the black-and-whites won 9.2 (56) to 6.15 (51).

The victory further entrenches Swan Districts in second position and it is a bitter pill for South Fremantle to swallow. The Bulldogs have now lost four straight matches since finding form with consecutive wins over East Fremantle, West Perth and Claremont.

South Fremantle was by far the better side for more than three quarters of the game and finished with six more entries inside the forward 50 and 21 scoring shots to 11, but in the end they didn’t put the game away when they had the chance and Swans made them pay in 15 minutes of football.

Ashton Hams was moved back into the midfield for South Fremantle after spending much of the season across half-back and the dual premiership player and two-time Simpson Medallist finished with a team-high 26 possessions to go with five inside-50 entries.

Captain Ryan Cook also again worked tirelessly again for the Bulldogs with 22 disposals, six inside 50s and five tackles.

Haiden Schloithe gathered another 18 possessions while Brendan Verrier revelled in the wet conditions with his courage coming to the fore as he gathered 16 disposals.

James Sellar spent most of the game in the ruck as well and had a good game with 17 possessions, four marks, 26 hit outs and four inside-50 entries. His ruck partner Brock Higgins was also good with 14 touches and 25 hit outs.

Toby Bairstow also drifted forward to kick two goals to with his 16 possessions and six tackles while Ben Saunders had a fascinating battle with Tallan Ames and kicked three goals.

The Bulldogs started strongly in the wet conditions dominating play early on before Saunders got the game's opening goal. The second then came soon after when Jarrod Parry snapped truly.

Saunders then added another before quarter-time and South Fremantle led 27 points to nil at the first break with Swans not only not scoring, but only going inside-50 on two occasions for the entire opening quarter.

Swans eventually got a score on the board with a behind early in the second quarter, but South Fremantle extended its lead to 35 points when Bairstow booted his first of the afternoon.

The Bulldogs kept peppering the goals but accuracy in the tough conditions was providing a problem. South Fremantle was in control at half-time by 25 points but kicked 4.14 for the first half.

It then took more than 12 minutes into the third quarter for a goal and that came courtesy of Bairstow for South Fremantle.

That extended the Bulldogs lead back out to 31 points. Swans just avoided another scoreless quarter when Ricky Cary kicked a major, but Saunders' third goal steadied the home side and helped them to a 31-point lead at three quarter-time.

South Fremantle then went scoreless in the last quarter with Swan Districts managing six of its own to go away with a ninth straight victory against the Bulldogs.

South Fremantle's colts started the day with a 30-point loss at the hands of Swan Districts.

Cameron Loersch and Jake Florenca kicked two goals apiece for the Bulldogs colts with Jacob Dragovich picking up 31 possessions, Matthew Ah Siu 26, Jarrod Garlett 22 and Jye Depane 20.

South Fremantle's reserves also went down to Swan Districts at Fremantle Oval by 26 points.

Adam McIntosh responded to being dropped from the league team by racking up 41 possessions and taking 10 marks for the Bulldogs.

Lewis Harvey also racked up 31 disposals for South Fremantle with Jayden D'Vauz picking up 27 touches, Alistair Gillespie 21, Stephen Mills 20 and Jakeb Tartaglia 19.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.9    4.14    6.15    6.15    (51)
SWAN DISTRICTS        0.0    2.1    3.1    9.2    (56)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 3; Bairstow 2; Parry.
Best: Hams, Cook, B Verrier, Sellar, Bairstow, Schloithe, Saunders.
SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Ugle, Rogers, Cary 2; Jukes, Simpson, Davis.
Best: Ugle, Elari, Jetta, Boekhorst, N Blakely, Notte, Faulkner, Riggio.