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Bulldogs beat Lions on Friday night to make it four straight

Saturday, August 23, 2014 - 2:30 PM by Chris Pike

SOUTH Fremantle continued its strong finish to the 2014 WAFL season having now won four straight matches with three wins over top-four teams in that period after the Bulldogs beat Subiaco by 14 points at Fremantle Oval on Friday night.

South Fremantle might not be a chance of playing finals in 2014 having won just 10 of its opening 13 matches of the season, but the Bulldogs after finishing Paul Hasleby's time as coach with plenty of momentum to give the incoming Todd Curley plenty to work with.

The Bulldogs kicked the only four goals of the first quarter on Friday night at Fremantle Oval and led by 29 points on two separate occasions during the match, and then responded to being challenged by the second-placed Subiaco to win 14.15 (99) to 12.13 (85).

It was a strong win for South Fremantle over a team guaranteed of finishing in second position on the ladder and of playing in the second semi-final against East Perth at Leederville's Medibank Stadium.

Ashton Hams was outstanding for South Fremantle finishing with 33 possessions, nine marks and an outstanding goal on three quarter-time.

Haiden Schloithe also worked hard for 28 disposals while Anthony Collica was particularly strong in the first half and finished the game with 23 touches.

Jarrod Parry not only limited the influence of Subiaco's George Hampson but also picked up 22 disposals himself while Toby Bairstow gathered 20 possessions, Adam Guglielmana 20 and Tim Kelly.

South Fremantle's back-line stood up well against the most potent attack in the WAFL and that was led by Dylan Ross keeping Matt Boland to just the one goal.

At the other end, Ben Saunders kicked five goals for South Fremantle to all but wrap up his second Bernie Naylor Medal in three years.

Alistair Gillespie also kicked two goals from 18 touches and eight marks with Josh Pullman kicking two important goals also.

Brock Higgins had a strong game as well in his 50th league appearance up against Subiaco pair Andrew McDougall and Frank Stockley, and finished with 18 possessions, 25 hit outs and a goal.

 

Subiaco captain Kyal Horsley again worked tirelessly for his finishing with 28 possessions, four tackles, four inside 50s and a goal.

Jason Bristow worked hard in the Lions' midfield as well with 27 possessions and six tackles while Justin Joyce had a good game across half-forward with 22 disposals and a goal.

Chris Deluca booted three goals for Subiaco with his younger brother Josh kicking two.

Brett Mahoney had 22 possessions, nine tackles and a goal for the Lions as well with Rhys Waters finishing 22 touches and a goal.

It took 15 minutes for the first goal of the game and that eventually came courtesy of Brendan Verrier for South Fremantle when he kicked truly out wide.

That sparked the Bulldogs into action with Saunders adding his first of the night just two minutes later. Gillespie then had a purple patch just before quarter-time with two quick goals and suddenly South Fremantle had the only four goals of the opening term and led by 25 points at the first break.

Subiaco eventually kicked its first goal of the night to start the second quarter through full-forward Matt Boland, but South Fremantle had all the answers with the next three majors courtesy of Saunders, Higgins and Pullman.

Once Pullman kicked his major, the Bulldogs were up by 29 points and despite two late goals to Dylan Clarke and Waters before half-time, still led by 17 points at the long break.

Subiaco was always going to hit back at South Fremantle during the second half and that's exactly how the third quarter began with two quick goals in the opening three minutes courtesy of fiery small forward Chris Deluca.

That brought the Lions back to within five points and with all the momentum, but the Bulldogs again steadied with quick goals to Kelly and second-gamer Jarrod Garlett to be back out to an 18-point advantage.

Subiaco again made another charge just before three quarter-time and when Josh Deluca kicked his first goal of the night, the Lions were within four points before the Bulldogs answered on the siren when Hams kicked a beauty from long range on the boundary right on the three quarter-time siren.

That saw South Fremantle still lead by 10 points at the last change and then the Bulldogs looked to have the win sewn up following three goals in the opening eight minutes courtesy of Schloithe, Saunders and Pullman.

The Bulldogs then led by 29 points but the Lions weren’t done with yet.

Subiaco did all the attacking over the next 20 minutes and despite goals to Joyce, Josh Deluca and Chris Deluca, the Lions missed a host of chances that should have been taken in front of goal in particular to Waters and Horsley.

That should have been enough for the Lions, but they didn’t take their chances and got no closer than six points and then Saunders kicked his fifth goal on the siren for the Bulldogs and they recorded the 14-point victory.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        4.3    7.5    11.6    15.9    (99)
SUBIACO            0.2    4.6    9.8    12.13    (85)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 5; Pullman, Gillespie 2; Schloithe, Hams, Garlett, Kelly, Higgins, B Verrier.
Best: Hams, Schloithe, Parry, Saunders, Higgins, Gillespie, Guglielmana, Kelly.
SUBIACO – Goals: C Deluca 3; J Deluca 2; Joyce, Heal, Mahoney, Waters, Clarke, Horsley, Boland.
Best: Horsley, Bristow, Mahoney, C Deluca, Waters, Joyce.

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