Bulldogs beat Royals to return to winner's list in style

SOUTH Fremantle returned to the winner's list on Saturday with an impressive 13-point victory over East Perth largely on the back of a five-goal to nil third quarter.

The Bulldogs had their chances to open up a handy lead during the first half as well, but only managed to head into half-time with 4.11 on the board, but on the back of five goals to nil in the third quarter they ended up beating the Royals 11.16 (82) to 10.9 (69) at Medibank Stadium.

South Fremantle came into the game having lost its last three matches on the back of winning the opening three games of the year, and also had just a five-day break following Monday's Anzac Derby loss to East Fremantle.

East Perth had a full seven-day break as well coming off its 103-point win over Perth the previous Saturday, but South Fremantle's attack on the contest, intensity, tackling pressure and ball movement was all back near its best in the 13-point victory.

The only sour note for the Bulldogs was full-forward Ben Saunders going down with an ankle injury but with South Fremantle now having the bye this weekend before taking on Peel Thunder at Fremantle Oval, he might not end up missing any football.

Cory Dell'Olio played his best game with South Fremantle since returning from Essendon this season with four goals, all in the second half, to go with 18 possessions and five inside-50 entries.

Big man James Sellar also found form finishing with 22 disposals, 10 marks and three goals for the Bulldogs.

With Dell'Olio and Sellar combining for seven goals, the South Fremantle back-line also stood up well against East Perth and also did well providing drive with Blayne Wilson finishing with 25 disposals and 12 marks, Adam Guglielmana 21 touches, and Marlon Pickett 20 possessions.

Second-gamer Jacob Dragovich was again outstanding for the Bulldogs with his appetite for the contest and he contributed 19 disposals, six inside-50 entries and a goal while third-gamer Simon Panizza did well shutting down East Perth co-captain Brendan Lee before he went off with a tight hamstring.

Ashton Hams had another terrific game in the middle for South Fremantle finishing with 29 possessions and a goal.

Brock Higgins battled hard in the ruck up against Paul Johnson and Scott Lycett, and having 22 touches, six marks and 17 hit outs. Captain Ryan Cook also picked up 21 possessions and Jarrod Parry 20.

It took almost 10 minutes for the first goal of the game but then both teams kicked a major in quick succession with Craig Wulff opening the scoring for East Perth and Ashton Hams getting South Fremantle's first major after the Bulldogs missed their first three shots.

South Fremantle continued to create plenty of chances but again finished off the quarter inaccurately to only lead by five points despite Sellar kicking truly.

After Sellar booted his second major early in the second quarter to make South Fremantle's lead 10 points, East Perth got a measure of control of the contest leading firstly by nine points with a goal to Steven Payne, and then again by nine when Shayne Hille kicked his second in response to a  Bulldogs major from Traye Bennell.

However, the Bulldogs dominated the last five minutes of the half but couldn’t capitalise on the scoreboard missing five gettable shots on goal, all to the right hand side, and ended up trailing by five points at half-time despite having five extra scoring shots than the Royals.

If South Fremantle hadn’t taken its chances in the first half, that all changed in the third quarter as the Bulldogs piled on five goals to nil to open up a match-winning 24-point advantage at the last change.

Dell'Olio was the star of the term for the Bulldogs as he kicked three goals and showed his class in his best patch of football of the season. With Tim Kelly adding another good goal and Sellar his third as well, South Fremantle took control of the contest.

East Perth got the first goal of the last quarter, but then second-gamer Dragovich answered for the Bulldogs and Dell'Olio added his fourth to make the lead 32 points before East Perth finished with the last three goals to make the final margin just 13 points.

South Fremantle's reserves maintained its hold on top spot on the ladder with a 15.18 (108) victory over East Perth at Medibank Stadium on the back of nine goals to two in the second half.

James Laurino kicked three goals for South Fremantle to go with 25 possessions while John Sgherza also kicked three majors to go with 25 disposals. Paul Mugambwa also kicked two goals.

Brendan Verrier responded to being dropped to the reserves by gathering 38 possessions with Toby Bairstow racking up 35 disposals, Lewis Harvey 33 and dual premiership veteran Craig White worked into the game well across half-forward with 24 touches, 10 marks, 11 inside-50 entries and a goal.

Dylan Ross did well in defence finishing with 23 touches and 10 marks while Stephen Mills gathered 21 disposals, Mitch Carter 20, Chris Luff 18 (nine marks) and Matthew Gundry 18.

South Fremantle's colts scored a strong 11.8 (74) to 5.7 (37) win over East Perth at Medibank Stadium with Brandon Colbung outstanding with 20 possessions, 10 marks and five goals.

Miles Barritt also kicked two goals to go with 21 disposals while Jack McMaster gathered 23 possessions, Jamie Foster 22, Brandon Donaldson 22 and Daniel Burke 19.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.6    4.11    9.13    11.16    (82)
EAST PERTH            2.1    6.4    6.7    10.9    (69)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Dell'Olio 4; Sellar 3; Kelly, A Hams, Bennell, Dragovich.
Best: A Hams, Sellar, Wilson, Dell'Olio, Higgins, Dragovich, Guglielmana, Cook.
EAST PERTH – Goals: Hille 2; Waterman, Lycett, Ameduri, Wulff, B Lee, Howlett, Hutchings, Payne.
Best: Payne, Colledge, Barrass, Clutterbuck, Hutchings, Anderson, Lycett.