Five Bulldogs stars shine in big WAFL win over SANFL

FOR the second straight year South Fremantle players have been instrumental in Western Australia prevailing in a State match, this time five Bulldogs were part of the WAFL's 45-point win over South Australia at Lathlain Park on Saturday.

Following the efforts of Ben Saunders, Haiden Schloithe, Ryan Cook and Ashton Hams helping the WAFL beat the NEAFL by 85 points in Sydney last year, again South Fremantle players were instrumental in the 18.13 (121) to 11.10 (76) win on Saturday.

Saunders and Schloithe were both unavailable due to injury, but Cook and Hams were back again to play for WA and were joined by Cory Dell'Olio playing for the Black Swans for the second time, and for Marlion Pickett and Blayne Wilson to both make their debuts.

Dell'Olio perhaps his best game of the season as well finishing the afternoon with 20 possessions, seven marks and three goals in an impressive performance.

Hams was again terrific in the midfield and ended up with 26 touches, five marks and a goal with Cook enjoying his fourth match for WA both on the ball and at half-forward, compiling 18 disposals to go with nine marks and a goal.

Wilson played his usual role controlling play across half-back that he's been doing all season with the Bulldogs and finished with 23 possessions and eight marks, while Pickett did some encouraging things run out of the back-line as well. 

WA got off to a flying start kicking the first three goals, but then South Australia hit back with the next five either side of quarter-time to threaten to blow the game open.

However, by half-time the Black Swans led by 14 points and that got out to a game-high 45 by the final siren.

The victory sees WA move ahead 47-46 in the overall standings in State matches between the two proud footballing states.

South Australia's only two State defeats since 2002 have now both come at the hands of Western Australia firstly with WA winning by a point at Medibank Stadium in 2009, and now by 45 points at Lathlain Park.

The WAFL has now won three straight State matches as well having beaten the VFL in 2013 by 17 points, the NEAFL last year by 85 in Sydney and now over the SANFL following a 14-point loss in Adelaide to South Australia in 2012.

Ryan Davis was awarded the Simpson Medal for a stunning game off half-forward for WA with the Swan Districts premiership player finishing the afternoon with five goals to go with 25 possessions, 10 inside 50s and eight marks.

The WA forward-line worked well with plenty of space in it and despite not having a traditional marking target. Shane Yarran and Dell'Olio both kicked three goals apiece.

WA set up the game with their run and carry off half-back with Wayde Twomey (31 possessions, 12 marks) and Andrew Strijk (27 touches, eight marks) outstanding while State debutants Wilson and Justin Simpson stood up well in support of five-time WA player and premiership veteran Darren Rumble.

The WAFL's midfield also ran hard all day and that was a major factor in the eventual win with Sandover Medallist Aaron Black finishing with 28 possessions and two goals, Hams 26 disposals, Chris Phelan 24, Liam Anthony 23 (11 tackles) Ryan Neates 20, Aidan Tropiano 19, Leigh Kitchin 18 and Cook 18.

South Australian defender Tom Keough received the Fos Williams Medal for his battle with Yarran while Leigh Ryswyk kicked three goals for the SANFL, and Ian Callinan, Lachlan McGregor and Brett Eddy two each.

James Boyd racked up 29 possessions for the Croweaters, Zane Kirkwood 26, Steven Summerton 24, Marlon Motlop 24, Paul Thomas 24, Joel Cross 24 and Chris Schmidt 24.

South Australia were on top early and had several entries inside-50 before WA looked likely, but when the home team went forward Anthony received a 50m penalty and kicked the first goal of the game.

Yarran then got his first of the day to give WA the first two and then that soon became three when Dell'Olio kicked truly.

However, South Australia hit back before quarter-time with goals to Boyd, McGregor and Eddy to see scores all square by the first change.

It then took just 50 seconds for the SANFL to get the first goal of the second quarter thanks to former Crow Callinan. When McGregor booted his second as well, suddenly South Australia led by 12 points but WA quickly hit back with the next two goals to Davis and Yarran.

Callinan helped the Croweaters steady with his second goal but then the Sandgropers dominated the rest of the first half with Yarran adding his third goal, Davis his second and Phelan another as WA went into the main break with a 14-point advantage.

WA's advantage then grew to a game-high 19-point to start the third term after a clever crumbing goal to Neates. South Australia answered through Kirkwood, but then Davis kicked two quick ones for the WAFL in as many minutes as the lead hit 24 points.

Dell'Olio then kicked his second goal for WA and his South Fremantle teammate Hams his first, and the home side led by 36 points.

The SANFL got the last two of the third quarter both from Ryswyk to cut the margin to 23 points and then it was 18 early in the last after Eddy's second, but Black got two goals in a minute for WA, Cook added another and then Davis his fifth, and Dell'Olio his third to secure the eventual 45-point win.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA            3.3    8.6    13.9    18.13    (121)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA            3.3    6.4    9.10    11.10    (76)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – Goals: Davis 5; Yarran, Dell'Olio 3; Black 2; Anthony, Phelan, Neates, Hams, Cook.
Best: Davis, Twomey, Strijk, Black, Dell'Olio, Hams, Phelan.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA – Goals: Ryswyk 3; Callinan, McGregor, Eddy 2; Kirkwood, Boyd.
Best: Keough, Schmidt, Boyd, Kirkwood, Ryswyk, Cross, Summerton.

SIMPSON MEDAL (WA) – Ryan Davis.
FOS WILLIAMS MEDAL (SA) – Tom Keough.

HOW THE WA TEAM LINED UP
B: Kirk Ugle (SD), Darren Rumble (S), Marlion Pickett (SF)
HB: Wayde Twomey (S), Blayne Wilson (SF), Andrew Strijk (WP)
C: Ryan Neates (C), Leigh Kitchin (S), Aaron Black (WP)
HF: Ryan Davis (SD), Clancy Wheeler (S), Ryan Cook (SF)
F: Cory Dell’Olio (SF), Lachlan Delahunty (S), Shane Yarran (S)
RUCK: Paul Johnson (EP), Aidan Tropiano (P), Liam Anthony (EF)

INT: Ashton Hams (SF), Chris Phelan (S), Justin Simpson (SD), Tony Notte (SD)