Round 1 - South Fremantle v Subiaco Match ReportSunday, March 19, 2017 - 8:23 AM - by Chris Pike

SOUTH Fremantle couldn’t have started the 2017 McDonald's WAFL Premiership Season in more impressive fashion defeating Subiaco by 39 points at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

South Fremantle and Subiaco finished 2016 as the top two teams after the home and away season before meeting in the second semi-final with the Lions winning on the way to a third successive WAFL grand final appearance.

That was Subiaco's sixth straight win over South Fremantle but the Bulldogs turned that around to open the 2017 season on Saturday with an impressive 17.14 (116) to 11.11 (77) victory.

South Fremantle made a flying start with the opening four goals of the game in the first 11 minutes. Mason Shaw kicked the first two in the opening seven minutes before Zac Strom and the returning Cory Dell'Olio got on the board as well before the Lions had managed a solitary point.

Subiaco did manage a couple of goals before quarter-time from Lachlan Delahunty and Clancy Wheeler, but South Fremantle also kicked two more from Ben Saunders and Brandon Donaldson to be 23 points up at quarter-time.

Less than a minute into the second term and the Bulldogs added another through Strom. The Lions went on to kick six straight behinds before South Fremantle returned its lead to 30 points just before time-on when Ashton Hams kicked truly.

The Lions responded through Max Walters but the Bulldogs kicked two more thanks to Saunders and Strom before half-time to take a commanding 38-point lead into the long break.

Both teams traded early goals in the third quarter but South Fremantle still looked well in control after Donaldson's second at the 20-minute mark. The Bulldogs led by a game-high 42 points before former South Fremantle small forward Bailey Matera kicked his first goal for Subiaco.

Walters then added his second and Chris Phelan another to give Subiaco its first momentum of the game to cut the three quarter-time deficit to 24 points.

The Lions then had some gettable chances to start the final term but couldn’t capitalise. Neither could South Fremantle up the other end but eventually Hams broke the game open with two goals in four minutes to set up the Bulldogs' eventual 39-point triumph.

South Fremantle's forward-line was potent all throughout the game with Saunders kicking four goals, Donaldson and Strom three, and Shaw two. Hams chimed in with three as well.

The Bulldogs' back-line was equally impressive led by Josh Pullman, Marlion Pickett and Blayne Wilson. The latter two found plenty of the ball as well with Pickett finishing with 21 possessions and nine marks, and Wilson 26 disposals and 10 marks.

Steven Edwards was also given the job on Liam Ryan in defence and had a good battle with him even though the Subiaco excitement machine still kicked three goals.

Despite missing Brock Higgins and Shane Hockey, South Fremantle's midfield did well with Haiden Schloithe racking up 27 possessions, Dylan Main 27, Brendan Verrier 27, Hams 25, Tim Kelly 24 and captain Ryan Cook 22.

The ruck battle between two young big men was also fascinating. South Fremantle's Jake Solomon finished with 14 possessions, four marks and 35 hit outs. Subiaco's Damon Guiness had 22 disposals, three marks and 31 hit outs.

Max Walters showed he could be ready to step up for Subiaco in 2017 with 27 possessions and two goals.

Leigh Kitchin captained the Lions in the absence of Kyal Horsley and finished with 28 possessions with Craig Hoskins having it 23 times, Justin Joyce 19 and Phelan 19. Hayden Kennedy was good as a small defender with 18 disposals before injury a shoulder late in the game.

South Fremantle will take on Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval next Saturday. Subiaco hosts Perth at Leederville Oval.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        6.1    10.4    13.8    17.14    (116)
SUBIACO             2.2    3.8    9.8    11.11    (77)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 4; Hams, Donaldson, Z Strom 3; Shaw 2; Dell'Olio, S Verrier.
Best: Main, B Verrier, Wilson, Saunders, Schloithe, Hams, Pickett, Kelly.
SUBIACO – Goals: Ryan 3; Walters 2; Perkins, Matera, Powell, Wheeler, Delahunty, Phelan.
Best: Kitchin, Walters, Guiness, Kennedy, Hoskins, Phelan.