Round 3 – Peel Thunder v South Fremantle Match ReportSunday, April 2, 2017 - 10:17 PM - by Chris Pike

SOUTH Fremantle bounced back from a loss last week to end the winning run of reigning premiers Peel Thunder with an impressive 43-point win at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Saturday.

Peel came into the game having not lost since Round 22 last year. The Thunder went on to win the last five games of 2016 on the way to a maiden premiership before impressive wins to start 2017 against East Perth and East Fremantle.

That meant they were full of confidence heading into Saturday's clash at home to South Fremantle who they beat in last year's preliminary final.

The Bulldogs were disappointed coming off an inefficient and inaccurate performance against Swan Districts, and were out to make amends despite the in-form opposition.

Unlike the week before, this time South Fremantle benefitted from an inaccurate Peel in the first half. 

But the Bulldogs went on to dominate nonetheless after half-time with seven goals to two to run out 12.14 (86) to 5.13 (43) winners.

Cory Dell'Olio had a terrific day up forward for South Fremantle in the best game of his return to date since being forced to sit out all of 2016. He kicked four goals from 16 possessions and six marks.

Mason Shaw also kicked three goals from 12 disposals and seven marks for the Bulldogs.

South Fremantle had no trouble winning the ball the week before against Swan Districts, but had little efficiency with what they did with it. But that was markedly improved against Peel on Saturday.

South Fremantle's back-line held up well with Josh Pullman having a good battle with Matt Taberner and Blayne Wilson continuing his good form with 23 possessions and nine marks.

Adam McIntosh was a strong performer too with 21 touches and 12 marks with Marlion Pickett ended up with 19 disposals and seven marks.

Jason Maskos was terrific holding Leroy Jetta scoreless and to three kicks after he kicked nine goals the first two rounds. Maskos also had 19 possessions and seven marks himself on top of kicking the first goal of his 44-game league career.

Ashton Hams had day out as well for the Bulldogs racking up 34 possessions to go with 10 marks and a goal.

Also through the middle, Shane Hockey amassed 26 possessions in his first game of the season while Kyle Russell had it 25 times, Dylan Main 25, Haiden Schloithe 25, Tim Kelly 23, Brendan Verrier 23, Shaun Bewick 21 and captain Ryan Cook 19.

Harley Balic once again was Peel's leading possession getter racking up 29 disposals to go with 11 marks. But he didn’t hit the amount of target he would be hoping and that's the only thing stopping him from an AFL debut with Fremantle.

Taberner had a real chance to make a statement and back up his five-goal haul from last week but his kicking was off. He earned enough chances with 18 possessions and eight marks but kicked just 1.5.

Tom Sheridan did his chances of a Dockers call up no harm with a good performance made up of 25 disposals, six marks and four entries inside the forward 50.

Rory O'Brien still had a good day for the Thunder gathering 23 possessions while Brayden Lawler finished with 21 disposals (seven tackles), Brady Grey 19 (five tackles), Griffin Logue 18 (seven marks), Traye Bennell 17 (seven tackles, six marks) and debutant Luke Ryan 17 (five tackles).

Ruckman Sean Darcy battled hard for 12 disposals, four marks and 35 hit outs.

Blaine Johnson kicked the game's first goal after just five minutes for South Fremantle following three behinds already for Peel.

Then little more than a minute later the Bulldogs doubled their advantage when Shaw kicked his first of the day.

The Thunder did reply with two goals inside a minute to Calvin Thorne and Lawler, but the Bulldogs drew back level with Dell'Olio first and ended up leading by a point at quarter-time.

The Thunder started the second quarter with a goal to Blair Bell but South Fremantle kicked the last two of the opening half thanks to Cook and Maskos to take an 11-point edge into the main break.

After four minutes of the second half, South Fremantle's lead was out to 23 points following goals to Dell'Olio and Hams.

Verrier and Shaw would also add majors before three quarter-time with Peel goalless for the term.

The Bulldogs led by 34 points at the last change and then 40 points following Shaw's third goal and 46 after Dell'Olio's third.

Peel finally ended its goalless drought of more than two full quarters thanks to Hayden Crozier 14:30 into the last term. 

But it mattered little and South Fremantle finished off with Dell'Olio's fourth to end up winning by 43 points and conceding just the five goals for the day.

South Fremantle returns home this Saturday to play West Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Peel, meanwhile, takes on Subiaco in a grand final rematch also on Saturday at Leederville Oval.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.2    5.8    9.10    12.14    (86)
PEEL THUNDER            2.7    3.9    3.12    5.13    (43)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Dell'Olio 4; Shaw 3; B Verrier, Johnson, Cook, Maskos, Hams.
Best: Maskos, Hockey, Hams, Russell, Dell'Olio, Schloithe, McIntosh, Main.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Taberner, Bell, Crozier, Thorne, Lawler.
Best: Lawler, Sheridan, O'Brien, Bennell, Balic, Darcy.