SOUTH Fremantle continued its dominance over East Fremantle making it six straight against its old foes and nine of the last 10 in a commanding 73-point win in the WA Foundation Derby at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

 

Coming off a surprise loss to Claremont on home turf last week that saw the Bulldogs' five-game winning run come to an end, South Fremantle responded in the best possible way in the 2018 version of the WA Day Foundation Derby.

 

Despite East Fremantle coming off its second win of the season last Saturday beating Peel, it was all South Fremantle on Monday with the Bulldogs quickly coming out of the blocks kicking the game's opening eight goals.

 

East Fremantle didn’t kick a goal until the 20-minute mark of the second term when captain Jonathon Griffin converted after a 50m penalty.

 

But South Fremantle still led by 48 points at half-time and then with four goals to one in the final quarter, went on to score the 18.13 (121) to 7.6 (48) victory.

 

That makes it six consecutive derby victories for South Fremantle over its traditional rivals. Surprisingly, it's also the first home win in a Foundation Derby at Fremantle Community Bank Oval for South Fremantle since 2008.

 

The win sees South Fremantle further consolidate second position on the WAFL ladder with a 6-2 record while East Fremantle remains on the bottom at 2-7.

 

Both teams celebrated significant individual milestones too and neither Cory Dell'Olio nor George Hampson quite had the days they were hoping for.

 

But it will remain a memorable occasion for Dell'Olio as the 2009 premiership player and dual leading goalkicker reached 100 games with South Fremantle and got to enjoy the big win even though his ground time was limited after a knock to the eye he copped.

 

Hampson once again gave his all for East Fremantle and produced 26 possessions, six marks and a goal but the result meant it wasn’t quite the 100-game milestone to savour he was hoping for. His 100 games now include 37 at East Fremantle after 63, including a premiership, at Subiaco.

In the absence of key midfielders Dylan Main and Shane Hockey, plenty of other players stepped up in the midfield for South Fremantle. 

Marlion Pickett continued his remarkable form with another 29 possessions, seven inside 50s and six tackles with Haiden Schloithe back to his best of last year with 21 disposals, 11 tackles and two goals. 

Ryan Cook played his best game of 2018 as well with 25 possessions and six marks while Nick Suban played his best game as a Bulldog with 28 disposals, six inside 50s, five marks, five tackles and his first two goals of 2018.

Jacob Dragovich also racked up 31 possessions for South Fremantle, Kyle Russell 20, Shaun Bewick 17 and Glenn Byron 17. Brock Higgins had another 38 hit outs in the ruck.

With no Ben Saunders in attack, other Bulldogs needed to deliver there too and there were none better than little man Brandon Donaldson. He kicked four goals to go with 19 possessions while Mason Shaw thrived with the captaincy kicking three goals from 19 touches and seven marks.

Ashton Hams kicked three goals to go with 21 touches too with Matthew Parker kicking three majors as well.

It was tough going for East Fremantle but Cameron Eardley never stopped trying and finished the afternoon with 30 possessions and seven tackles. Jayden Schofield returned from his two-week break to have 28 disposals and eight marks off half-back.

Jonathon Marsh also finished with 25 touches, 10 marks and seven tackles with James Harrold collecting 22 touches, Tom Marshall 20, Josh Cuneo 20 and Matthew Jupp 17.

Dylan Winton had the job on Blaine Johnson most of the afternoon and did an impressive job holding him goalless while having 14 kicks, six marks and five tackles himself.

Coming off an upset loss to Claremont the previous week, it was a determined South Fremantle who jumped out of the blocks on WA Day with Matthew Parker getting the ball rolling at the six-minute mark with the derby's opening goal.

 

Jacob Dragovich joined in soon after before a 10-minute break between the Bulldogs' second and third goals. Mason Shaw kicked a beauty as captain for the day and then Ashton Hams joined in and South Fremantle went into quarter-time up by 23 points.

 

It took just five minutes of the second term for Parker to add his second and third goals with Haiden Schloithe and Brandon Donaldson kicking truly as well to ensure the Bulldogs booting the game's opening eight goals.

 

East Fremantle eventually got a goal when captain Jonathon Griffin converted after a 50m penalty. They added a second soon after with a classy snap from Cameron Eardley too. But South Fremantle still kicked the last two goals of the half through Shaw and Donaldson to lead by 48 points at the break.

 

The Sharks did kick the opening goal of the second half thanks to 100-gamer George Hampson. The Sharks would go on to have their best quarter of the game with four goals apiece, but the Bulldogs still extend their lead to 53 points by three quarter-time with a goal to Donaldson on the bell.

 

It was then all the Bulldogs in the final term with goals to Shaw, Donaldson, Hams and Schloithe to secure the 73-point derby triumph.

The reserves contest at Fremantle Community Bank Oval saw East Fremantle claim a 12.14 (86) to 6.4 (40) victory against South Fremantle.

Jye Clements kicked four goals from five kicks for East Fremantle with Zac McCarrey also booting three majors and Jy Stone two.

Sean Henson racked up 38 possessions for the Sharks, Dion Anthony 37, Jordan Snadden 36, Zac Jackson 36, Joel Kalajzic 28, Kim Schofield 28, Ben Harding 25, Jamie Meade 19 and Russell Wynne 19.

Daniel Burke and Caleb Datson kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle.

Trent Reed finished with 22 possessions, 13 tackles and a goal for the Bulldogs while Datson compiled 21 disposals, Adam McIntosh 20, Andre Coutinho 19, Billy Timewell 18, Seaton Thompson 17, Zac De San Miguel 16 and Blair Della Franca 16 to go with 37 hit outs, seven tackles and five marks.

Both South Fremantle and East Fremantle have difficult tasks to back up playing this Saturday on a five-day break against teams that have had significantly longer to get ready for the contests.

 

The Bulldogs face Perth for the first time in 2018 at Lathlain Park with the Demons having a full seven-day break from playing to Swan Districts on Saturday.

 

And as if the challenge for the Sharks wasn’t enough up against the unbeaten league-leaders Subiaco this Saturday, the Lions enter the contest fresh coming off the bye against an East Fremantle team sore and battered on a five-day break when they clash at Leederville Oval.

 

 

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Donaldson 4; Shaw, Parker, Hams 3; Schloithe, Suban 2; Dragovich.

Best: Suban, Schloithe, Donaldson, Pickett, Cook, Hams, Dragovich, Shaw.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Eardley, Hampson, Griffin, Fletcher, Bristow, Creasey, J Wynne.

Best: Eardley, Hampson, Kommer, Harrod, Schofield, Marsh.