SOUTH Fremantle did well to bounce back from a surprise loss to Perth overcoming the absence of three of its leading goalkickers from 2017 to lead Peel Thunder by as much as 55 points and win by 35 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

 

South Fremantle and Peel were meeting for the first time in 2018 on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval and having met in each of the past two WAFL finals series, they are two teams that have built up a bit of a rivalry in recent times.

 

The Bulldogs also needed to bounce back from lost two of their previous three matches against Claremont and Perth with a big WA Day Foundation Derby win thrown in there over East Fremantle.

 

The Thunder had won their previous two matches against Claremont and West Perth to win consecutive games for the first time in 2018 with the two-time reigning premiers trying to make it three on the trot heading to the port on Saturday.

 

It then took 21 minutes for the first goal of the game but that sparked a four-game in 10-minute burst from South Fremantle. 

 

The Bulldogs never looked back from there leading by as much as 55 points when ruckman Brock Higgins kicked his second goal at the six-minute mark of the last quarter. 

 

Peel did go on to kick five of the last seven, and the last three, goals of the game but South Fremantle still came away with the comfortable 16.11 (107) to 10.12 (72) win.

 

South Fremantle lost Mason Shaw to a leg injury in the warm after he had kicked six goals last week against Perth with Ben Saunders and Blaine Johnson already out of the team, with the trio having combined for 151 goals in 2017.

 

Shane Hockey was also missing from the Bulldogs midfield but it was an impressive showing by the home team who consolidated second position on the ladder with a 7-3 record.

 

Peel missed the chance to break into the top five remaining in fifth position with a 4-6 record.

 

South Fremantle had to get creative attack when Mason Shaw went down injured in the warm up with Ben Saunders and Blaine Johnson already sidelined, but the Bulldogs still managed to find a way to deliver 16 goals in the finish.

Cory Dell'Olio led the way kicking four goals form eight kicks in his 102nd game for the Bulldogs while Sandover Medallist Haiden Schloithe was back to his brilliant best with 32 disposals, 12 marks, five inside-50 entries and three goals.

Brandon Donaldson, Brock Higgins and Marlion Pickett all kicked two goals apiece as well while Zac Strom had 17 disposals, seven marks, 10 hit outs and a goal.

Jacob Dragovich also gathered 30 possessions for South Fremantle while Nick Suban finished with 26 disposals and eight inside 50s, and Steven Edwards gave great run out of the back-line with 25 possessions and 12 marks.

Ryan Cook also had 25 possessions, nine marks and seven tackles while Dylan Main collected 23 disposals, Steve Verrier 21, Chad Pearson 21, Blayne Wilson 18, Donaldson 17 and Higgins 14 along with five tackles, 29 hit outs and his two goals.

Shaun Bewick did an impressive run-with job also on Peel's Danyle Pearce restricting the 258-game AFL veteran to 14 possessions after he had been averaging 30.7 a game with the Thunder in 2018. Bewick also had 15 possessions, nine tackles and seven marks himself.

Peel captain Gerald Ugle played his best game of the season with the dual premiership winning skipper finishing the afternoon with 23 possessions, six marks and two goals.

Luke Strnadica also kicked two goals from seven kicks, six marks and 13 hit outs for the Thunder while Sean Darcy finished with 41 hit outs on return from a knee injury. Scott Jones also had 10 touches, eight marks and 20 hit outs.

Ben Howlett again worked hard for Peel with 21 possessions, 11 tackles and four marks while Keegan Power finished the game with 20 disposals, Cameron Sutcliffe 19, Mitch Crowden 16 (seven tackles), Jordan Boullineau 15 (nine marks) and Traye Bennell 15 (nine marks).

Harley Bennell had 14 possessions and five marks before sitting out the final term with Cameron McCarthy playing down back and having 17 touches and taking 11 marks.

It took 21 minutes for the game's first goal after Peel in particular missed some gimme shots right in front. 

Haiden Schloithe kicked truly from 50 to start a run of four goals in 10 minutes for the Bulldogs with Brock Higgins marking and kicking truly before Cory Dell'Olio added two leading into quarter-time to put his team 26 points up.

Peel did get its first goal at the seven-minute mark of the second quarter thanks to Gerald Ugle, but it didn’t spark a comeback with Dell'Olio's third goal shortly after putting South Fremantle back up by 27 points.

Peel did get another goal back when Blair Bell rant into an open goal but South Fremantle kicked the last major of the first half thanks to Matthew Parker to be up by 26 points at the main break.

Goals to Zac Strom and Jacob Dragovich gave the Bulldogs the perfect start to the second half to go out to a 39-point lead before Peel also kicked consecutive goals thanks to Ugle and Ben Howlett.

The Bulldogs then kicked away with Marlion Pickett kicking two goals while he rested deep forward in the absence of Shaw, Saunders and Johnson. When Brandon Donaldson kicked truly just before three quarter-time, South Fremantle was out to a 45-point advantage.

A second goal each for Donaldson and Higgins to start the last term put South Fremantle 55 points in front and even though Peel went on to kick six last quarter goals, the Bulldogs still prevailed to the tune of 35 points.

South Fremantle's reserves put together a solid performance to beat Peel Thunder 12.9 (81) to 5.6 (36) at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

Adam McIntosh put his hand up for a league return with a best on ground display for the Bulldogs with 30 possessions, 12 marks, five tackles and two goals.

Andre Coutinho and Caleb Datson also kicked two goals for South Fremantle.

Jake Florenca picked up 32 disposals for the Bulldogs, Josh Collard 28, Zac Dent 27 (13 marks), Daniel Cabassi 20, Coutinho 20, Trent Reed 20 and Jarrod Parry 18 along with five tackles and four marks.

Nick Merritt and Michael Tassone kicked two goals each for Peel with Tassone finishing with 25 disposals, eight marks, seven tackles and four inside-50 entries.

James Kirby compiled 26 possessions for the Thunder, Chris Wrigley 20, Michael Humble 17, Kaine Ah Chee 15 and Lloyd Meek 15 to go with 66 hit outs and seven tackles.

South Fremantle now has the bye in Round 12 ahead of a clash with East Perth at Leederville Oval in Round 13.

 

Peel Thunder also has the bye this weekend before playing host to Swan Districts at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

 

 

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Dell'Olio 4; Schloithe 3; Donaldson, Higgins, Pickett 2; Dragovich, Z Strom, Parker.

Best: Schloithe, Edwards, Bewick, Suban, Cook, Dragovich, Higgins, Dell'Olio.

PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Ugle, Strnadica 2; Howlett, Darcy, Lawler, Bell, Pearce, Jones.

Best: Ugle, Howlett, Power, T Bennell, McCarthy, Sutcliffe.