Returning Dog on what’s clicked at Souths ahead of blockbuster WA Day Derby

Ruckman Hamish Free has reflected on ladder-leading South Fremantle’s dominant start to the season ahead of Monday’s blockbuster RAC WA Day Derby clash against East Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

For the first time since 1992, the Bulldogs and Sharks are first and second on the ladder heading into a Fremantle Derby, with both teams sitting pretty with 6-1 records.

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Free, back in the WAFL after two seasons on North Melbourne’s list, shared his thoughts on what’s made the Bulldogs click after a lean couple of years.

“Obviously a lot has been made of the names that we’ve recruited,” Free told the WAFL’s official podcast Seven Point Play.

“We’ve recruited well and probably identified that we’ve had a few needs to fill.

“It’s also probably some of the young guys coming up who have just developed well and other players we’ve got back.

“We’re well coached, well drilled and put in a big pre-season and more than anything, we’re really enjoying our footy which is a big factor as to why we’re going so well, everyone wants to be there and we’re playing for each other.”

Ex-AFL trio Ethan Hughes (Fremantle), Trey Ruscoe (Collingwood) and Jamaine Jones (West Coast) have impressed as new additions under first-year coach Craig White.

Ruscoe has kicked 24 goals in seven games since coming across from West Coast’s WAFL, while the form of Hughes and Jones saw them picked in WA’s drought-breaking Kia WAFL State Game victory over the SANFL earlier this month.

“He’s great to play with, he definitely brings a lot of energy – both to training and games,” Free said of Ruscoe.

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“He’s been like that ever since he first came down. We’re really happy we got him down here, he’s great to play with.

“He’s got so much energy, he competes hard up forward and brings a contest so it’s good to see him do well.”

Free, coming off a whopping 60 hit-outs in the Bulldogs’ triple-figure win over Subiaco last round, said it was an easy decision to return to South Freo after getting delisted at the end of last season.