2025 WAFL season review : South FremantleMonday, October 20, 2025 - 12:23 PM

What an incredible first season for coach Craig White at South Fremantle as the Bulldogs claimed their 15th flag. 

The League team took out the minor premiership with an impressive home-and-away record of 17-1, before winning the Grand Final in a thrilling decider against East Perth. 

Remarkably, the only team to knock of Souths was wooden-spooner West Coast back in Round 5. 

South Fremantle’s fresh faces were a massive reason behind their return to finals footy, led by former AFL-listed talents Trey Ruscoe (Collingwood), Ethan Hughes (Fremantle), Jamaine Jones (West Coast) and Hamish Free (North Melbourne). 

Ruscoe finished second in the Bernie Naylor Medal race, two behind Tyler Keitel with 50 goals for the home-and-away season. 

Hughes was a pillar of consistency down back and Jones provided his usual run and carry and silky skills, while Free resumed his No.1 ruck role at the Bulldogs after a stint with the Kangaroos, claiming the Simpson Medal in the Grand Final. 

Then there was the midfield brigade who have barely put a foot wrong this season, highlighted by Matthew Parker, Jake Florenca, Tom Blechynden and Isiah Winder. 

Florenca averaged a team-high 26 disposals to go with 10 goals, Blechynden wasn’t too far behind with 25.6 per game, while Parker’s (23.6 disposals and 16 goals) ability to hit the scoreboard regularly was critical. 

Captain and reliable defender Chad Pearson has led the group admirably on his way to reaching 150 league games. 

The team’s young guns took another significant step forward including Jaxon Artemis, Chase Bourne, Roan O’Hehir and Aaron Drage. 

In what turned out to be a near-flawless season under first year coach Craig White, Sandover Medal runner-up Matthew Parker took out the club’s Fairest and Best Award, the WJ Hughes Medal.