Bulldogs break run of visiting teams winning derbies to stay second

SOUTH Fremantle returned to winning ways and ended the remarkable run of visiting teams winning derbies with the Bulldogs beating East Fremantle by 30 points on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

South Fremantle controlled the majority of the contest including a run of eight of the last nine goals of the first half, and then the first four majors of the last quarter to end up winning 14.16 (100) to 10.10 (70).

The win ends a three-game losing run for the Bulldogs to see them steady with an 11-5 record to be percentage ahead of the third placed West Perth with a game in hand.

It also ends the remarkable streak of the away teams winning Fremantle derbies. The visitors had won the previous 13 derbies before Saturday with South Fremantle winning at home over East Fremantle for the first time since Round 24, 2011.

Haiden Schloithe, Ashton Hams and Blaine Johnson all returned to the South Fremantle team and had a significant impact on the final result.

Schloithe was outstanding both across half-forward and then through the middle finishing with 31 possessions, eight marks, seven inside-50 entries and a goal.

Hams settled across half-back in his first game since Round 13 and was a calming influence and good ball user ending up with 20 disposals and nine marks.

Johnson was again lively in the forward-line kicking three goals from 17 possessions, five marks and four tackles while also keeping running half-back Ryan Lester-Smith to just the 14 disposals.

Tim Kelly was another shining light for the Bulldogs with the state midfielder returning to some strong form with 28 possessions, six tackles, six inside 50s and a goal.

Mason Shaw also kicked three goals for South Fremantle from 14 touches and six marks while Ben Saunders worked hard for two goals, 17 possessions, seven inside-50 entries and six marks.

Jacob Dragovich also gathered 22 possessions for the Bulldogs, Shane Hockey 21 (six tackles), Ryan Cook 20 (eight marks, one goal), Steve Verrier 17 and Zac Strom 16 (10 hit outs, seven inside 50s).

Having conceded six goals to nil in the first quarter against Claremont and then five goals in the opening 16 minutes against Subiaco, it was another slow start for the Bulldogs with East Fremantle kicking the first two majors from Jacob Green and Matthew Watson.

Green would go on to kick four goals for the day in the best game of his career but Watson wasn’t given a sniff the rest of the way by Josh Pullman.

But this time the Bulldogs were able to quickly steady the ship and got on the board with a strong mark and goal to Saunders at the 13-minute mark.

Johnson added South Fremantle's second just into time-on to make the margin a point before Brock O'Brien made his only mark on the game with a goal for the Sharks.

The Bulldogs had the last say of the opening term with captain Cook kicking truly to give the home team the one-point lead at the first change.

Schloithe was then taken high and kicked truly to give South Fremantle an ideal start to the second quarter before East Fremantle immediately responded with Green kicking his second.

But it was all the Bulldogs from there leading into half-time with Johnson booting his second and then Kelly, Tyson Pickett and Shaw all kicking goals as the home side took a 28-point lead into half-time.

The game then looked all but over a minute into the third quarter when Saunders kicked his second goal and South Fremantle led by 34 points, but East Fremantle had the advantage of the breeze and got on a roll for the first time in the game.

Green got things rolling for the Sharks with his third and fourth goals before Brett Peake, Jack Perham and Jamie McNamara all got in on the act before quarter-time to get East Fremantle as close as three points.

A lot was at stake for South Fremantle heading into the final term with East Fremantle having the momentum, but the Bulldogs dominated after a tense opening nine minutes.

The Bulldogs got the first goal through Shaw and then Dragovich added another. By the time Brock Higgins took a strong one-handed mark and goaled from near the boundary, the margin was out to 23 points again and South Fremantle looked safe.

Shaw and Johnson made sure of it both kicking their third goals of the day in the final minutes and the Bulldogs ran out strong 30-point winners to end the losing run both of the last three games and of home teams in Fremantle derbies.

The colts began the day's action at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle beating East Fremantle 10.10 (70) to 3.7 (25).

Shai Bolton kicked three goals and Jesse Mason two while Daniel Burke gathered 27 possessions, Kyle Russell 23, Bruno Faulkner 23, Regan Spooner 23, Chad Pearson 21, Deng Maguang 20, Zac De San Miguel 19, Bolton 17 and Travis Abbott 17.

Ruckman Tim English delivered a dominant performance in the middle for the Bulldogs as well finishing with 24 possessions, 11 marks, 15 hit outs and a goal.

The reserves contest then took place after the league game at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle holding on to win a thriller over East Fremantle 13.10 (88) to 12.10 (82).

Jesse Mirco kicked three goals for the Bulldogs with Tom Vandeleur and Brayden Andrews booting two apiece but it was Brandon Donaldson who starred on return to the reserves with five goals from nine kicks.

Dylan Main racked up 35 possessions for South Fremantle, Matthew Ah Siu 28, Bailey Matera 25, Steven Edwards 25, Tim Stewart 25, James Laurino 21, Jake Florenca 21 and Noah Strom 14 to go with seven tackles and 24 hit outs in the ruck in the absence of the injured Josh Branchi.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.5    8.10    9.13    14.16    (100)
EAST FREMANTLE        3.4    4.6    9.9    10.10    (70)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Shaw, Johnson 3; Saunders 2; Higgins, Dragovich, T Pickett, Kelly, Schloithe, Cook.
Best: Schloithe, Kelly, Saunders, Johnson, Hockey, Dragovich, Shaw, Hams. 
EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Green 4; Henson, McNamara, Perham, Peake, O'Brien, Watson.
Best: Green, McNamara, Schofield, Adamini, J Bristow.