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Round 19 – South Fremantle v West Perth Match ReportMonday, July 31, 2017 - 3:16 AM - by Chris Pike
SOUTH Fremantle made it six straight wins this WAFL season and six in-a-row against West Perth with a 47-point victory at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.
South Fremantle was able to win by 47 points for the second straight time against West Perth, but it was a vastly more competitive showing all-round from the Falcons except in front of goals.
In the end, the Bulldogs kicked 20 goals from 26 scoring shots and the Falcons 11 from 24 and that was the major difference in the contest as South Fremantle went on to win 20.6 (126) to 11.13 (79).
Little separated the two teams across the field with both finishing with 307 possessions apiece while South Fremantle managed to take 17 more marks, have 43 more hit outs and eight extra inside-50 entries.
It was a sixth straight win overall by South Fremantle this season to improve the Bulldogs to a 13-4 record and remain well clear in second position with just four rounds of the season remaining.
It was also a sixth consecutive victory against West Perth with those coming by an average of 53.3 points.
Despite the loss, West Perth remains in fifth position but with an 8-8 record to only be one-game ahead of the sixth placed East Perth.
South Fremantle had four stars standing tall through the middle led by ruckman Brock Higgins who finished with 16 possessions, 67 hit outs and five inside-50 entries in his 98th WAFL appearance.
Haiden Schloithe continued his outstanding form with another 29 disposals, eight inside 50s, six marks, five tackles and a goal. Tim Kelly did as well with 28 touches and a goal while Shane Hockey did well also with 23 possessions and four tackles.
Cory Dell'Olio is right back to his best form after having to sit out all of 2016. He was tremendous up forward on Saturday with 14 possessions and four goals while setting up a handful of other goals for teammates.
Matthew Parkerhad a debut to remember kicking four exciting goals from 16 possessions, five inside-50 entries and four tackles.
Blaine Johnsonkicked three goals for South Fremantle, Ben Saunders three, Mason Shaw two and Jake Florenca two.
South Fremantle's back-line held up strongly led by Josh Pullman keeping the dangerous Tyler Keitel to just the one goal after he kicked seven the previous week. Jason Maskos kept Rudy Riddoch goalless while Steven Edwards was terrific out of defence with 21 possessions and seven marks.
West Perth had some strong ball winners and none were better on the field than Shane Nelson. Coming off his 51-possession haul last week against Perth, he had it another 45 times on Saturday against South Fremantle with seven inside-50 entries, five tackles and a goal.
Aidan Lynch thrived in the wet conditions too with 32 disposals and six tackles while Aaron Black collected 25 touches, Luke Meadows 21 and ruckman Chris Keunen 16 to go with 33 hit outs.
Corey Chalmers had a good impact at half-forward kicking four goals along with 19 possessions and nine tackles. Nick Rodda also kicked three goals despite copping a heavy knock to his jaw.
Kody Manning had a good battle with Ben Saunders down back while Blake Wilhelm worked hard to limit Blaine Johnson to just five kicks while having 16 possessions himself.
West Perth's day wasn’t helped by losing Andrew Strijk to a hamstring injury in the opening minutes with Ben King, Michael Lourey, Dean Munns, Scott Nelson, Steve Potente, Mark Hamilton and Joe Morrow already sidelined.
The signs were ominous early for West Perth with South Fremantle kicking the opening two goals in the first nine minutes thanks to Schloithe and Parker as the rain began to fall. West Perth got one back before quarter-time thanks to Brayden Antonio to trail by just the six points at the first change.
The Falcons then drew level to start the second quarter with a goal to Rodda. But South Fremantle answered almost immediately with two goals of their own with Dell'Olio and Shaw kicking truly.
Parker soon added his second and when Saunders booted his first of the day in his fascinating battle with Manning, the Bulldogs were threatening to kick away leading by 24 points.
West Perth showed some fight to respond with goals to Nelson and Chalmers to get back within 10 points, but Saunders kicked his second and then Florenca his first to put the Bulldogs on top by 24 points at the main break.
It took eight minutes for either team to kick a goal in the second half and after three behinds to West Perth, South Fremantle continued the trend of the day by taking its chances while the Falcons weren’t able to. Shaw kicked his second goal to make the margin a game-high 27 points.
The Falcons weren’t going away, though, and goals to Chalmers and Rodda had them right back in the game just 16 points behind. But again South Fremantle had the answers with Dell'Olio booting his second and then third in the space of three minutes.
West Perth did get one back courtesy of Rodda but the Bulldogs put the game away with four more goals leading into three quarter-time. Kelly kicked truly before Johnson added a couple and Saunders his third as the home team was 39 points up at the last change.
West Perth started brightly in the last quarter with three goals in seven minutes to Chalmers, Keitel and Chalmers. That had the Falcons back within 21 points and a big fightback wasn’t out of the question.
It wasn’t to be, though, and South Fremantle kicked the last five goals of the contest through Johnson, Dell'Olio, Parker, Florenca and then Parker again with his fourth in a memorable debut as the Bulldogs cruised to the 47-point victory.
South Fremantle will look to make it seven straight wins this season and a fourth consecutive victory against East Fremantle back at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.
West Perth returns to HBF Arena on Saturday needing to beat East Perth to remain in fifth position on the WAFL ladder.
SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.1 8.3 15.5 20.6 (126)
WEST PERTH 1.1 4.3 8.8 11.13 (79)
SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Dell'Olio, Parker 4; Saunders, Johnson 3; Florenca, Shaw 2; Schloithe, Kelly.
Best: Schloithe, Dell'Olio, Kelly, Higgins, Edwards, Hockey, Parker, Maskos, Pullman.
WEST PERTH – Goals: Chalmers 4; Rodda 3; Keitel, Nelson, Meadows, Antonio.
Best: Nelson, Lynch, Chalmers, Rodda, Black, Meadows, Wilhelm.
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