IT was two in-form teams locking horns at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday and despite South Fremantle being down on some key players and Swan Districts never throwing in the towel, the Bulldogs impressed in a 13-point victory.

 

South Fremantle and Swan Districts both played finals in 2017 and aside from a loss to Subiaco apiece in the opening five rounds, had largely been quite impressive to start 2018 heading into Saturday's clash at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

 

The Bulldogs also had to deal with the absence of key players Haiden Schloithe, Ashton Hams, Blayne Wilson and Steven Edwards with Tom Vandeleur, Jarrod Parry and Brendan Verrier already sidelined, but their depth came through against the black-and-whites.

 

South Fremantle started strongly to lead by 21 points early in the second quarter, still by 24 at half-time and then by as much as 32 during the third term. But Swans kept coming and had closed to within 14 points by three quarter-time after three goals late in the quarter to Corey Gault.

 

But the Bulldogs responded with a run of four straight goals during the fourth quarter to end up claiming the 16.11 (107) to 14.10 (94) victory.

 

The win improves South Fremantle to a 4-1 record on the season having now beaten West Perth, East Fremantle, Claremont and Swan Districts since a 58-point loss first up to Subiaco.

 

Swan Districts will now head into the bye for the State game this Saturday against the SANFL in Adelaide in fifth position and a 3-3 record on the season.

 

South Fremantle coming into the game minus key players including Hams, Schloithe, Wilson and Edwards was offset by Cory Dell'Olio, Adam McIntosh and Zac Strom all coming into play their first games of 2018.

Dell'Olio had been suspended for the opening four games but hit the ground running with an impressive performance with three goals from 15 possessions and seven marks.

McIntosh had an injury-interrupted pre-season leading to the 101-game veteran defender finding form and match fitness in the reserves. 

Strom had battled some illness troubles too to start 2018 meaning his younger brother Noah Strom had held down a key defensive post and they played together for the first time at league level in the same back-line on Saturday.

Meanwhile, while Ben Saunders battled injury and was goalless for South Fremantle, the Bulldogs had plenty of goalkicking options with Dell'Olio kicking the three majors, Matthew Parker also booting three and Blaine Johnson added three also.

Brandon Donaldson kicked two goals to go with 22 possessions to continue his impressive form since coming into the league side while Mason Shaw was a strong presence in the air all over the field. He had 14 touches, eight marks, nine hit outs and two goals.

Marlion Pickett delivered a best on ground performance for South Fremantle as he continues to thrive in his new role in the midfield. He finished with 30 possessions, seven tackles, five inside 50s and a goal.

Shane Hockey also collected 25 possessions for the Bulldogs while laying eight tackles and driving the ball inside-50 on eight occasions.

Nick Suban compiled 24 disposals, Dylan Main 20 and Jacob Dragovich 15 to go with 11 tackles.

Brock Higgins had another strong showing in the ruck with 13 touches, four marks and 42 hit outs.

South Fremantle had another debutant too with reigning colts fairest and winner Glenn Byron earning his chance and showing good signs with 13 possessions.

Swan Districts' three main forward options all had good afternoons led by Matthew Rogers with the burly half-forward delivering 24 possessions, 10 inside-50 entries, seven marks and three goals.

Corey Gault stood tall both up forward and in the ruck to have 19 touches, seven marks, 22 hit outs and four goals with Brayden Noble also booting four goals from seven kicks and six marks.

Tony Notte did well defensively on Ben Saunders, who admittedly was far from 100 per cent fit, but the Swans' veteran of 207 matches was a strong contributor again with 13 possessions and eight marks.

Young defender Tobe Watson also finished with 21 possessions and 12 marks.

Rhys Palmer worked hard through the middle for the black-and-whites with 25 possessions, six marks and a goal while David Ellard added 24 touches and eight marks. Jackson Slater also had 20 disposals and six marks, and Brayden Hackett 17 possessions, nine marks and five tackles.

Despite the host of key players missing, South Fremantle got off to a strong start including the first goal of the game to Matthew Parker at the eight-minute mark.

Parker then added his second to continue his stunning opening term before Swan Districts got on the board courtesy of Todd Banfield.

But Blaine Johnson and then Parker again responded with goals for the Bulldogs to put the home team 21 points in front before Swans got one back on the siren thanks to Brayden Noble.

Mason Shaw restored South Fremantle's 21-point lead to open the second quarter before Swan Districts gathered some momentum for the first time in the game with goals to Rhys Palmer, Noble and Matthew Rogers inside six minutes to trail by just two points.

South Fremantle responded, though, to finish the first half with goals to Brandon Donaldson, Cory Dell'Olio, Johnson and then Johnson with his third of the opening half to see the Bulldogs on top to the tune of 24 points at the main break.

The signs were then ominous when the Bulldogs opened the second half with a goal to Jake Florenca inside 30 seconds to make the margin five goals.

South Fremantle was then still 30 points in front with Dell'Olio's second goal in response to Noble's third for Swan Districts. But the black-and-whites weren’t going away and finished the third term strongly thanks to a purple patch from Corey Gault.

He stood tall and took strong contested marks deep in attack to kick three goals leading into three quarter-time to bring Swans back within 14 points at the last change.

It was a goal fest in an open and attacking last term, but in the end it was five goals apiece and Swans' never got closer than the final margin of 13 points with South Fremantle recording its fourth straight victory.

South Fremantle's reserves did well to fight back from a slow start to come away with a 11.4 (70) to 9.9 (63) against Swan Districts at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

Swans kicked four goals to one in the first quarter and still led by 14 points at half-time and nine points at three quarter-time. But the Bulldogs finished strongly with four goals to one in the last quarter to win by seven points.

Andre Coutinho kicked three goals for South Fremantle with Blair Della Franca and Zac De San Miguel adding two apiece.

Trent Reed amassed 25 possessions for the Bulldogs, Dylan Goodall 22, Coutinho 18 and Caleb Datson 17. Jake Solomon had 11 disposals, six marks and 23 hit outs in the ruck.

Taryce Stewart kicked three goals for Swan Districts from seven kicks with Tom O'Brien also booting two majors.

Adam Faulkner racked up 24 possessions and 12 tackles for Swans with Freddie Clutterbuck finishing with 19 disposals, Laurence Grescos 16, Ethan Maguire 16 and Lockie Huntley 16. Troy Yukich had 41 hit outs.

Following the break for this Saturday's State game against South Australia in Adelaide, South Fremantle will take on the also 4-1 East Perth at Leederville Oval in Round 7 on Saturday May 19.

 

Swan Districts has the extended break for the State game and then the Round 7 bye before playing East Perth in Round 8 on Saturday May 26 at Leederville Oval in a Channel 7 televised game.

 

 

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Dell'Olio, Johnson, Parker 3; Donaldson, Shaw 2; Main, Pickett, Florenca.

Best: Pickett, Suban, Donaldson, Higgins, Hockey, Shaw, Pearson, Main.

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Gault, Noble 4; Rogers 3; Palmer, Banfield, Wilson.

Best: Rogers, Gault, Palmer, Ellard, Notte, Watson, Slater.