WAFL 2024: South Fremantle leave it late to keep the dream alive against West Perth

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

WAFL 2024: South Fremantle leave it late to keep the dream alive against West Perth

South Fremantle have kept their season alive in another close encounter as they fought off a gallant West Perth outfit in trying conditions at Fremantle Oval.

Having lived on the edge over the past fortnight the Bulldogs still have a seat at the last-chance saloon following a tight 12.9 (81) to 9.9 (63) victory over the Falcons.

With the game sitting on the ****** edge as the minutes ticked down in the final term, it was a brilliant contested mark and goal from Edward Graham that finally had the Bulldogs living to ****** another day.

In a game that saw swings in momentum as wild as the weather, it was the Bulldogs led by Aaron Drage (30 disposals, five marks four clearances) and Haiden Schloithe (25 disposals, four clearances) who helped drag their side over the line.

The Bulldogs got off to a flyer in the bright sunshine as they kicked the first two goals but as the clouds rolled in and the wind picked up it was the Falcons who found their footing first.

As shown last week the Falcons don’t mind some wet weather footy as the muddy conditions once again levelled the playing field.

Tyler Keitel kicked back-to-back goals before Kayle Gerreyn then landed a ******* punch kicking his first league goal after the quarter-time siren to give the Falcons a seven-point lead at the break.

Camera IconSouth Fremantle star Dylan Main celebrates a goal. Credit: ingofoto

Their lead was built around their dominance in the contest and a high-pressure game leading the tackle count 15-7.

But the Bulldogs found their grunt in the second quarter and after dominating possession former Eagle Isiah Winder gave them the reward on the scoreboard with a lovely finish.

As the rain started chucking down it appeared the Falcons’ ***** was bursting as South Fremantle kicked five unanswered goals as the West Perth struggled to get it forward of centre.

But a change in conditions in the third term brought a change in fortunes as the Falcons roared back to life.

Riley Sprigg (23 disposals, 28 hit-outs and eight clearances) was getting on top in an entertaining battle with Joshua Branchi and his first goal in between majors for Corey Rundle and Keegan Knott had the game back to within one goal.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconSouth Fremantle defender Jason Carter marks. Credit: ingofoto

Despite Schloithe’s good work around the ball, he was having a horror day up forward exemplified by a miss after the siren from directly in front.

The Bulldogs were struggling to stop the ball in transition and suddenly they were the ones to try and desperately defend.

Jordan Boullineau had a game-high 13 intercept possessions and Lewis Rayson fought hard but Keitel’s third goal had the Falcons in front and the Bulldogs’ finals slipping away.

However, the Bulldogs manage to find one last gear and, helped by some heroic marks from Zachary Strom, ran over the top late to break Falcon’s hearts.

All eyes now turn to Sunday’s clash between Subiaco and Claremont to see if the Lions can upset the Tigers and keep the Bulldogs’ fairytale alive.

SCOREBOARD

SOUTH FREMANTLE 3.1 8.2 8.7 12.9 (81)

WEST PERTH 4.3 4.5 7.7 9.9 (63)

Goals – SOUTH FREMANTLE Z Strom 3 I Winder 2 K Habour 2 B Donaldson 2 C Pearson D Main E Graham WEST PERTH T Keitel 3 K Knott 2 K Gerreyn 2 R Spirgg C Rundle

Best – SOUTH FREMANTLE A Drage H Schloith J Boullineau Z Strom J Branchi WEST PERTH R Spirgg L Meadows T Keitel S Nelson K Bevan C Rundle

Umpires: TBA

Crowd: 1503 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#WAFL #South #Fremantle #leave #late #dream #alive #West #Perth

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up