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South Fremantle has continued it’s dominance of arch rivals East Fremantle, recording a 14th consecutive derby win at the WACA as part of round 14 of the 2022 WAFL season on Saturday.
The Bulldogs blitzed their highly fancied rivals and were never headed on their way to a 9.13 (67) to 5.4 (34) win in wet and slippery conditions, Dylan Main with four goals for the winners.
Souths started impressively, kicking 3.4 to no score in the first term with Main kicking two majors to set the tone for his team, East Fremantle stunned in what was the 91.3 Sport FM broadcast match.
Goals to Jimmy Miller and Haiden Schloithe saw a 34-0 scoreline early in the second term before Alex Mountaban snapped the Sharks in to gear with a goal, Souths still with a comfortable 29 point lead by half time.
As the skies darkened things got tougher for the home side, who had the better of the third quarter but made little imprint in to their opponents lead, kicking 2.1 to 1.4 for the term as Eddie Simpson kicked his first goal as a Shark, winning a holding the ball free kick on Blake Schlensog.
Simpson left the ground with a leg injury moments later leaving Reuben McGuire to play out the game in the ruck, Souths weathering the storm as a literal one rolled towards the WACA with a 25 point lead at the final change.
There was to be no miracle comeback from the Sharks as the heavens opened, Dylan Main kicking his fourth goal and Nick Suban also hitting the scoreboard as the Bulldogs continued their dominance of their rivals.
Haiden Schloithe was his side’s best player with 28 disposals, 15 tackles and 1.2, Hamish Free dominant in ruck with 56 hitouts to completely dominate the middle of the ground for Todd Curley’s side.
Kyle Baskerville tried hard with 29 disposals and 13 tackles, Mountaban with three goals from as many kicks to be his side’s only prominent forward.
Claremont saw off a gallant Subiaco in a wet western suburbs clash at Leederville Oval, winning a match that featured just nine goals between the sides.
After a goal apiece in the first term the Tigers opened up a mini-buffer in the second term with the only two majors of the quarter, Claremont’s bigger bodies proving too strong around the contest.
Subiaco tried their best to work back in to the contest but in heavy conditions scoring was proving difficult, Ash Prescott’s men maintaining a 14 point lead at the final break.
Having failed to touch the ball to three quarter time Ben Sokol tried to inspire his team in the final term, kicking consecutive goals to bring the margin to single figures but running out of time to engineer a comeback for Subiaco, Claremont winners in a slog of a contest, 5.5 (35) to 4.4 (28).
Ryan Lim’s outstanding season continued for Claremont with 32 disposals, Jye Bolton also impactful with 26 disposals and a goal with support from Ronin O’Connor (25 disposals and 10 tackles) and Ben Edwards (25), Jack Buller the only multiple goalkicker for the winners.
Stefan Giro continued his fine season with 22 disposals for the Lions, Leigh Kitchin with 21 touches to go with 8 tackles, Sokol breaking free for two late goals after a quiet first three quarters.
The result strengthens Claremont’s position in the top five, Subiaco’s season almost certainly over as they slump to their ninth loss from 13 games.
Peel Thunder pulled away from a plucky Perth at Lathlain Park to continue the Demons miserable season, handing them a ninth straight loss thanks to an eight goal second half.
After only one goal in the first term the Demons kicked four goals to two in the second stanza to lead at half time, sensing an upset in wet conditions with four debutants in their side.
Young forward Harry Quartermaine was providing a target in attack while Corey Byrne was working hard in midfield against a Peel side that featured 13 Fremantle listed players.
That proved telling in the third term as the game broke open Peel’s way, Darcy Tucker, Neil Erasmus and Mitch Crowden all having a big say around stoppages as the Thunder kicked four goals to none to pull away from their opponents.
There was to be no comeback in the afternoon gloom for Perth, Peel winners 11.13 (79) to 7.7 (49) to stay in touch with the top five, just a win outside with five games to play.
Darcy Tucker finished as his side’s best player with 32 disposals, 8 inside 50’s and 2 goals, Crowden also with 32 touches while Ethan Hughes had 21 touches and kicked 2 goals playing on a wing.
Matthew Taylor had 24 disposals to provide rebound out of defence for the Demons, Haydn Busher with 24 disposals and 11 marks and Bryne with 21 touches, all kicks.
Perth remain with just two wins from 13 matches in season 2022, having won only four last season to continue a miserable run for the club and second year coach Garry Moss.
Swan Districts continued to show why they are a threat for this year’s premiership, defeating East Perth by 23 points at Bassendean Oval in a match the home side controlled from the outset.
In wet conditions the Black Ducks started impressively with four goals to one in the first term, winning the territory battle and dominating the contest around the ball with Aidan Clarke, Jesse Turner and Tobe Watson continuing their fine seasons.
There was no letting up in the second term either as Swans found another four majors to lead by 29 points at the half.
The rain arrived to make any chance of an East Perth comeback obsolete, Swans with the only goal of the third term before the Royals made one final charge in the last stanza, kicking three goals to one to reduce the final deficit to 23 points.
Clarke was superb for Swan Districts with 37 disposals and 10 marks with able support from Turner (36), co-captain Brandon Erceg (28 disposals and 8 marks) and Watson (24 disposals) while Lachlan Riley and Chris Jones each kicked three majors in a strong showing from the black and whites.
Angus Schumacher never stopped trying with 41 touches and a goal for East Perth, Hamish Brayshaw with 31 disposals and a goal of his own, the loss leaving the Royals two games outside of the top five.
West Perth made light work of West Coast in the final game of the round under lights at Lathlain Park, Conal Lynch starring with four goals as the Falcons kept the Eagles goalless for more than three quarters.
The visitors kicked the first eleven goals of the contest to never be headed by the bottom placed Eagles, who added some respectability with four final term majors to avoid complete embarrassment.
Shane Nelson (32 disposals) and Luke Meadows (30) revelled in the slippery conditions while Tyler Keitel found plenty of the ball mixing his time between forward and ruck, winning 28 disposals and kicking 1.3.
But the night belonged to Conal Lynch, who kicked a career high four majors to go with 26 disposals to continue his fine season and lead the Falcons back to top of the ladder after 14 rounds.
The 12.18 (90) to 4.9 (33) triumph was a fairly predictable one for Darren Harris’ men, West Coast failing to fire a shot with nine AFL listed players to remain rooted to the bottom of the ladder.
Jackson Nelson had 27 touches while ruckman Callum Jamieson had 22 disposals and 28 hitouts to try hard in the ruck, three goalless quarters a reflection of where the club is at in what has been a deplorable position.
The Falcons regain top spot from East Fremantle, the Bulldogs closing in in third spot while Claremont and Swan Districts both look solid inside the top five with five rounds remaining.
Peel Thunder sits a game outside in sixth, East Perth a game further back followed by Subiaco, Perth and West Coast who are out of contention in season 2022.
Round 15 sees two crunch clashes with Claremont hosting Swan Districts and South Fremantle at home to West Perth in the 91.3 Sport FM broadcast game, East Fremantle needing to bounce back against Perth and Peel Thunder taking on East Perth at Leederville Oval.
Subiaco and West Coast have the bye in the first of the three split rounds.
IMAGE: South Fremantle FC Facebook.