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DAY TO FORGET FOR FALCONS AT THE PORT

Tuesday, April 11, 2017 - 1:24 AM by Chris Pike

WEST Perth had a day to forget at Fremantle Community Bank Oval against South Fremantle on Saturday with a 103-point defeat after the reserves lost by a point but it was better news for the colts.

While South Fremantle recorded three strong wins over West Perth in 2016, both teams did take part in finals action last season and there was nothing to suggest what was to come on Saturday.

South Fremantle was coming off an impressive 43-point win over Peel while West Perth had lost narrowly to Subiaco last week, but what took place on Saturday put on full show just how potent the Bulldogs arsenal is when at full power.

It was a relatively even first quarter with South Fremantle kicking first two and last two goals. But they kicked away from there with seven goals to two in the second term, four to nil in the third and eight to two in the last to win 23.8 (146) to 6.7 (43).

It is South Fremantle's third biggest win over West Perth, just the fourth time the Bulldogs have ever beaten the Falcons by over 100 points and largest win since a 126-point triumph in Round 9, 1979 at Leederville Oval.

It is the biggest loss that West Perth has suffered since a 119-point defeat at the hands of Claremont at HBF Arena in Round 18, 2012.

It was a tough day for West Perth but the Falcons did have some big ball winners in the middle with Shane Nelson racking up 40 possessions to go with seven tackles. Trent Manzone also had 35 disposals, Aaron Black 30 and captain Jay van Berlo 25.

Luke Meadows also finished with 21 touches for West Perth, Corey Chalmers 20 and Kody Manning 18 having started the game in the midfield to try and add some added bite around the contest.

Tyler Keitel kicked two goals for West Perth while Andrew Strijk tried hard in attack with 18 touches, eight marks and a goal. Seva Mozhaev had 28 hit outs in the ruck.

South Fremantle started strongly with the game's opening two goals to Blaine Johnson and Cory Dell'Olio, but West Perth steadied and responded through Mark Hamilton and Keitel.

But the Bulldogs did manage the last two majors of the first term through Johnson and Mason Shaw to go into the first break with the momentum.

That paid off with five goals in the first 18 minutes of the second quarter including two to Haiden Schloithe and Johnson's third that saw the lead get out to 43 points.

Two goals in a minute to West Perth from Keitel and Strijk gave them a brief reprieve, but South Fremantle finished the half with two more goals to Zac Strom and Johnson to lead by 42 at the main break.

It took less than a minute into the third quarter for South Fremantle to continue to dominate with Bernie Naylor Medallist Ben Saunders kicking his first of the day. Johnson then soon added his fifth and the margin ballooned to 55 points.

There wasn’t a goal then for 13 minutes with West Perth missing four shots on goal with South Fremantle then hitting back through Saunders. Then with Shaw's second also before three quarter-time the Bulldogs led by 62 points.

West Perth finally scored its fifth goal of the game four minutes into the last quarter thanks to Chalmers, but South Fremantle immediately answered through Hockey.

Then after the Falcons' sixth and last of the day courtesy of Meadows, South Fremantle piled on seven more majors leading into the final siren including a third, fourth and fifth for Shaw, and sixth for Johnson to end up winning by 103 points.

West Perth's day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval started well on Saturday with the colts beating South Fremantle 14.8 (92) to 8.7 (55).

Daniel Rowe kicked four goals for West Perth from six kicks and five marks. Tyrese Miller also kicked three goals and Kurt Monaghan two.

Connor West gathered 23 possessions for the Falcons, Bailey Chalmers 21, Tom Medhat 17, Nathan Murray 15, Alec Johnson 15 and Oscar Allen 15.

South Fremantle's reserves then scored a thrilling 10.9 (69) to 9.14 (68) victory over West Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

West Perth came from behind at three quarter-time to be on track for the win with a five-point lead heading into the dying stages, but then South Fremantle kicked the last goal of the contest through Caleb Datson for the one-point win.

Rudy Riddoch impressed again in his second appearance with West Perth with the former Swan Districts forward kicking three goals from 19 possessions. 

Aidan Lynch worked hard for 36 disposals, seven marks, seven tackles, six inside 50s and a goal while Dean Munns picked up 24 touches for the Falcons, Brayden Antonio 22, Mitch Peirce 21, Angus Allen 21, Alexander Coe 20 and Shane Bonney 18.

West Perth remains on the road and will take on Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Good Friday.

WEST PERTH            2.1    4.3    4.7    6.7    (43)
SOUTH FREMANTLE        4.3    11.3    15.3    23.8    (146)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Keitel 2; Strijk, Meadows, Chalmers, Hamilton.
Best: Nelson, van Berlo, Strijk, Manning, Black.
SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Johnson 6; Shaw 5; Saunders 3; Schloithe, Hockey 2; Dell'Olio, Kelly, Strom, Verrier, Edwards.
Best: Kelly, Schloithe, Johnson, Pickett, Cook, Hockey, Shaw, Main.