Bulldogs remain unbeaten in all three WAFL grades

SOUTH Fremantle has continued its remarkable start to the 2016 WAFL season with the league, reserves and colts remaining unbeaten after recording victories over East Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

It has been a stunning opening to the 2016 season for the Bulldogs heading into the Round 4 bye before a trip to Lathlain Park to take on Perth in Round 5.

South Fremantle's league, reserves and colts have now beaten West Perth, Swan Districts and East Perth over the first three weeks of the season.

That sees the Bulldogs on top of the ladder in all three grades as well ahead of Subiaco in the league competition and as the only unbeaten team in the reserves and colts.

Round 3 got underway at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Friday night with South Fremantle running out 16.13 (109) to 10.9 (69) winners over East Perth.

Five goals in a stunning 11-minute patch to end the first quarter from Ben Saunders set up the win and then after being challenged by the Royals in the last quarter, the Bulldogs kicked the last four goals to run out 40-point victors.

Saunders had a remarkable period to end the first quarter and it was even more impressive considering most of his five goals came against East Perth co-captain and one of the league's best defenders Kyle Anderson.

Three of his goals came from free-kicks that he drew but his presence was forcing East Perth's defence into mistakes and while he didn’t add to his five goals, his performance in the opening quarter set up South Fremantle's win.

Any dangerous forward-line needs a lively small forward and that's exactly what Steven Edwards is proving to be since arriving from Claremont. He had his best performance on Friday with three goals from 17 possessions and five tackles.

Mason Shaw and Dylan Main both kicked two goals each for South Fremantle with Main's two in the final quarter sealing the win in his first match against the team he played with the last two years while listed with West Coast.

Haiden Schloithe delivered a best on ground performance for South Fremantle mostly across half-forward finishing with 34 possessions, nine tackles, seven marks, six inside-50 entries and a goal.

Ashton Hams had another big night with 32 touches and seven marks while Steven Verrier finished with 21 disposals and six tackles, Shane Hockey 19 possessions and nine tackles, and Tim Kelly 19 touches and nine tackles.

South Fremantle's back-line stood up well against a tall and dangerous East Perth attack with Blayne Wilson leading the way with 17 possessions and 12 marks.

East Perth made a strong start in search of its first win of 2016 with Fraser McInnes and Lamb kicking two goals apiece in the opening 14 minutes, but then Saunders took over.

The full-forward kicked four goals in the space of seven minutes of which three of them were from free kicks but he certainly had the Royals' defence on edge.

His efforts took the Bulldogs from 12 points down to 13 points and the margin was out to 19 after he kicked another on the quarter-time siren.

Things quietened up in the second quarter with both sides missing gettable shots, including two that Saunders should have kicked, but it took until the 24-minute mark for the first and only major.

That came to Blaine Johnson for South Fremantle and the Bulldogs led by 27 points at the main break.

The Royals came out far more determined in the second half and two goals apiece in the opening 14 minutes to Craig Wulff and Matthew Allen, in their 272nd and second games respectively, got the Royals within eight points.

The Bulldogs steadied, though, with late third quarter goals to Shaw and Edwards, both again from free kicks, to be 20 points up at the last break.

East Perth had a glint of hope with two quick goals to Lamb early in the last quarter, but it was South Fremantle finishing the stronger and two quick goals to Main sealed the deal in his first game against the side he played with the last two years while on West Coast's list.

A tremendous left-foot snap after a crumbing effort to Edwards and then a big mark and long goal to Shaw capped the night off for the Bulldogs in style.

The colts then opened the day on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle defeating East Perth 13.7 (85) to 7.12 (54).

The Bulldogs got off to a fast start with four goals to two in the first quarter, and four to nil in the second to lead by 36 points at half-time and going on to win by 31.

Kyle Donaldson kicked three goals for South Fremantle and Mitch Dzelebdzic two and Jimmy Miller two.

Kyle Russell amassed 24 possessions, Zane Sumich 22, Deng Maguang 22, Daniel Burke 20 and Dylan Brown 20. Tim English was impressive in the ruck with 16 disposals, 23 hit outs and five marks.

The reserves then hit Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday afternoon with South Fremantle beating East Perth 12.11 (83) to 10.6 (66).

The Royals started strongly leading by 12 points at quarter-time and by 17 at the half but the Bulldogs took over after the main break with nine goals to four in the second half to win by 17 points.

Brandon Donaldson kicked three goals for South Fremantle with Kendall Mow, Traye Bennell and Tim Stewart all kicking two apiece.

Shaun Bewick had a field day racking up 36 possessions and eight marks with Jacob Dragovich collecting 28 disposals, James Laurino 27, Jacob Martinez 23, Jakeb Tartaglia 21, Brad McPhail 21, Billy Collier 19, Matthew Ah Siu 19 and Tim Stewart 18.

SOUTH FREMANTLE        7.2    8.7    11.9    16.13    (109)
EAST PERTH            4.1    4.4    8.7    10.9    (69)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Saunders 5; Edwards 3; Shaw, Main 2; Schloithe, Branchi, Johnson, Cook.
Best: Schloithe, Hams, Edwards, Wilson, S Verrier, Kelly, Saunders.
EAST PERTH – Goals: Lamb 4; Wulff, McInnes, Allen 2.
Best: Masten, Lamb, Barrass, Lucas, Hart, Giles.