East Perth has slipped to fourth place on the WAFL ladder following a heavy 68-point loss to South Fremantle on Saturday.
The Royals kept pace with the Bulldogs up until half-time, but the visitors ran riot in the second half as the home side failed to cover for the loss of injured key players Will Schofield and Asher Samelko.
Schofield went down with a hamstring strain midway through the opening term, while ruckman Samelko limped from the field halfway through the second quarter with an ankle injury.
South Fremantle took advantage of the situation and surged in the third term, booting six unanswered goals to claim a 48 point advantage leading into the final stanza.
Reigning Sandover medallist Haiden Schloithe was particularly influential in the penultimate quarter.
The former rookie-listed Docker dined out on some silver service from Bulldogs’ ruckman Brock Higgins and found plenty of space forward of centre.
He finished the contest with an equal game-high 27 disposals and two goals and worked in tandem with the likes of Shane Hockey (27 disposals, one goal), Marlon Pickett (24 disposals, 10 tackles) and forward Cory Dell’olio (four goals) to propel South Fremantle to a comfortable 18.13 (121) to 8.5 (53) victory.
First-year Eagle Brayden Ainsworth was among East Perth’s best, finishing the game with 27 disposals (10 contested), nine marks and two goals.
Luke Partington was also solid in the midfield; he collected 23 touches, 13 contested possessions and laid five effective tackles against South Fremantle’s seasoned onball brigade.
Experienced defender Jackson Nelson (19 disposals, 13 pressure acts) was a thorn in the Bulldogs’ side all day, as was developing backman Josh Rotham, who effected a team-high eight spoils.
Matthew Allen also toiled away manfully given he played much of the game in the back line to cover for the loss of Schofield.
His stats column boasted 21 disposals, 10 marks, nine contested possessions and nine pressure acts.
SOUTH FREMANTLE 3.4 9.6 15.9 18.13 (121)
EAST PERTH 4.0 7.2 7.4 8.5 (53)
GOALS – South Fremantle: Dell’Olio 4; Shaw 3; Schloithe, Donaldson, Saunders 2; Hockey, Florenca, Parker, Hams, Cabassi.
East Perth: Maginess, Ainsworth 2; McGinnity, Eaton, M Allen, England.
