It was perfect conditions at Mineral Resources Park for West Coast’s final game of the 2023 season, with Greg Clark and Zane Trew stand-outs in the 89-point defeat to South Fremantle Bulldogs on Saturday morning.
Clark (29 disposals, six marks) put on a strong showing, and Trew (26 disposals, five tackles and one goal) worked hard around the ground in the tough 9.6 (60) to 24.5 (149) defeat.
Isiah Winder had an effective game, finishing with 23 disposals, a team-high nine marks and a goal, while Callum Jamieson stood tall for West Coast, leading the hitouts 36-28 against South Fremantle’s Zachary Strom.
Xavier O’Neill (23 disposals), Jordyn Baker (19) and Luke Foley (19) produced good efforts around the ball, while Rhett Bazzo (12 disposals), Tyrell Dewar (10) and Harry Barnett (6) tried hard to make an impact in what was a frustrating day out for West Coast.
The visiting Bulldogs controlled the first term, kicking the first two goals of the game and finishing the quarter with five unanswered majors to take a 29-point lead at the first break.
West Coast’s Trew broke South Fremantle’s seven-goal streak with a crafty goal in the second, followed by back-to-back goals from Andries Mercer to bring the margin back within 24 points at half time.
The young South Fremantle side took charge in the third quarter, booting nine goals, while West Coast struggled to find the ball in their forward 50, Jarrod Garlett adding a sole goal to their tally for the term.
Eagle Jedd Kemp got on the board for the home side in the final term, ending a 10-goal run from South Fremantle, but the Bulldogs responded and finished the game with five more unanswered goals to wrap up their season in a dominant display.
Despite the West Coast side being reinforced with AFL talent this week, it was an exhausting finish for the men in blue and gold, reflective of their entire season, and the team will now bring on a welcome break and look ahead to the 2024 season.
WEST COAST 2.3 5.3 6.4 9.6 (60)
SOUTH FREMANTLE 7.2 9.3 18.4 24.5 (149)
GOALS
West Coast: Mercer 2; Winder, O’Neill, Trew, Garlett, Kemp, Burke, McCarthy
South Fremantle: Donaldson, Miller 4; Blechynden 3; Dragovich, N Strom, Harbour, Graham 2; Z Strom, Hall, Bourne, Datson, Drage
BEST
West Coast: Clark, Winder, O’Neill, Trew, Hansen, Mercer
South Fremantle: Z Strom, Dragovich, Ferreira, Blechynden, Donaldon, Miller
Crowd: TBC
