Ill-discipline and a lack of composure with the ball cost East Perth a win against an in-form South Fremantle side on Friday night.

A spirited third quarter gave East Perth hope of an upset win, but the classy Bulldogs piled on the points late in the match to run out 16.13 (109) to 10.9 (69) victors.

Fraser McInnes got the Royals off to the perfect start, taking a strong mark and slotting his set shot from 35m just two minutes into the fixture.

Tom Lamb doubled East Perth’s total one minute later, snapping from an acute angle in the right pocket to bag his first major of the evening.

The Royals went goal-for-goal with the ladder-leading Bulldogs for the majority of the quarter before giving away four free kicks in front of their goals – all resulting from head-high tackles – which gifted South Fremantle a 19-point lead at quarter time.

Both teams struggled for points in the second quarter – East Perth adding just three points and South Fremantle 11 – but hit their straps in the third term.

An inspiring goal from Royals’ veteran Craig Wulff early in the quarter lit a fire in the visitor’s belly.

West Coast draftee Matthew Allen booted two consecutive goals from outside the 50m arc to get the Royals within nine points of the home side, while backmen Tom Barrass kept the Bulldogs at bay with countless spoils and intercept marks.

Chris Masten, playing his first game for the year since suffering an ankle injury during a West Coast intra-club match in February, brought hard running and structure to the Royals, while Mark Hutchings bustled over opponents with his solid frame to win East Perth several clearances from the middle.

Just when it looked as if East Perth might run over the Bulldogs, South Fremantle kicked into a another gear and finished the quarter with a flurry of goals to secure a 20-point lead at the last change of ends.

The home side carried its momentum into the final quarter, dominating the Royals from the outset.

Nineteen-year-old Tom Lamb picked up two hand-off goals mid-way through the final term but it wasn’t enough to dent the Bulldogs’ run.

Masten’s performance was the highlight of the game.

Despite playing just 80 minutes, the wily centre collected 28 disposals, three marks and landed six tackles.

Kane Lucas and Pat McGinnity were serviceable with 22 touches each and Brandt Colledge – recently upgraded to West Coast’s senior list – disposed the ball 16 times and took three marks.