MINOR premier South Fremantle has become the first side to qualify for this year’s WAFL Colts Grand Final, after defeating rival East Fremantle by 30 points on Saturday. The Bulldogs kicked away at Fremantle Oval with 3.6 to the Sharks’ one straight goal in term four to book their ticket to the decider.

South Fremantle controlled the ball inside and out in unpredictable conditions. The Bulldogs held a plus-12 advantage in clearances and were plus-24 for marks, leading to an inside 50 count of 49-28, and 24 scoring shots to the Sharks’ nine. Only goalkicking inaccuracy spared East Fremantle’s blushes.

The victors will now go on to face the winner of this Sunday’s preliminary final between the East Fremantle and Claremont. The Sharks will hope to set up a near-immediate rematch, though will have to overcome the reigning premiers for a second time this finals series after doing so in week one.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 1.3 | 3.4 | 4.11 | 7.17 (59)
EAST FREMANTLE 0.2 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 4.5 (29)

GOALS:
South Fremantle: T. Longmuir 2, C. Bushe-Jones, R. Luke, J. McAuliffe, F. Rodriguez, T. Whan
East Fremantle: B. Wood 2, H. Cox, K. Ormerod

BEST:
South Fremantle: L. Robinson, J. McAuliffe, L. Cattalini, H. Wilson, T. Whan
East Fremantle: H. Cox, K. Summerell, T. Grylls, K. Wilson, J. Artemis

EAST FREMANTLE:

#6 Harry Cox
Midfielder | 167cm | 01/04/2007

Stats: 23 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal

The diminutive left-footer rounded out his season with his strongest performance to date. Cox found possession on the outside of stoppages and proved he had enough speed to accelerate away from opponents. At the coalface, he was able to win first possession frequently, particularly in the first half. To cap off his strong showing, he snapped a stoppage goal in the last term to keep his side in touch.

#8 James Artemis
Midfielder | 179cm | 05/03/2009

Stats: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles

The 16-year-old showed flickers of brilliance in his second Colts final. Artemis is capable of tearing away from congestion thanks to his high-end leg speed. He also demonstrated toughness throughout the match. At one point, he took an impressive mark, going back with the flight of the ball in the third term when conditions were difficult.

#9 Kaiden Summerell
Defender/Midfielder | 180cm | 05/03/2007

Stats: 26 disposals, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50s

The long-kicking leftie alternated between half-back and midfield and was his side’s most prolific disposal getter. Summerell exhibited his speed and power when exploding out of the defensive arc to impact stoppages. He was required to take kick-outs, with his side leaning on his powerful left boot to penetrate the wind and rain. He was instrumental in the Sharks’ first goal when he blasted a long ball inside 50 from the wing, resulting in deep forward entry.

#15 Rhama Evans
Midfielder | 180cm | 02/01/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 11 tackles

Evans played to his strengths throughout the game, relying on his defensive actions in the midfield and proving shrewd with ball in hand. He was able to burst out of stoppages and was usually unselfish in these instances, looking to pass to superior ball users on the outside. Evans also played a role in containing the powerfully built and damaging Bulldogs inside mids at stoppages.

#16 Tom Grylls
Midfielder | 180cm | 31/05/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles, 6 inside 50s.

The slippery conditions suited Grylls. The gritty onballer thrived in the wet, finding ways to extract the ball and simply get it forward for his side. Grylls was nimble enough to step past two opposition players, then deliver inside 50 on the left in a moment of virtuosity. It was one of a few dangerous possessions he had forward of centre.

SOUTH FREMANTLE:

#2 Lucas Cattalini
Tall Defender | 192cm | 04/05/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 7 marks, 2 inside 50s

The Bulldogs defender showcased his superior overhead marking. His intercept work, particularly in the second half as the pressure ramped up, was crucial as he marked just about everything kicked in his vicinity. Cattalini also did a decent job containing the opposition’s best forward. A highlight of this battle was his ferocious tackle on Ben Wood that resulted in a holding-the-ball free kick on the wing.

#5 Toby Whan
Midfielder | 184cm | 09/05/2007

Stats: 27 disposals, 4 marks, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Whan provided assurance in a game where the unpredictable conditions impacted lesser players. The Fremantle NGA prospect possesses a smoothness on the ball that sets him apart from his contemporaries. He found the ball all over the ground and was able to find possession forward of centre as the game progressed, eventually hitting the scoreboard in the last.

#6 Max Thomas
Defender | 189cm | 24/07/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 marks, 2 inside 50s

Thomas was one of the cleanest users out of the defensive half. His defensive efforts were eye-catching as well. Impressively, he spoiled his direct opponent, then crumbed his own work before clearing the ball from danger. Later on, he scooped up a loose ball on the wing and burst away from his trailing opponent before audaciously taking a bounce and sending it inside 50 on his right foot. Thomas also read the ball well in the air, proving himself a capable intercept marker.

#7 Fred Rodriguez
Midfielder | 184cm | 10/07/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 6 tackles, 7 inside 50s, 1 goal

As expected, Rodriguez was one of the cleanest players on the ground who utilised his fast-twitch reflexes to extricate the ball from congestion. The ambidextrous midfielder showed an awareness of the conditions early, scrubbing the ball forward when clean possession was hard to find. He was typically desperate without the ball, smothering a ball on one occasion that was bound for the goal square. Importantly, Rodriguez kicked a goal in the second half to establish a lead for the Bulldogs.

#9 Lucas Robinson
Midfielder/Forward | 189cm | 13/02/2008

Stats: 35 disposals, 7 marks, 12 tackles, 6 inside 50s

The bottom-ager was ever-present across the four quarters and was easily the most prolific player on the ground. Robinson is elite overhead, he took intercept marks across the field and then a number of handy grabs in the forward half of the ground. He was dangerous when forward and showed he could crumb packs inside 50 and wrench the ball out of forward stoppages to create shots on goal.

#21 Taj Longmuir
Forward | 183cm | 04/07/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 goals, 3 marks, 8 tackles, inside 50.

Longmuir was the most dangerous forward on the ground. He exhibited an uncanny knack of getting to the right spot at the right time. The Bulldog forward found space in threatening positions throughout, resulting in five shots on goal. He also demonstrated a want to lay physical pressure, tackling aggressively inside 50, which led to a shot on goal as a reward for his grunt work.

—

FINALS WEEK 2 RESULTS

South Fremantle 7.17 (59) def. East Fremantle 4.5 (29)
Claremont 14.8 (92) def. West Perth 7.6 (48)

Eliminated: West Perth
2nd Chance: East Fremantle
Grand Final: South Fremantle

PRELIMINARY FINAL

East Fremantle vs. Claremont
Sunday September 14, 10:50am @ Sullivan Logistics Stadium