Development Derby Dream

The Development League has blitzed into the WAFL preliminary final, after beating cross-town rivals, South Fremantle by 52 points.

The Sharks set the tone of the game, booting six goals in the first quarter with defensive pressure from the backline giving Souths very few opportunities to score.

The second term displayed some elite football between both sides, with the first goal coming from Easts almost half way through the quarter.

Souths looked dangerous kicking the next three to get within 11 points of the Sharks heading into the second half.

The break served the boys well, playing with the same intensity as the first quarter. A fantastic passage of play from Jacob Green and Lewis Krakouer helped Jordan Williamson finish with a goal in the first 3 minutes of the quarter.

Andrew Stokes worked hard to make up for an earlier miss, converting an intercept to a goal in the open square.  The Bulldogs were kept to a mere point for the third term.

With a 38-point lead, the Sharks outstanding form continued in the fourth, booting three goals to South’s one.            

Jake Solomon and Jack Fletcher worked hard in the ruck, with 40 hitouts between them.

Green and Stokes finished with three goals apiece, while Krakouer was the only other multiple goal scorer with 2. Jesse Adamini, Williamson, Tom Marshall, Mitch Boyle, Dylan Coulthard and Jeff Carter contributed a goal each.

Josh Cuneo and Dylan Winton were again strong in defence, keeping the Bulldogs to just four individual scorers.

Miles Franklin picked up 27 possessions, Tom Hooker 25, Boyle 25, Jake Schleicher 24, Matthew Bannister 24, Tyler Chalwell 23, Aaron Holmes 21 and Adamini 20.

The Development League was yet to win against South Fremantle this year, displaying their continuous improvement throughout the season.

A win against Claremont this week will secure the Development League a spot in this year’s grand final.