Dell’Olio sparkles as Bulldogs find a way

Coming off three straight losses, a five-day break and with their spearhead injured in the second quarter, Saturday’s game against East Perth at Medibank Stadium was not one South Fremantle were meant to win.

Yet after four quarters of frantic attack on the ball, and some classy finishing in the third quarter, the Bulldogs walked off the ground 13-point winners, having defeated not only the Royals, but the odds as well.

“It wasn’t pretty at times, but they gutsed it out,” South Fremantle coach Todd Curley said.

The two sides could hardly be separated in the first half, but the Royals took a five-point lead into the long break and seemed to have all the momentum after an ankle injury to Bulldogs forward Ben Saunders ended his day prematurely. However, a brilliant third quarter from Cory Dell’Olio turned the game in the visitors’ favour.

The former Essendon forward kicked two goals within the opening five minutes of the quarter, adding another late in the term as the Bulldogs booted five unanswered goals.

The break proved vital, with the Bulldogs holding off a late surge from East Perth to secure the 11.16 (82) to 10.9 (69) win.

The result puts South Fremantle (4-3) fourth on the ladder going into their first bye of the season. Curley said after some teething problems early in the season, his side was starting to realise its potential.

“We’re getting closer, we’ve only played six or seven games,” he said.

“We’ll continue to get better.”

Ashton Hams was dangerous for the Dogs with 29 disposals and a goal, while Dell’Olio (four goals) and James Sellar (three) were potent in attack.

Former Eagle and Royal Blayne Wilson continued his strong start to the season down back.

East Perth continued to get good service from midfielders Brant Colledge (27 disposals) and Steven Payne (28), but were well beaten across the ground in the second half.

Royals coach Brian Dawson was scathing in his assessment of his side’s effort and said he was still searching for answers to its frustrating start to the season.

Last year’s runners-up sit sixth on the ladder (3-3) after their opening six games.

“Really poor. Really disappointing display,” Dawson said.

“We made some puzzling decisions with the ball when we had it and our skills were deplorable.

“We’ve had a couple of those, so it wasn’t just ‘one of those days’. There’s a trait that we’ve got to identify and see what we can do about it.

“We’re win-loss, win-loss at the moment and it’s just not good enough. There’s no quick fix. There’s plenty of things we have to work on.”