Perth bring home the Cable-Michael Cup

PERTH 15.5 (95) defeated SOUTH FREMANTLE 13.11 (89)

Round 14 was a stunning day at Mineral Resources Park, with the Colts, Reserves and League sides achieving wins. 

Prior to the League match, Elder Neville Collard conducted a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony.

Perth produced the most remarkable five minutes to kick the last three goals, including one after the siren to Gordon Narrier, to storm home and break the hearts of South Fremantle to win by a goal on Saturday night.

It always loomed as a massive game for both clubs who came into the clash sitting third and fourth on the WAFL ladder respectively with South Fremantle having lost three straight matches while Perth had also lost five of their previous eight matches.

Throw in the fact that they played out a thriller back in Round 2 where Perth won by three points and the game had all the makings of a season-defining one when they locked horns under lights on Saturday evening at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

South Fremantle started strongly kicking the game's first two goals thanks to Kade Stewart and Dylan Main, but Perth soon steadied starting with Marshall Jones running into an open goal.

Zareth Roe and Matthew Rogers then kicked first quarter goals too and the Demons led by four points at quarter-time.

It took just 45 seconds into the second term for Perth to extend its lead thanks to Jones kicking his second goal but South Fremantle answered quickly with Brandon Donaldson finding some space and finishing well on his left boot kicking into the new Eagles headquarters.

Haiden Schloithe then finished well too to put the Bulldog back in front before the Demons regained the momentum with three goals in six minutes, including a beauty from the boundary by captain Corey Yeo and then two in succession by Roe.

The Bulldogs did get one back before half-time thanks to 100-game Steve Verrier but the Demons still led by 10 points at the major break.

South Fremantle came out firing to start the second half with two quick goals to Mason Shaw and that saw the visitors regain the lead. Perth responded with the next two goals from Rogers and Cody Ninyette before the Bulldogs drew back level with Jacob Dragovich kicking truly.

The Bulldogs then went up by seven points thanks to Zac Strom booting a goal which was answered quickly when Roe booted his fourth of the night for the Demons.

But South Fremantle had the last say of the third term with a Daniel Cabassi goal to lead by seven points at the last change.

South Fremantle twice led by 18 points in the last quarter after goals to Caleb Datson and Stewart, and the Bulldogs were still 13 points to the good at the 24-minute mark.

But Perth wasn’t done with yet and got back to within seven points with Roe kicking his fifth goal. Cody Leggett then added another and it was a one-point ball game before a shot from Roe was rushed through for a behind for scores to be tied.

Perth continued to do all the attacking and then out of a ball up, Michael Bennell found the ball and his quick snap forward found Gordon Narrier at the top of the goal square as the siren sounded.

He went back and kicked the goal for Perth to win 15.5 (95) to 13.11 (89) as the Demons celebrated wildly as they took another giant step towards a first finals appearance since 1997.

It was a tough loss to take for South Fremantle who looked to have the game won and finished with 34 extra possessions than Perth, 28 more marks, 13 more inside-50 entries and 24 scoring shots to 20.

But in the end it was a fourth straight loss to the Bulldogs who do remain in third position but only percentage ahead of the Demons with both teams holding 8-5 records.

In celebration of NAIDOC Week, Perth's forward-line foursome of Zareth Roe, Gordon Narrier, Michael Bennell and Cody Ninyette were exciting.

Roe kicked a career-best five goals to go with 12 possessions and seven marks with Ninyette booting two majors while Narrier kicked the match-winner and Bennell did some nice things from 10 touches and a goal.

Matthew Rogers and Marshall Jones also kicked two goals apiece for the Demons.

Clint Jones had a big night against his former team with 36 possessions while captain Corey Yeo racked up 31 disposals, Matthew Taylor 28, Cody Leggett 23 (12 tackles), Brant College 22 and Michael Sinclair 17.