Bulldogs cop a Royal thrashing

by LES EVERETT Fremantle Herald

THE Royals went to Fremantle last Saturday week.

It wasn't a Royal visit like the one from the Duke of Gloucester who swanned around around for a few days and had everything he touched named after him. But these Royals definitely left a mark.

It poured in Fremantle on Saturday morning. Ordinary streets flowed like creeks and the footy ground looked for a while like a lake. By 2.20pm in was muddy and slippery just the way people like David Swan and Devan Perry like it.

The Bulldogs, opponents of the Royals for the day, had been in good form. Some reckoned they were the best team in the competition.

But with each clash of bodies and ugly, bruising pack the confidence, energy and willingness of the boys from South Fremantle ebbed away.

By three quarter time the game was all over and if East Perth hadn't kicked 2.8 in the last quarter the game would have ended as a fearful thrashing. If one word could have been used to sum up the feeling of the Bulldogs by game's end it was "ouch!".

With Swan majestic in defence, Perry relishing the clinches and Ryan Turnbull in control in the ruck the Royals looked every inch the team they became last year. And there was more. Grant Holman was rock solid, Troy Butcher brilliant and courageous, Kane Marsh and Travis Knights very clever and Dean Buszan too big, too good but too wasteful at full forward.

Roger Hayden remined us of his talent for the Bulldogs; Peri Thompson showed he's good pick up and Andrew Siegert played his best game for the year.

There were some lessons for the South players to learn at Fremantle Oval, Peter Sumich will be hoping they picked them up.

There was a bye for the Royals and Bulldogs this weekend. Queen's birthday or something.

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