WAFL: South Fremantle keep unbeaten start intact with victory over Swan Districts as Trey Ruscoe kicks five

South Fremantle have started the season 3-0 for the first time since winning the flag in 2020, surviving a late scare to claim a thrilling 11-point victory over Swan Districts. Star recruit Trey Ruscoe was brilliant for the unbeaten Bulldogs, kicking a game-high five goals including a crucial last-quarter major before setting up the sealer as the Swans made a late charge. The visitors got within five points in the dying minutes after a four-goal final term, before Solomon James put the result within doubt for the Dogs. Swan Districts were left to rue early missed opportunities in the 11.3 (69) to 8.10 (58) defeat, while the hosts took their chances in front of goal despite four less scoring shots. South Fremantle were under pressure early as the visitors owned the territory battle but failed to convert inside 50 entries into scoring opportunities, on the back of the hosts’ well organised defence. A lace-out kick finally broke through for the Swans, landing on the lap of Josh Cipro, who converted the set shot to open the scoring Another clean entry to Leigh Kohlmann gave them a 12-point head start. South Freo raised the intensity in the middle to force their opposition to turn the ball over in the corridor but struggled to find a target before Ruscoe got on the end of a kick-in-hope deep in the pocket. The former Collingwood and West Coast WAFL forward nailed a tricky snap from the boundary that ignited his side, as the hosts piled on five unanswered goals, including three for Ruscoe. The 23-year-old converted a set shot after the quarter time siren to give South Fremantle a 19-point buffer at the first break. Swan Districts lifted in the second and dominated the clearance battle but could not convert in front of goal, missing three opportunities to cut the margin. Against the flow, Isiah Winder took his chance to extend the lead to 25 points. Under the pump and getting no reward on the scoreboard, the black ducks needed someone to stand up when Jesse Turner kicked a captain’s goal to slice the deficit back to under three majors at the main break. Swan Districts continued to waste opportunities in the third, kicking 1.6 as South Fremantle made them pay with three straight majors. The Swans flipped the script in the last quarter with 4.1 before Ruscoe kicked his fifth and set up Solomon for the sealer to make it an 11-point victory and continue South Fremantle’s unbeaten start to the season. SCOREBOARD SOUTH FREMANTLE 5.1 6.2 9.2 11.3 (69) SWAN DISTRICTS 2.0 3.3 4.9 8.10 (58) Goals – SOUTH FREMANTLE: T Ruscoe 5 S James 2 C Bourne A Drage M Parker I Winder. SWAN DISTRICTS: B Hewett 2 E Smith 2 J Cipro A Clarke L Kohlmann J Turner. Best – SOUTH FREMANTLE: T Ruscoe J Florenca I Winder M Parker T Blechynden. SWAN DISTRICTS: J Turner J Cipro J Chalcraft W Reidy J Pina. Injuries – SOUTH FREMANTLE: Nil SWAN DISTRICTS: A Howard and E Kane replaced in selected side by J O’Donohue and L Taylor for team balance. Crowd: About 2230 at Fremantle Oval. Umpires: R McCaw M Adams R Shelton B Laycock.