WAFLW RD 18 PREVIEW

RD 18 WAFLW PREVIEW | v CLAREMONT

South Fremantle have won their past four WAFLW matches but need to make it one more in the last round on Sunday against Claremont to guarantee a finals berth and not have to rely on other results.

It’s a massive final day of the WAFLW home and away season on Sunday and that includes South Fremantle taking on Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium starting at 12:10pm.

Coming into the last round and South Fremantle do sit in third position with nine wins, five losses and a draw having now won four straight matches against Subiaco, East Perth, Peel Thunder and Perth.

They are taking on a Claremont team who look like they won’t be able to move from second position no matter the result but given the Tigers had the bye last week and lost prior to that by a point to Subiaco they will be just as determined for a big finish to the home and away season.

The equation is simple for the Bulldogs and if they win, they will be guaranteed to play finals in 2026 but with a loss, they then need both East Fremantle to lose to West Perth and Perth to go down to Swan Districts.

The last time the two teams met in the WAFLW was back in Round 4 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval when Claremont beat South Fremantle 8.13 (61) to 6.2 (38).

On that day, Shannyn Pomersbach kicked two goals for the Bulldogs and Tash Entwistle had 21 possessions and 13 tackles while Hunter Cronin collected 20 disposals, Ash Gomes 18, Mikayla Hyde 17 and Brianna Cleggett 14.

South Fremantle coach Pia Faletti will keep the message the same to her group heading into the game to keep doing what they have been but she certainly won’t be expecting any favours from Claremont.

“The message to the group has been just like it has been for the last month of footy that every week is a new opportunity and it’s up to us to go and grab it,” Faletti told 91.3 SportFM.

“We’re just focusing on ourselves and they couldn’t have booked the round any better with all the games going at the same time, but if we get the job done then we don’t really have to worry about other results.

“I think what we can expect from Claremont off the back of a bye is that they will be wanting to build their confidence as well before the finals so we don’t expect them to rest any players or take a backward step at all.

“They will be wanting to hit this game just as hard as we are so we’re really excited for that and obviously you want to pit yourself against the best, and it’s an opportunity that we’re really excited to take and step up to.”

South Fremantle are coming off the important win against Subiaco last week and from that team, vice-captain Charlie Vandenberg makes her return along with former captain Lauren Vecchio.

Going out for the Bulldogs are Liusaidh Gilchrist and Jasmine Bazeley.

Claremont had the bye last weekend and prior to that suffered a loss to Subiaco so from that side, Ahlani Eddy, Lucy Gilbey and Kiahn Perry all come in.

Going out for the Tigers are Sarah Viney, Pippa Wilson and Jayde Musika.

The Rogers Cup match up between South Fremantle and Claremont will get things underway at Revo Fitness Stadium on Sunday morning beginning at 10:05am.

It’s the last game of the season for the Bulldogs who currently sit in seventh position on the ladder with a 5-10 record and being four games behind the fourth placed Subiaco.

They will take on a Claremont team that is locked into playing finals and can’t move from their third position where they have an 11-4 record to be two games back from the top two and two clear of the fourth placed Lions.

The two teams did play back in Round 4 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval which saw Claremont win a tight one over South Fremantle 5.5 (35) to 3.7 (25).