ROUND 18 PREVIEW | v EAST FREMANTLE

SOUTH Fremantle will look to continue its recent derby dominance and consolidate a spot in the top five of the WAFL in the process when playing East Fremantle on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The stakes are once again high this week with South Fremantle sitting with an 8-5 record along with last week’s draw with Swan Districts while as reigning premiers, East Fremantle is just two points behind at 9-5 and having now won three straight.

Because Saturday’s derby is an East Fremantle home game despite being at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, there are several things for South Fremantle members to be aware of.

All South Fremantle Members (including Life Members & Season Pass holders) are required to pay gate entry (no exceptions); WAFL pass holders (players, match-day staff) will be honoured as per normal; upon receipt of entry credentials; and South Fremantle Members will retain their reserved seat status , upon paid entry to the ground.

The Centurion Bar will not be operational, and Centurion seats are open to fans of both clubs , on first-in basis; and Facility bars and can bars will function as per normal.

Saturday’s game will be the second derby match up of 2024 with the first match up back on WA Day where a monster crowd of 7468 turned out at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle beating the reigning premiers by 14 points.

On that day, Dylan Main kicked a career-best six goals for the Bulldogs while Isiah Winder racked up 28 possessions, Matthew Parker 23, Zac Strom 19, Chad Pearson, 18, Jason Carter 17 and Aaron Drage 17.

What that result means is that South Fremantle has now won 16 of the last 17 derbies between the two old rivals with the lone loss to East Fremantle in that time coming in the corresponding fixture in Round 16 last year also at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Speaking of Pearson, he will be leading the Bulldogs into a second derby as skipper having never lost to East Fremantle in his 127-game WAFL career.

H e doesn’t want that to change this week as they battle over the Ciccotosto-Uittenbroek Cup.

“Derbies are always the biggest games in the home and away season,” Pearson said.

“The history and passion of both fan bases makes it one of the games you circle on the calendar at the start of the season and the games you always want to be part of.

“7000 people in Round 9 was one of the best atmospheres I’ve been part of and one hopefully we can top come this Saturday.

“Given where both teams are on the ladder and how desperate both are for wins late in the season only adds to the pressure and excitement, with that finals like atmosphere it’s one we all can’t wait for.”

Coming off the draw last Saturday against Swan Districts also at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, South Fremantle has made three changes.

Aaron Drage, Toby McQuilkin and Zac Strom are the three players to return to the South Fremantle line-up while Jaren Carr, Jacob Whan and the injured Matthew Parker go out of the team.

The colts match up begins derby day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday at 9.15am with South Fremantle attempting to bounce back from a 42-point defeat at the hands of Swan Districts last Saturday.

The reserves contest then begins at 11.45am with the Bulldogs fresh off beating Swan Districts by 17 points last Saturday to now be sitting in fourth position on the ladder with a 7-5 record.

East Fremantle is just above in third spot at 8-5 meaning that the reserves contest is also a significant one on Saturday in the context of the season for both clubs.