Reserves First Semi-Final Preview v East Fremantle

SOUTH Fremantle’s reserves look to keep its hopes of a back-to-back WAFL premiership alive on Sunday taking on East Fremantle in the first semi-final at Medibank Stadium.

The Bulldogs and Sharks meet in the first semi-final in the reserves at the Leederville venue starting at 12.25pm on Sunday.

The winner will advance to next Sunday’s preliminary final against the loser of the second semi-final at HBF Arena between East Perth and Claremont. The loser will see their season come to an end in the reserves for 2016.

South Fremantle is coming off winning two of the past three reserves premierships and ended the 2016 home and away season in third position before playing Claremont last Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in the qualifying final.

The Bulldogs lost to the Tigers by nine points but now get a second chance on Sunday against the Sharks to move into the preliminary final.

The Sharks, meanwhile, finished the home and away season in fourth position before beating Subiaco in a thriller last Sunday by two points at Bendigo Bank Stadium to book a berth in the first semi-final.

South Fremantle and East Fremantle met three times during the season with the Bulldogs winning by two points in the Anzac Derby, South Fremantle again by 21 in the Foundation Derby and then again the Bulldogs by six points in Round 19 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

South Fremantle’s reserves have won its last five games against East Fremantle.

The Bulldogs reserves have now lost their past four matches entering Sunday’s clash with the Sharks but last Saturday’s loss to Claremont was despite a flying start.

South Fremantle kept Claremont scoreless in the first quarter kicking four goals but the Tigers kicked nine goals to four from that point on to win by nine points and advance to the second semi-final, and sending the Bulldogs into the first semi.

The Bulldogs welcomed back Adam Guglielmana from a hamstring injury with 32 possessions and 10 marks but likely was enough to book himself back in the league side.

Steven Edwards was another to impress with 23 touches and a goal who will be hoping to return to the league line-up.

But South Fremantle will still feature ruckman Tim English who had 20 touches, nine marks and 29 hit outs last week along with Tim Stewart, Tom Vandeleur, Jake Florenca, Bailey Matera and Brandon Donaldson who have played good league football at different times during 2016.

Last Sunday against Subiaco in the elimination final, East Fremantle started on fire with four goals to nil in the first quarter but the Lions kept coming with the only three goals of the final term. The Sharks just managed to hold on by two points though.

Jacob Green kicked three goals to continue his impressive form late in the season at league level with East Fremantle while Jesse Adamini racked up 36 possessions, Matthew Bannister 22, Jake Schleicher 21, Miles Franklin 21, Fraser Perry 21, Tom Hooker 20 and Tyler Chalwell 20.

RESERVES FIRST SEMI-FINAL
SOUTH FREMANTLE v EAST FREMANTLE – MEDIBANK STADIUM, SUNDAY 12.25PM

RESERVES TEAMS, LIVE STATS