Preliminary Final Preview v West Perth

SOUTH Fremantle is still in the same position it was a week ago needing a win on Sunday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval to move into the 2020 Grand Final, only this time it’s in the preliminary final against West Perth.

South Fremantle earned the right to play at home throughout the finals series by finishing on top of the ladder and claiming the minor premiership so no matter the result of last week’s second semi-final, they would either play at home again next.

It turns out it’s now in the preliminary final this Sunday with a spot in the Grand Final next Sunday also at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on the line against Claremont.

South Fremantle and Claremont are no strangers to playing one another in finals and they did most recently meet in the 2018 preliminary final so with all on the line, everything is pointing to a tremendous contest at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Sunday afternoon.

South Fremantle put together an outstanding season in 2020 winning its opening seven matches to guarantee itself winning a first minor premiership since their flag winning year of 2009.

The Bulldogs did lose in the final round to Perth and then in the second semi-final last Sunday at home to Claremont, but they have played in the past four preliminary finals so they know what it takes to play on the day.

They did lose in 2016, 2017 and 2018 but broke that hoodoo last year to reach the Grand Final even if that didn’t end up going to plan against Subiaco at Optus Stadium.

PLAYER COLUMN | BROCK HIGGINS PRELIMINARY FINAL

BETTER STARTS THE MAJOR FOCUS FOR BULLDOGS

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West Perth only fell 0.24 per cent short of a top two finish at the end of the season with a 6-2 record but the Falcons won their way through to the preliminary final with the win at home against Perth last Sunday.

The Falcons last played in a preliminary final back in 2018 which also just happened to be against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval where they delivered a stunning upset against the hot favourite Bulldogs.

That loss was a third straight on preliminary final day for South Fremantle and it proved to be the end of an era with it being the last WAFL appearances of the likes of Ashton Hams, Ryan Cook, Cory Dell’Olio and Shane Hockey.

The Bulldogs players that did play in that game will be determined to not let the Falcons make them feel like that again.

On the other hand, those West Perth players who took part in that shock result will have fond memories of it and head down to the port on Sunday knowing they have won a preliminary final at that ground against the same opponents previously.

The two teams met during the 2020 season back in Round 2 up at Joondalup and that was a tight affair with South Fremantle coming away with the narrow eight-point victory.

There are plenty of stars on either side too and from the WAFL Team of the Year announced this week, Haiden Schloithe, Jake Florenca, Chad Pearson and Bernie Naylor Medallist Mason Shaw were all there from South Fremantle.

West Perth stalwarts Aaron Black and Shane Nelson were again named to the Team of the Year as well as was attacking defender Blake Wilhelm and spearhead Tyler Keitel.

The way the game unfolds will be fascinating to follow too with West Perth ranked the No. 2 first quarter team over the course of the season while South Fremantle is only fifth to start off matches.

By second quarters. West Perth is the top performing team while South Fremantle is third. Then in third terms, South Fremantle picks it up as the No. 2 ranked team while West Perth slips to sixth.

And in fourth quarters, South Fremantle is far and away the No. 1 ranked team over the eight rounds of the season while West Perth is ranked fourth.

From the South Fremantle team that lost to Claremont last Sunday in the second semi-final, Zac Dent, Jake Florenca, Cody Ninyette and Kade Stewart have all been added to the squad.

Dent, Florenca and Stewart would all be important additions and were sorely missed last week while it would be a stunning way to debut for his new club for former Demons leading goalscorer Ninyette.

PRELIMINARY FINAL – OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON
SOUTH FREMANTLE v WEST PERTH – FREMANTLE COMMUNITY BANK OVAL, SUNDAY 3.35PM

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