RD 11 PREVIEW | v CLAREMONT

SOUTH Fremantle and Claremont both suffered shock losses leading into the State game break with the Bulldogs now hoping to respond the better when taking on the Tigers on Saturday afternoon.

The WAFLW competition is back in action for Round 11 this weekend and for both South Fremantle and Claremont, they are trying to bounce back from surprise defeats a fortnight ago.

Coming into the Round 9 match up at Sullivan Logistics Stadium two weeks ago, East Perth had won just once in the WAFLW so far and that was against the winless Peel Thunder this season.

However, East Perth produced its best ever showing in that game to shock the Bulldogs with the 3.6 (24) to 2.8 (20) victory to break what had been an impressive three-game winning streak for South Fremantle up to that point.

Claremont hadn’t lost yet this season either going into Round 9 but the Tigers went down at Steel Blue Oval by 25 points to Swan Districts in their first defeat in a home and away game since the end of the 2022 season.

That all sets up a mouth watering match up now this Saturday at Revo Fitness Stadium with it getting underway at 2.10pm.

Both teams were the top two teams at the end of the 2023 home and away season as well before doing battle in the second semi-final, and coming into this match up both occupy top four position.

South Fremantle currently sits fourth at 4-4 and needs to keep winning to stay inside the top four while Claremont needs to win also stay in first place currently there with a 7-1 record on the season.

The WAFLW competition took a break last weekend for the first ever State game played against the SANFLW at Optus Stadium, with South Australia scoring the narrow 7.7 (49) to 5.3 (33) victory.

South Fremantle was represented in that State game by Molly O’Hehir who acquitted herself in exciting fashion finishing with 15 possessions, six tackles and three entries inside the forward 50.

Coming off that loss two weeks ago to East Perth, Alira Fotu, Liusaidh Gilchrist, Pia Durk and Molly O’Hehir all come back into the team.

Going out are Poppy Stockwell, Kate Newson, Ava Ritchie and Pippa Sideris.

Claremont lost to Swan Districts two weeks ago and from that team, May Nicholson, Abby Maynard, Jess Freame, Laura Cinnani and Claire Ortlepp come in to play South Fremantle.

Going out are Kate Orme, Ella Gilbey, Georgia Webb, Claudia Wright and Taylah Orzel.

South Fremantle’s Rogers Cup team scored a thrilling two-point win against Perth last Sunday at Mineral Resources Park.

Nicole Taylor-Thorpe kicked another three goals in that win for the Bulldogs with the other goals courtesy of Khesan Starr and Zarlya Yarran.

The Bulldogs now take on Claremont in Round 11 of the Rogers Cup with the contest taking place on Friday night under lights at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The game gets underway at 6pm with South Fremantle coming into the round in fifth position on the Rogers Cup ladder with a 5-4 record while Claremont is seventh at 2-6.

Coming off that win last Sunday against Perth, South Fremantle’s Rogers Cup team has three changes with Ava Cuffe-Hodges, Kate Newson and Hannah Young coming into the team.

Going out are Coco McGrath, Charlotte Bell and Tylah Foreman.