RD 13 PREVIEW | v CLAREMONT

South Fremantle has the chance to go a big step towards locking away top spot in the WAFL on Saturday when taking on the second placed Claremont in the traditional NAIDOC Round clash for the Jimmy Melbourne Cup.

The entire NAIDOC Week tradition in the WAFL started between South Fremantle and Claremont back in 2007 when the two clubs pulled together to begin playing on the occasion on an annual basis with the Jimmy Melbourne Cup on the line.

The rest of the competition has since jumped on board, but it’s the Tigers and Bulldogs who deserve all the credit for getting the ball rolling almost 20 years ago now and the tradition continues this Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Not only is the annual NAIDOC Week clash a big occasion on the calendar for both clubs, it’s a massive clash for both South Fremantle and Claremont in the context of the 2025 season.

The Bulldogs remain in top spot having now won their past six matches to sit with a 10-1 record and to be a game and-a-half ahead of the Tigers are second at 8-2 with a draw and having won five straight games themselves.

That’s where Saturday’s game takes on extra significance with a win for the Bulldogs seeing them shoot 10 points clear in top spot with only six matches of the season remaining.

However, a win for the Tigers and things get interesting with South Fremantle’s hold on top position back to just half a game with those six matches remaining.

The two teams have already played one another this season and that was back in Round 6 where South Fremantle delivered a strong performance at Revo Fitness Stadium to score the 17-point victory against Claremont.

The Tigers have not lost since then to come into this week’s clash on a five-game winning run while the Bulldogs have also not lost since going down to West Coast in Round 5 to be on a six-match winning streak.

South Fremantle coach Craig White is fully aware of how dangerous Claremont are as an opponent as the highest scoring team in the competition this season putting up 87.5 points a game.

“We’ve got huge respect for Claremont and just scouting them over the last few days, their potency forward of the footy is high level and they rotate Rogers through there as well as Bolton and England at times too with all those other names,” White told SEN WA.

“Just having that ability to be flexible is a real challenge for us this week and I think the ruck duel is going to be really important.

“We feel Hamish Free v Ollie Eastland will be a big factor in who gets first ascendancy and then who can give their forwards the most opportunity, and hopefully our team defence can stand up. It’s going to be a big challenge and something we’re looking forward to.”

South Fremantle could still be without Matthew Parker after he hurt his ribs last week in the win against Perth but he will be given until game day to prove his fitness.

Should he have to sit out, Haiden Schloithe looks the most obvious inclusion for his first game of the season as part of his remarkable cancer recovery.

The other Bulldogs players added to the squad are Riley Colborne, Toby Dodds and Nick Stuhldreier.

Claremont are coming off a 51-point win against the West Coast Eagles with Bailey Banfield, Josh Howard, Max Rohr and Sam Van Rooyen into their squad.

Meanwhile, the reserves contest will be played at 10am at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday with another top-of-the-table match up.

South Fremantle remains in top spot in the reserves with an 8-2 record to be just ahead of a Claremont team who are second at 7-2.

The colts clash will take place on Sunday morning also at Fremantle Community Bank Oval from 10am with South Fremantle trying to reclaim top position up against a Claremont team sitting down in seventh.