RD 13 PREVIEW | v WEST PERTH

THERE is just a month remaining of the WAFLW season and that means the stakes are high when South Fremantle plays host to West Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

With just the four rounds of the home and away season remaining in the WAFLW, the Bulldogs need a bounce back win on Saturday but it won’t be easy against the third placed Falcons.

South Fremantle lost in a battle over fourth position to Swan Districts last Saturday at Steel Blue Oval with the Bulldogs now slipping to sixth position on the WAFLW ladder with a 4-6 record.

That has them a game behind the fourth placed Swans and three games behind the Falcons who are now sitting in third position on the back of last week’s thrilling two-point victory against the previously league-leading Claremont.

West Perth now holds a 7-3 record coming into this Saturday’s contest to not only be two games clear in third position, but to be knocking on the door of a top two spot as well with a win against South Fremantle.

The last time the two teams played was back in Round 4 of this season at Joondalup’s Pentanet Stadium which saw West Perth defeat South Fremantle 9.8 (62) to 2.4 (16).

On that day, South Fremantle’s goals were kicked by Pippa Sideris and Zoe Huggett while Caitlin Pears racked up 21 possessions, Poppy Stockwell 19, Tahleah Mulder 19, Ariana Hetherington 18, Liusaidh Gilchrist 17 and captain Lauren Vecchio 17.

Prior to that, South Fremantle had won the first five encounters dating back to West Perth joining the WAFLW competition in 2022.

South Fremantle’s first five wins against West Perth came at an average of 36.2 points with the Bulldogs outscoring the Falcons 36.47 (263) to 12.10 (82) across those first five encounters.

However, West Perth turned the tide earlier this season and all signs are pointing to quite the fascinating contest now this Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

South Fremantle suffered the 11-point loss on the road to Swan Districts last Saturday and from that team, Liusaidh Gilchrist, Shannyn Pomersbach, Alyssa Smogavec, Lauren Vecchio and Madizen Wilkins come in to face the Falcons this week.

Going out for the Bulldogs are Kahra Sprlyan, Zoe Huggett, Hope Arrowsmith, Megan Bain and Makayla Cocking.

West Perth scored the two-point victory against Claremont last Saturday and from that team, Teal Bennett, Kenleigh Duve, Nadia Parora, Natasha Spurr and Kayla Van Den Heever come into the team.

Going out for the Falcons are Mia Russo, Dakoda Hallam, Erin O’Brien, Ebony Jackson and Brooke Hongell.

Round 13 in the Rogers Cup will also see South Fremantle take on West Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval at 10.35am on Saturday morning.

South Fremantle had the bye in the Rogers Cup last weekend and prior to that beat Claremont by 47 points to improve to a 6-4 record and to remain in fourth position on the ladder coming into Round 13.

They come up against a West Perth team who is undefeated again so far in 2024 on the back of winning last year’s premiership so the Falcons will be a significant challenge again this Saturday morning for the Bulldogs.