RD 16 PREVIEW | v SUBIACO

South Fremantle returns to action after the bye to take on Subiaco in Round 16 of the 2025 WAFL season this Saturday afternoon at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

Even after that bye last weekend South Fremantle remain clear by two and-a-half games on top of the WAFL ladder as they prepare to take on the Lions at the Leederville venue with the game getting underway from 2:10pm.

South Fremantle come into the clash with a 12-1 record for the season and having won eight straight to remain two and-a-half games ahead of the second placed Claremont.

So another win for the Bulldogs on Saturday against the Lions and it will be another significant step towards securing the minor premiership for the 2025 season.

South Fremantle takes on a Subiaco team who have lost their last couple of games too and are just trying to avoid the wooden spoon currently sitting on a 3-10 record for the season.

Last time the two teams played was back in Round 7 of this season at Fremantle Community Bank Oval when South Fremantle scored the biggest win of the season to date by 103 points against Subiaco with the 18.14 (122) to 2.7 (19) scoreline.

South Fremantle have now won the last three games against Subiaco as well with the Lions’ last win over the Bulldogs back in Round 19, 2023.

South Fremantle ruckman Hamish Free is enjoying a fine return WAFL season in 2025 after two years at North Melbourne, but won’t be taking Subiaco lightly as he looks to the run into the finals with the Bulldogs.

“Obviously we played very well last time against them but they have come along a fair bit, and had a couple of good wins lately so I’m sure we’ll have a close look at what they’ve been doing lately, and try to nullify them and keep working on what we’re doing going forward,” Free told The Kennel on 91.3 SportFM.

“Naturally you can start to look further ahead, but I try not to do that too much. Over the last couple of years I’ve missed a lot of footy through injuries so I’m just grateful to be out there playing whenever I can be.

“I’m just enjoying footy as much as I ever have and I just want to enjoy these next five weeks where we still have things we want to work on ahead of finals, and maybe try some different players in different positions and things like that.”

South Fremantle beat Swan Districts in a hard fought affair two weeks ago at Steel Blue Oval prior to the bye and from that team, Josh Branchi, Riley Colborne, Jamaine Jones and Trey Ruscoe come into the line-up.

Zac Strom goes out of the team delaying his 200-game milestone with Cooper Clarke-Dehring, Noah Strom and Toby Dodds going out of the Bulldogs line-up.

Subiaco are coming off an 87-point loss last Saturday at the hands of Claremont with Kieren Douglas, Connor Faraone, Lachlan Henderson, Campbell Henderson, Wil Hickmott and Hudson Walker all into the team.

Going out for the Lions are Patrick Mullane, Lachlan O’Keefe, Jarrod Richards, Kody Eaton, Sonny Siano and Ben Golding.

The day’s action at Sullivan Logistics Stadium will get underway at 8:55am on Saturday morning with South Fremantle coming into the clash in second position against the seventh placed Subiaco.

The Bulldogs have an 8-4 record in the colts to be two games out of top spot but a game and significant percentage clear ahead of third spot but the Lions are still playing to keep their finals hopes alive.

The reserves contest will then get underway at 11:25am also between South Fremantle and Subiaco at Sullivan Logistics Stadum.

The Bulldogs come into the match up also sitting in second position in the reserves with a 9-3 record to be only percentage behind the top ranked Claremont but a game and percentage clear of the third ranked Perth.

South Fremantle take on a Subiaco team in the reserves who are in sixth position with a 5-6 record and only just clinging to the slimmest of finals hopes still.