RD 17 PREVIEW | v EAST FREMANTLE

South Fremantle will be looking to continue their recent derby dominance, their hold on top spot this WAFL season and to celebrate the 200th game of premiership star Zac Strom this Saturday against East Fremantle.

The second derby of the 2025 WAFL season will take place this Saturday afternoon at Fremantle Community Bank Oval starting at 2:30pm, and for a host of reasons it shapes as another fascinating contest between the old foes.

South Fremantle come into the derby sitting 10 points clear in top spot of the WAFL ahead of the last month of the home and away season on the back of being on a nine-game winning streak and holding a 13-1 record.

East Fremantle are currently sitting in fifth position having lost four of their past five matches to remain solid in that fifth place, but starting to lose touch of attempting to finish any higher in time for the finals.

While the past four derbies have been split two each between South Fremantle and East Fremantle, prior to that the Bulldogs had won 15 straight against the Sharks.

That means that South Fremantle have won 17 of the past 19 matches between the two teams including earlier this year on WA Day with the 10.21 (81) to 4.3 (27) win at Fremantle Community Bank Oval as well.

Zac Strom will also become just the 21st player in South Fremantle’s 125-year history to reach 200 games when he runs out on Saturday to continue a glittering career already featuring being a premiership player, life member, state representative and WJ Hughes Medal winner.

All he is worried about is doing what he can to help South Fremantle make a run towards another premiership tilt.

“It can always be a slow built and it took us a number of years to move into playing a number of prelims under Todd (Curley) and then playing in a number of grand final, and then you see how hard it is to win one,” Strom told SEN WA.

“I’m feeling very blessed and lucky this year that we’ve got a lot of pieces that were already there and a lot of players who have been through those systems, and then also to refresh with some younger talent and talent coming back from the AFL.

“Everyone’s managed to come in under the one banner under Craig (White) and with a freshness where we’re on track to be playing deep into the finals.

“We hope that all those that are coming to pass can culminate together to help us get to the grand final, and if we get there then hopefully we can do some damage.”

South Fremantle are looking to make it 10 straight wins this season and from the team that beat Subiaco last week, Glenn Byron, Noah Strom and 200-gamer Zac Strom are back into the side.

Going out for the Bulldogs are Josh Branchi, Aaron Drage and Toby McQuilkin.

East Fremantle are looking to bounce back from being overrun by Claremont last week with Chadd Dunscombe, Alex Montauban, Harry Pickett, Luke Strnadica and Darcy Wills into the squad.

The only out at this stage is Jono Marsh robbing the Sharks of another key target in attack with Cody Leggett already sidelined through injury.

The colts clash gets proceedings underway on Saturday morning at Fremantle Community Bank Oval starting at 9:15am in what is a battle of the top two teams.

South Fremantle currently sit in second position in the colts with a 9-4 record while East Fremantle is on top at 11-2.

That means the stakes are significant for the second derby of the season with South Fremantle needing a win to stay clear in second spot but also to remain a chance of snapping that top spot in the run home to the finals.

Meanwhile, a win for the Sharks will just about guarantee them the minor premiership with them moving three games clear in that first position on the ladder with just thee matches remaining after this weekend in the home and away season.

The reserves match up at Fremantle Community Bank Oval will then get underway at 11:45am between South Fremantle and East Fremantle.

The Bulldogs currently sit in second position on the reserves ladder with a 10-3 record and they are a chance to go into top spot by the end of the weekend should Claremont lose to Peel Thunder.

Even without replacing Claremont in top spot, South Fremantle will still at least stay second no matter the result and with a win will remain two games clear along with a significant percentage gap with just three games of the home and away season remaining.

South Fremantle take on an East Fremantle team sitting seventh in the reserves with a 4-9 record and no chance of reaching the finals coming into the last month of the season.