RD 3 PREVIEW | v PEEL THUNDER

SOUTH Fremantle hits the road for the first time this WAFLW season and will be looking to open their account with the Bulldogs taking on Peel Thunder in Mandurah on Saturday.

There has been plenty to like in what South Fremantle has done over the opening two rounds of the WAFLW season for 2024, but it hasn’t quite translated into a win just yet which the Bulldogs will be hoping changes now on Saturday at Lane Group Stadium.

It shapes as a fascinating match up too with South Fremantle and Peel Thunder both hunting their first wins of the season after tough starts in the opening two rounds.

The league match up gets underway in Mandurah on 4.40pm on Saturday afternoon with the Rogers Cup match up to follow under lights at Lane Group Stadium from 6.45pm.

While South Fremantle has lost the opening two games of the season, it has been up against the two grand final teams of each of the last two years and there was a lot to like in what the Bulldogs produced in both contests at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The Bulldogs started the season with a derby rematch from last year’s WAFLW preliminary final and it was only courtesy of kicking the game’s last two goals that saw East Fremantle prevail by three points.

South Fremantle then hosted Claremont in a rematch of last year’s second semi-final last Saturday and it was another competitive showing from the Bulldogs in the 15-point victory against last season’s minor premiers.

In that performance last week against the Tigers, Poppy Stockwell continued her strong start to the season kicking three goals while Renee Morgan gathered 22 possessions, Hunter Cronin 18, Molly O’Hehir 18 and Madizen Wilkins 17.

Reigning fairest and best winner Ariana Hetherington also made her return for her first appearance of the season on the back of playing the AFLW season at the Fremantle Dockers.

Meanwhile, Peel has opened its season with two losses as well firstly going down to West Perth by 37 points at home and then last Sunday away to Swan Districts by 63 points.

There are two changes for South Fremantle from the team that lost to Claremont last week with Zoe Huggett and Alyssa Smogavec coming into the line-up to take on Peel in Mandurah on Saturday.

Going out for the Bulldogs are Alira Fotu and Ella Matthews.

There are plenty of changes at the Thunder as they hunt that first victory of the season with Caitlin Cooper, Giaan Evans, Riley Fisher, Jaya Ingram, Jordain Thompson and Anna Watts coming into the line-up.

Going out of the team that lost to Swan Districts last Sunday are Holly Coomey, Ava Cristodero, Charlize Thompson, Kandice Hart, Makinley Minchin and Dakota Sexton.