RD 6 PREVIEW | v PERTH

SOUTH Fremantle’s 2024 season is gaining some impressive momentum with the Bulldogs looking to keep the roll going this Saturday against Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

South Fremantle returns home this Saturday now on a three-game winning streak this WAFL season having scored impressive wins against the West Coast Eagles, Claremont and West Perth since a first up loss to East Perth.

The Bulldogs will now attempt to make it a four-game winning streak when hosting a greatly improved, yet injury ravaged Demons line-up at Fremantle Community Bank Oval this Saturday afternoon.

Coming into Saturday’s match up and South Fremantle has now won four of the past five games against Perth with both meetings between the two teams in 2023 tight affairs.

Perth won by four points at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in Round 7 before South Fremantle got a win back at Lathlain in Round 14 by just seven points.

Prior to that and the Bulldogs had won the last three against the Demons, but then before that and despite South Fremantle winning a premiership in that time and making the Grand Final in the other season, Perth won three straight over 2019 and 2020.

Coming off last week’s win in Joondalup against West Perth, South Fremantle has made four changes to its team to take on Perth this Saturday back at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Noah Strom returns from his one-match suspension with Luke Polson, Roan O’Hehir and Lachlan Mitchell also coming in to the South Fremantle line-up.

Going out for the Bulldogs are Jake Florenca, Robbie Turnbull, Jermaine Pickett and Brandon Donaldson.

Perth is looking to bounce back from last week’s Anzac Day loss to East Perth and has made three changes with Jye Clark, Jack Evans and Ned Shannon into the team.

Going out for the Demons are Charlie Constable, Daniel Hill and Jed Kemp.

Dylan Main has been captain at South Fremantle the last six seasons including being the 2020 premiership skipper, and he has taken a step back this season to allow Chad Pearson to take on the role.

Main remains part of the leadership group at the Bulldogs and kicked three goals last week against the Falcons, and is looking forward to the team keeping the momentum going this Saturday at home to the Demons.

“Last week was probably the first full four-quarter performance together even though we definitely left a few goals out there,” Main said.

“So hopefully we can convert a bit better this week and being back at home is always good. Playing on our home deck in front of the home crowd always makes it a nice feeling to run out on those days.

“Perth have had an up and down start to the year, but they’re definitely not a team to take lightly and we’ll be coming full steam ahead. If we play like we did on the weekend then that should hold us in good stead as well as good some boys back into the team.

“We’re always confident going into each week and I’m pretty optimistic, and always am. If we play like we did against West Perth then we should be alright.”

It’s the Colts Super Round this week and that will mean the South Fremantle and Perth match up takes place at Pentanet Stadium in Joondalup from 11.45am on Saturday.

South Fremantle’s colts come into the contest on the back of playing at the same venue last week in a loss to West Perth leaving the Bulldogs winless after the opening three games of the season.

Perth has so far had mixed fortunes this season in the colts with two wins, a loss and a draw from the opening four games.

Meanwhile, the reserves match up between South Fremantle and Perth will take place at Fremantle Community Bank Oval starting at 11.45am.

Both teams have good starts to the season in the reserves with South Fremantle sitting in third position on the ladder with a 2-1 record while Perth is on top and so far undefeated with four victories from four games to date.