Reserves Second Semi-Final Preview v Perth

SOUTH Fremantle’s reserves has been outstanding right throughout 2013 benefitting from 42 players used in the league team of 2013 and now head into Sunday’s second semi-final a strong chance of going straight through to the grand final.

South Fremantle’s reserves finished the home and away season with a 13-7 record to be in second position to book in a second semi-final against the minor premiers Perth.

The game will take place on Sunday morning at Bassendean’s Steel Blue Oval at the earlier start time of 9.05am.

The Bulldogs’ reserves did lose their first two and three of the first four reserves games of the season and after Round 12 were sitting on just a 5-6 record, but lost just one more match the rest of the way home in a tremendous run of form.

With the league side performing better, injuries lessening and form players fighting to earn their place back in the senior side, the reserves became a well-oiled machine for South Fremantle in the second half of the home and away season.

They went on a three-game winning between Rounds 14 and 16 with wins over Swan Districts, Perth and Claremont before a hiccup in Round 18 against West Perth at Arena Joondalup.

However, that was to be South Fremantle’s last loss of the season as the reserves team finished off with wins against East Fremantle, Subiaco, Peek, East Perth and Perth to secure second position on the ladder and a finals double chance.

Now if South Fremantle beats Perth on Sunday morning, the Bulldogs reserves will be straight through to the grand final. Meanwhile a loss will mean a preliminary final next Sunday against the winner of the first semi-final between East Perth and West Perth at Claremont Oval on Sunday.

It is a strong-looking South Fremantle side as well with Reece Adams, Warrick Andreoli, Alex Grima, Tyler Hall, Blaine Johnson, Tim Kelly, James Laurino, Jason Maskos, Kaiden Matera, Justin Monaco, Marlon Pickett, Kingsley Smith, Zac Strom, Brendan Verrier and Jarrad Winter all playing league football in 2013.

Several of those players because key players in the league line-up as well.

Adams, a premiership player from 2009, played 12 league games to take his career tally to 61 while Grima has played 25 matches, Winter 65 and Bewick 49.

Meanwhile, both Johnson and Pickett played the last two games of the year in the league team and were tremendous.

Pickett, 21, made one of the most memorable debuts ever in the win over East Perth and then backed it up with a strong showing against Perth in the final round while Johnson was terrific in his second game with 18 possessions and three goals against the Demons.

Laurino played the last three games and was outstanding in run-with roles keeping quiet Subiaco’s Jarrod Kayler-Thomson and the AFL-listed Cale Morton.

Andreoli struggled in the first half of the season, but finished off the year in the league team playing tremendous football running off half-back.

Smith kicked 10 goals in 11 games in the league side to go with 16 goals in nine reserves matches.

Verrier proved himself an outstanding ball winner at league level over the last eight games including a high of 32 in Round 22 against Peel while Kelly is one of the most exciting young players in the WAFL playing the last 12 league games averaging over 19 possessions.

Matera also played three leagues during the year but in the reserves he starred as the competition’s leading goalkicker with 47 majors.

Simon Panizza, Jarrod Parry, Strom, Dale Hamilton and Rhys D’Alton were also strong performers all season long in the reserves side with Myles Bolger showing good signs in the ruck.

The Perth team, however, is strong as well with league players from this year Mark Deaves, Simon Donovan, Brad Fry, Joel Houghton, Kieran Hug, Matthew Hunt, Jarrad Irons, David Johnson, Joel Kalajzic, Joel Leeson, Mitchell Lleyendekkers, Cameron Manuel, Michael Mather, Kane Ransted and Reese Richardson to line-up on Sunday at Bassendean.

SOUTH FREMANTLE TEAM:

Reece Adams, Warrick Andreoli, Shaun Bewick, Myles Bolger, Steven Borovac, Rhys D’Alton, Jayden D’Vauz, Alex Grima, Tyler Hall, Dale Hamilton, Blaine Johnson, Tim Kelly, James Laurino, Jason Maskos, Kaiden Matera, Justin Monaco, Simon Panizza, Joseph Pantano, Jarrod Parry, Marlon Pickett, Michael Russell, Kingsley Smith, Zac Strom, Anthony Van Manen, Brendan Verrier, Jarrad Winter.

PERTH TEAM:

Daniel Arangio, Tyler Chrimes, Jason Currie, Mark Deaves, Simon Donovan, Aaron Dow, Kristian Egan, Brad Fry, Ryan Gray, Sean Holland, Joel Houghton, Kieran Hug, Matthew Hunt, Jarrad Irons, David Johnston, Cameron Jones, Joel Kalajzic, Joel Leeson, Mitchell Lleyendekkers, Cameron Manuel, Michael Mather, Harrison Morgan, Kane Ransted, Reese Richardson, Blake Robinson, Chad Sandilands, Josh Stark, Kerwin Stuart.

By Chris Pike