ROUND 11 PREVIEW | v SWAN DISTRICTS

SOUTH Fremantle will play for the first time since a memorable WA Day Derby win and since the passing of legendary pair Tom Grljusich and John Todd, and it’s only fitting they attempt to reclaim the John Todd Memorial Cup this Saturday.

The Bulldogs had the bye following that derby victory on WA Day against the Sharks and now will be back in action this Saturday afternoon against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval.

It’s only fitting also that it’s worked out that the first game that both South Fremantle and Swan Districts will play since the passing of Todd last week will be against one another and will be for the John Todd Memorial Cup.

The two clubs have been playing for the John Todd Cup ever since 1999 given the remarkable contributions he made to both including being a premiership coach for the Bulldogs and Swans, and now after his passing that will now be the John Todd Memorial Cup.

A special day is planned to honour the life of Todd with a big crowd expected at Steel Blue Oval, but it’s also a significant game in the context of the season for both South Fremantle and Districts.

South Fremantle comes into the game sitting in third position with a 6-2 record following that impressive derby win against the reigning premiers to now have a chance to be only percentage off top spot with a win on Saturday.

The Bulldogs take on a Swans team who come into the game currently sitting in fifth position with a 4-4 record on the back of winning the past two games prior to last week’s bye.

The game is the first time the two teams have played this season with the last two meetings being wins for Swans in 2023. They beat the Bulldogs by 37 points in Round 17 at Steel Blue Oval and by 18 points in Round 4 last year at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

South Fremantle last played in a memorable WA Day derby win against East Fremantle and from that team, the Bulldogs have added Caleb Datson, Ed Graham, Jarrod Salmeri and Haiden Schloithe to their extended squad for Saturday’s match up.

Swan Districts beat Subiaco by 11 points two weeks ago prior to the bye and from that team, Nathan Blakely, Will Collins, Ethyn Kane and Anthony Stephens have been added to the squad from which the team will be picked to play South Fremantle on Saturday.

Reigning WJ Hughes Medallist Tom Blechynden enjoyed the bye last weekend and is looking forward to getting to Steel Blue Oval on Saturday as the Bulldogs pay tribute to some club legends.

“I really enjoyed the week off to freshen up. I actually went down south for the weekend to forget about football and come back on Monday feeling really fresh,” Blechynden said.

“In the last month it’s been pretty big with losing some special people with Cam and then John Todd and Tom Grljusich obviously. Now we play for the John Todd Cup this weekend so it will be another emotional day. Hopefully all the boys can get up and do him proud.

“I don’t mind playing at Bassendean either. It’s certainly a big oval and I don’t know how it’s looking at this time of year, ours is certainly looking a bit muddy so it will be interesting how theirs is. But I certainly don’t mind playing there with that bit of extra space so I enjoy that and it suits me well.”

The day’s action at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday will get underway with the colts match up between the Bulldogs and Swans at 9.05am with the reserves match up to follow at 11.35am.