Round 12 Preview v Subiaco

SOUTH Fremantle is looking for a third straight win and to move into second spot on the WAFL ladder taking on the on-fire league-leading reigning premiers Subiaco at Medibank Stadium on Saturday.

The Bulldogs’ clash with the Lions is the standalone WAFL fixture on Saturday afternoon and it presents a big opportunity for South Fremantle to send a message to the rest of the competition that it is the real deal this season.

South Fremantle is now on a two-game winning streak and could make it three on Saturday which would see the Bulldogs move into second spot on the ladder and to end the Lions’ six-game winning streak, but it’s certainly not going to be an easy task.

Subiaco is coming off winning the premiership in 2014 and now since a hiccup on Good Friday against East Perth, has won six straight matches in dominant fashion to now sit two games clear on top of the ladder.

The Lions are only just working their way towards fielding their strongest 22 for the first time this season as well so there’s every chance they can still be getting better despite already appearing to be the standard bearer so far for the WAFL in 2015.

South Fremantle, like most teams in the competition this year, has had an up and down season but its last two games have been impressive with a five-point win over East Fremantle and 38-point victory over Perth in the space of five days.

The Bulldogs kicked the last four goals on WA Day to beat East Fremantle and then booted seven goals to one in the last quarter to beat Perth last Saturday to see them improve to a 6-4 record in third position, but taking on the Lions is a whole different challenge altogether.

Subiaco and South Fremantle met back in Round 5 at Fremantle Oval and after a competitive first quarter, the Lions dominated after quarter-time piling on 20 goals to six to end up winning by a thumping 89 points.

South Fremantle has done well the last two rounds to beat East Fremantle and Perth despite the absence of full-forward Ben Saunders, and midfielders Tim Kelly, Haiden Schloithe and Jacob Martinez.

While Saunders now won’t be back for several weeks with a hamstring injury after returning last Saturday from an ankle problem and Martinez will be given at least one more week back in the reserves for the Bulldogs, Schloithe and Kelly look likely to come back to play Subiaco.

Schloithe injured an ankle back on Good Friday against Claremont, but has now played in the reserves against both East Fremantle and Perth.

He had 18 possessions in just a half against the Sharks and then despite receiving some rough treatment last Saturday against Perth, still managed 21 disposals, six marks, six inside 50s and a goal to show that he’s ready for a league recall.

Kelly too is right to return after missing the win over the Demons after being knocked unconscious in the WA Day Foundation Derby win over East Fremantle the previous Monday.

Adam Carter also missed the game against Perth and could come straight back into the team for South Fremantle with another creative small defender Jason Maskos also in the mix to be called up following 21 possessions, seven tackles, six marks and four inside 50s in the reserves last Saturday against the Demons.

Ruckman Josh Branchi is the only out of the South Fremantle team at this stage after not quite being able to have the same impact against Perth as he did on debut against East Fremantle.

Subiaco is now getting closer to fielding its strongest 22 with captain Kyal Horsley set to make his return on Saturday to take on South Fremantle.

That comes a week after Sam Menegola made a stunning debut appearance this season for Subiaco in last week’s big win over East Fremantle as he finished with a best on ground performance with 35 possessions and two goals.

Now premiership captain Horsley is set to make his return from a calf injury that has kept him sidelined since Round 3.

The 27-year-old went close to winning the Sandover Medal last year despite missing three games during the season and is a more than handy inclusion now for a Lions team that is currently looking unstoppable at the halfway mark of the 2015 season.

Jordan Bestry and Luke Norriss are two more Subiaco players in the mix at the selection table after consistently strong form in the reserves.

While highlighting the Lions’ strength is that good form from Reece Blechynden, Simon Moore, Joel Ashman and Braden Fimmano in the reserves isn’t enough to break into the league side at present.

RESERVES SQUAD
M Ah Siu, T Bairstow, M Banks, T Bennell, N Borovac, J Branchi, M Carter, A Collica, B Collier, A Gillespie, L Harris, J Laurino, C Luff, J Martinez, J Maskos, B Matera, K Matera, B McPhail, S Mills, D Ross, J Sgherza, B Sokol, N Strom, Z Strom, J Tartaglia, B Verrier

COLTS SQUAD
C Ah Siu, M Barritt, N Bretag, D Burke, B Colbung, J Collard, J Colpitts, B Corner, C Datson, Z De San Miguel, B Donaldson, M Dzelebdzic, J Foster, J Garlett, J Lachlan, D Maguang, J McComb, J McMaster, J Mudge, J Musika, A Nodari, C Pearson, S Petera, B Rhodes, S Thompson