Round 14 Preview v Swan Districts

SOUTH Fremantle and Swan Districts are two of the teams locked in a battle for positions inside the WAFL’s top five and both enter Saturday’s clash at Fremantle Oval on identical win-loss records.

The Bulldogs and Swans are not only doing battle with a spot in the top five at stake, but they are also playing for the John Todd Cup.

That is named in honour of the man who coached both clubs to premierships, and who just last Saturday was elevated to Legend status in the South Fremantle Football Club Hall of Fame for the combination of his contribution to the Bulldogs as a star player and premiership coach.

Little separates the Bulldogs and Swans so far this season with both on 6-6 records with the black-and-whites only sitting in third position thanks to a strong percentage while South Fremantle has a poor percentage and as a result currently sits in sixth spot.

South Fremantle has had a rollercoaster season so far winning its first three games, losing its next three and then beating East Perth, losing to Peel, beating East Fremantle and Perth, and most recently losing its last two games to Subiaco and West Perth.

Swan Districts has also been up and down but the black-and-whites have won their last two games, and three of their last four, to appear to be building some momentum.

The winner on Saturday will likely sit in third position at the end of the round, and Swans could even jump into second depending on other results while the loser will likely end up out of the top five and needing to bounce back quickly.

South Fremantle and Swan Districts met back in Round 4 this season and heading into that clash, the Bulldogs were unbeaten after wins to start the year over West Perth, Perth and Claremont, while Swans had thrashed Perth and lost to East Perth prior to the Round 3 bye.

It was Swan Districts who prevailed on that Saturday afternoon at Steel Blue Oval winning by 21 points and handing South Fremantle its first loss of 2015.

South Fremantle’s forward-line hasn’t fired the past two weeks and it’s Josh Pullman who has paid the price at selection for that, despite the possibility of other players who haven’t been living up to their reputation not quite producing the desired results in attack.

The absence of dual Bernie Naylor Medallist Ben Saunders as well as premiership and state small forward Cory Dell’Olio has hurt the Bulldogs over the last couple of weeks, and despite good performances up the ground against Subiaco and West Perth, they haven’t found a way to goal.

Pullman was outstanding three weeks ago with four goals in South Fremantle’s win over Perth but he’s struggled the past two weeks and as a result he is the scapegoat for the underperforming forward-line over the past fortnight.

There is good news at selection, though, with Dell’Olio to return from a calf injury that has sidelined him against the Lions and Falcons.

Chris Luff has come to the Bulldogs this season after playing as a defender at Peel Thunder, and while he might be required in defence against Swan Districts, coach Todd Curley might use him as a forward target for something different. Or Zac Strom might be used forward with Luff in defence.

Toby Bairstow is in the mix to return to South Fremantle’s midfield as well after he racked up 38 possessions in the reserves last Saturday against West Perth with Ben Sokol also a chance to strengthen the forward-line after four goals last week in the reserves.

Matthew Gundry could also return while Jarrod Parry is also out of the team for the Bulldogs.

Aaron Elari has been in scintillating form for Swan Districts for much of this season including anther 25 possessions against his former side Perth last week, but he is out of Saturday’s clash with South Fremantle delaying his 100th WAFL game for at least another week.

There are in-form players in the reserves for Swans looking for a chance in the league side, though, with Rudy Riddoch coming off kicking five goals last week against Perth while Jason Daniels had 18 possessions, Warrick Wilson 17 and Ben Whitsed 29.

RESERVES SQUAD
M Ah Siu, T Amoroso, M Banks, T Bennell, S Bewick, N Borovac, J Branchi, M Carter, A Collica, B Collier, L Harris, J Laurino, K Matera, B Matera, S Mills, S Panizza, D Ross, J Sgherza, N Strom, J Tartaglia

COLTS SQUAD
C Ah Siu, M Barritt, D Burke, B Colbung, J Collard, J Colpitts, B Corner, A Coutinho, Z De San Miguel, B Donaldson, M Dzelebdzic, J Foster, C Foster, M Grubelich, J Lachlan, D Maguang, J McComb, C McGuiness, J McMaster, J Mirco, J Mudge, J Musika, A Nodari, C Pearson, A Robinson, S Thompson, B Wright,