Round 14 Preview v West Perth

SOUTH Fremantle has a good record up at Joondalup’s HBF Arena ahead of Saturday’s clash with an in-form West Perth with the Bulldogs looking to maintain its hold on a top two position and potentially regain first place.

The Falcons are currently the form team in the WAFL having won seven matches in succession and now another win on Saturday over the Bulldogs would see them just percentage off a top two position.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs bounced back from losing the WA Day Foundation Derby prior to the state game beating Peel Thunder last Sunday at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

They might have dropped top spot to Subiaco on percentage, but do have a game in hand on the Lions and a win over the Falcons would leave South Fremantle well placed for the minor premiership.

The two teams haven’t played since Round 1 of the season when South Fremantle beat West Perth by 35 points at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

While West Perth won the last meeting between the two teams at HBF Arena last year, going to Joondalup holds no fear for South Fremantle with the Bulldogs having won the previous four meetings at the venue prior to 2015.

South Fremantle remains the best attacking and second best defensive team in the league coming into Round 14 while West Perth is averaging a score 73.8 points a game, but is solid enough defensively conceding just 75.1 with those numbers improving dramatically in the seven-game winning run.

South Fremantle is the second best starting team in the league and the best last quarter team while West Perth has scored 64 points fewer than its opponents in first terms, and 17 less in last stanzas during the season.

South Fremantle coach Todd Curley knows it’s a big challenge but is looking forward to it.

“They are all big challenges now. It’s another opportunity for us to bank four points,” Curley said.

“It’s a big ground and a good one to play on which suits the way we want to play. They are in good form, though, so it’s a good chance for us to test ourselves again.”

South Fremantle might be coming off a good win over Peel Thunder, but is suffering some injuries to key players.

Coming into that game the Bulldogs were without Haiden Schloithe (foot) and Blaine Johnson (hamstring) and then during the contest lost Ashton Hams to a calf injury and Adam McIntosh to a broken leg.

While Johnson is an outside chance of returning on Saturday against West Perth, it’s unlikely he will take his place in the side while Schloithe, Hams, McIntosh and small defender Matthew Gundry guaranteed of not playing.

Josh Pullman looks certain to return for South Fremantle following one game back in the reserves last week where he had 21 possessions, 14 marks and a goal.

Chris Luff is also in the mix to make his first game of the season to further strengthen the Bulldogs’ back-line while lively forward Tyson Pickett could make his debut following another three-goal effort last week against the Thunder.

James Laurino and Brendan Verrier are the most likely players to come into the South Fremantle side to help cover the absence of Hams in the midfield as well.

West Perth is the form team of the competition having won its last seven matches but the Falcons continue to find injuries with Nick Rodda (quad) and Trent Manzone (hand) the latest to be sidelined.

Manzone would be missing anyway after a four-week suspension following last Saturday’s win over Claremont.

The loss of Rodda will be partly offset with another big man Mark Hamilton right to return after missing the win over Claremont with an ankle injury suffered prior to the state game break against East Perth.

Joel Leeson looks to be the natural replacement for Manzone as well after making a strong return in the reserves last week with 21 possessions and two goals after a hand injury of his own.

Then coach Bill Monaghan has some interesting decisions to make on the selection of premiership veteran Chris Keunen and Luke Tedesco.

Keunen played the best of his five reserves matches off a broken leg last week against Claremont with 19 possessions, 29 hit outs, five marks and a goal.

So he could come in to provide support to Seva Mozhaev in the ruck against Brock Higgins, or Monaghan might like to allow Mozhaev to go one-on-one opposed to the South Fremantle workhorse.

Tedesco has also been in solid form since losing his place in the side with a back injury but his position is currently well stocked by the likes of Luke Meadows, Steven Browne, Blake Wilhelm, Laine Rasmussen and Drew Rohde making it tough for him to break in for what would be his 150th appearance.

ROUND 14
WEST PERTH (8-4, 3rd) v SOUTH FREMANTLE (9-2, 2nd) – HBF ARENA, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Broadcast – 720 ABC Perth

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