Round 2 WAFLW Preview v Swan Districts

SOUTH Fremantle produced its best performance in the WAFLW competition to open the 2021 Optus Premiership Season last week and now the Bulldogs will be looking to translate that into a victory this Sunday.

South Fremantle was thrust into the WAFLW competition in 2020 on short notice to join Claremont, East Fremantle, Peel Thunder, Subiaco and Swan Districts at the top level of female of football in Western Australia.

There were some obvious tough moments early on as they adjusted to the higher level of competition, but by the end of the season they were starting to find their feet to take some confidence into the off-season.

The Bulldogs were then much better prepared for this 2021 WAFLW season even with the earlier than usual start to better align with the national AFL Women’s competition.

That saw South Fremantle host Subiaco in the season-opener at Fremantle Community Bank Oval last Sunday, and the Bulldogs pulled off their best quarter in the WAFLW so far to almost run over the top of the Lions for what would have been an historic victory.

The Bulldogs ended up falling three points short against the Lions but now they have another chance back at home this Sunday morning to record that first win up against Swan Districts.

STRONG START TO WAFLW SEASON FROM BULLDOGS

ROUND 1 WAFLW PREVIEW V SUBIACO

POPULAR COUPLE THRIVING ON LIFE WITH BULLDOGS

Sunday’s game is scheduled to bounce down between South Fremantle and Swan Districts at 9.30am at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

If you can’t get there to watch in person, the game can be viewed on livestream courtesy of The West Australian.

Swan Districts started their 2021 WAFL season with a victory last Sunday at home against Claremont in a low-scoring affair so they will arrive at Fremantle Community Bank Oval looking for a perfect start to their campaign over the opening two rounds.

From the South Fremantle team that went so close to that historic win last Sunday against Subiaco, the Bulldogs have four changes for this Sunday’s contest against Swan Districts.

Pippy Stockwell, Taige Sullivan, Aaliyah Ugle and Sarah Wright have been named as inclusions for South Fremantle while Everylyn Burry, Sarah Du Plessis, Liusaidh Gilchrist and Cali Hunt go out of the line-up.

As for Swan Districts, they have added just the one player to the team that beat Claremont a week ago with Caitlyn Appleford into the side at the expense of Shanae Davison and Bianca Webb.

Meanwhile, Sunday presents the opportunity for the South Fremantle Youth Girls team to continue their premiership defence in style up against East Perth also on Sunday morning but at Leederville Oval.

South Fremantle claimed the Rogers Cup premiership in 2020 in style and then began the defence of that flag in the best possible way last Sunday with a thumping 77-point win against Subiaco.

There was a lot to like about that performance from the Bulldogs including six goals from Pippy Stockwell that saw her earn a call up into the league side this week against Subiaco.

Tayla Hughes also kicked two goals while Liana Tuhakaraina, Taige Sullivan, Pip Sideris and Mia Whitelaw were among the others to put in impressive performances.

East Perth suffered an opening round loss in the Rogers Cup losing to West Perth by 65 points at Joondalup last Sunday.

So the Bulldogs will be looking to remain undefeated and to keep the Royals winless when they do battle from 10am at Leederville Oval on Sunday.

ROUND 2 – WAFLW OPTUS PREMIERSHIP SEASON
SOUTH FREMANTLE v SWAN DISTRICTS – FREMANTLE COMMUNITY BANK OVAL, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21

WAFLW LEAGUE – 9.30am
WAFLW RESERVES – Bye
ROGERS CUP YOUTH GIRLS v East Perth at Leederville Oval – 10.00am