WAFLW RD 3 PREVIEW | v PEEL THUNDER

South Fremantle will look to continue its perfect start to the 2025 WAFLW season when hosting Peel Thunder on Saturday in the twilight fixture at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

It has been a tremendous start to the WAFLW season for the Bulldogs opening up with the thrilling come from behind derby win against East Fremantle ahead of beating competition newcomer’s Perth last Saturday as well.

Now the Bulldogs put that perfect record on the line this Saturday back at Fremantle Community Bank Oval against the Thunder with the game getting underway at 4:30pm following the men’s league fixture between the same teams.

South Fremantle did win by 43 points against Perth last week but it could have been by considerably more had it not been for the 6.14 kicking on goal.

There were plenty of positives, though, with the second straight win to open 2025 with Zoe Huggett kicking another three goals while reigning fairest and best winner Poppy Stockwell kicked two to go with 16 possessions.

Tahleah Mulder also finished with 26 possessions, debutant Tara Stribley 20, Hannah Burt 19, Renee Morgan 19 and Alyssa Smogavec 18.

It has been a fascinating history between the two teams since South Fremantle joined the WAFLW competition in 2020 as well. With Peel in the middle of back-to-back premierships, they won the first six meetings by an average of 35 points.

However, South Fremantle has now won the last four encounters by an average of 55 points and will be looking for a fifth consecutive victory against the Thunder now on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Coming off the win against Perth last Saturday, South Fremantle has added Holly Ifould, Caitlin Pears, Indi Strom and Madizen Wilkins to the line-up to host Peel Thunder this Saturday.

Following the loss to East Fremantle last Saturday, Peel has made two changes for the clash with South Fremantle with Matilda Banfield and Evie Parker into the line-up.

Going out are Caitlin Shales and Nakia Jilley.

Meanwhile, the Rogers Cup contest for Round 3 also featuring South Fremantle and Peel Thunder will take place on Sunday morning at Fremantle Community Bank Oval starting at 10:05am.

The Bulldogs in the Rogers Cup also started the season with a derby win against East Fremantle but went down to Perth at Mineral Resources Park by just three points in a thriller on Friday night under lights.

Peel is also sitting on a 1-1 record to start the Rogers Cup season having scored a first up eight-point win over Perth in Mandurah before losing last week to East Fremantle by 48 points at Shark Park.

Coming off that narrow loss last Friday night against Perth, Belle Cattalini, Katy Elliott, Phoebe Lindsay, Coco McGrath, Ayvah Rioli and Shaya Yarran come into the South Fremantle Rogers Cup squad.

Going out are Alyssa Henderson, Zoe Antonelli, Chelsea Martinez, Olivia Henderson, Hailie Robinson and Maning Morales.