Round 7 Preview v Subiaco

SOUTH Fremantle and Subiaco have both made unbeaten starts to the 2016 season and put those perfect records on the line when they meet at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Subiaco is coming off winning the last two premierships and it's no surprise to see the Lions win their opening five matches against Peel Thunder, East Perth, West Perth, Perth and Swan Districts by an average of 34 points.

But for South Fremantle, the Bulldogs are attempting to make the finals for the first time since 2011 and they have been supremely impressive in victories over West Perth, Swan Districts, East Perth and Perth, and then a heart stopping seven-point win over East Fremantle in the Anzac Derby.

Ever since South Fremantle beat Subiaco in the 2009 grand final, the Lions have won 12 of the 17 games against the Bulldogs including all three last year by an average of almost 52 points.

Playing at Fremantle Community Bank Oval also holds no fears for Subiaco with the Lions having won four of their last five, and seven of the last 10 visits to the port.

The game will have fascinating match ups all over the ground but none more so than the midfield with South Fremantle's Ashton Hams, Shane Hockey, Tim Kelly and Steven Verrier up against Subiaco's Leigh Kitchin, Adam Cockie, Chris Phelan and Kyal Horsley.

Both teams feature damaging half-forwards with Haiden Schloithe and Ryan Cook in tremendous form for the Bulldogs as is Brett Robinson for Swans.

Subiaco's Hamish Shepheard (13 goals) and South Fremantle's Ben Saunders (15) and Mason Shaw (11) could also have a significant say in the final results as well, as will the respective defensive units to try to stop their opposition scoring.

After six rounds, South Fremantle has the best attack and defence in the competition averaging a score of 101 points and conceding just 55. But Subiaco isn’t far behind averaging 96 points and conceding just 62.

Interestingly, South Fremantle has dominated first, second and fourth quarters of their matches across the season outscoring their opponents by at least an average of 11 points. But in third terms they have only outscored their opponents by 11 points over five matches while that is Subiaco's best quarter having outscored their rivals by 82 points in five games.

South Fremantle has only made two changes to its team throughout the first five games and that saw Bailey Matera replace Jacob Martinez in Round 3, and then last week for the Anzac Derby Shaun Bewick took the place in the Bulldogs team of Matera.

There will be at least one change this week too ahead of the clash with Subiaco with hard-running wingman Brendan Verrier pulling up sore after copping a knock in last Saturday's derby win over East Fremantle.

Jacob Dragovich, Jake Florenca, Tim Stewart and James Laurino are all in contention to take his place and for whoever gets the nod it will be their first appearance of the season in the league side.

Florenca continues to make a strong case for his debut after another 25 possessions and five tackles in last week's two-point win over East Fremantle that kept South Fremantle's reserves undefeated just like the league side.

Dragovich had a tremendous 2015 season cementing a spot in the league side but an interrupted pre-season meant he hasn’t been able to break in yet in 2016, but he continues to play well in the reserves after another 21 possessions and six marks last week.

Stewart also finished 2015 making his league debut and keeps leading the midfield in the reserves with 25 possessions last Saturday while Laurino had another 24 disposals as well.

There is continued pressure on for spots at South Fremantle, though, especially with Brock Higgins, Chris Luff and Martinez all now back playing in the reserves and former Western Bulldogs player Zephaniah Skinner having started training with the club this week.

Subiaco is coming off the bye following a solid 39-point win over Swan Districts but the week off hasn’t helped two important players get themselves right to take on South Fremantle on Saturday.

Defender Jordan Lockyer has been in outstanding form to start the season but he is out of the team for the Lions and it's not good timing with Subiaco needing to find match ups for South Fremantle forwards Ben Saunders, Mason Shaw and Zac Strom.

Dangerous forward Kyle Halligan is also out of the Subiaco team having kicked five behinds against Swan Districts. That was his first game back from injury after kicking eight goals in the season's opening two rounds.

Premiership small defender Hayden Kennedy has overcome a leg injury to be right to return for Subiaco after missing the win over Swan Districts with Simon Moore, Rhys Waters, Liam Ryan and Nick Hay pushing for selection.

Two weeks ago in the reserves, Moore had 26 possessions and two goals, Waters 24 disposals, 11 marks and a goal, Hay 13 touches and five marks, and Ryan 13 possessions, six tackles and two goals.

ROUND 7
SOUTH FREMANTLE (5-0, 1st) v SUBIACO (5-0, 2nd) – FREMANTLE COMMUNITY BANK OVAL, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Broadcast – 720 ABC Perth, KIX Digital

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