Round 9 Preview v Peel Thunder

SOUTH Fremantle can further consolidate top spot on the WAFL ladder with a win over Peel Thunder at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in captain Ryan Cook's 100th appearance for the Bulldogs.

South Fremantle is back at home to host Peel Thunder with both teams want to show their finals credentials and each have a significant milestone to celebrate as well.

The Bulldogs host the Thunder at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday in what shapes as a tremendous contest.

South Fremantle returned to the top of the WAFL ladder after kicking the last five goals of the game last Saturday to beat Claremont by eight points at the Showground.

That saw the Bulldogs bounce back from their first loss of the season the previous week at the hands of Subiaco.

Peel had won its last two matches heading into its clash at HBF Arena against West Perth last Saturday but the Thunder came up 17 points short in tough conditions to now sit in fourth position with a 4-3 record.

The Thunder have won their last three games over the Bulldogs, all in 2015, by an average of 37.6 points and South Fremantle's home ground advantage is significantly diminished by the fact that more than half of Peel's team train regularly at Fremantle Oval with Fremantle.

Both teams have milestones to celebrate as well with South Fremantle captain Ryan Cook to play his 100th game with the Bulldogs since arriving from Collingwood in 2011. Peel's Rory O'Brien will also play his 100th game for the Thunder on return to the club after five years with East Fremantle.

CAPTAIN COOK PROUD TO REACH 100 WITH THE BULLDOGS 
HIGGO'S HEROES WITH RYAN COOK 

South Fremantle is the highest scoring team in the competition this season averaging 95 points a game while Peel averages just 80, but both have strong defences with the Bulldogs letting in a league-best 65 points just ahead of the Thunder's 66.

South Fremantle looked set to lose for a second time for most of last week's game with Claremont before a stirring final quarter to score the eight-point win that was all the more impressive given full-back Josh Pullman and full-forward Ben Saunders didn’t get up to play.

In Pullman's absence, Brad McPhail did a good job in his battle on Claremont big man Darcy Cameron but with Pullman having overcome an ankle injury to be picked to play Peel on Saturday, McPhail unfortunately loses his place in the Bulldogs side.

Saunders is also set to return after missing the win over Claremont to provide another goal kicking option for the Bulldogs after both Blaine Johnson and Mason Shaw kicked three majors last Saturday.

Jake Florenca, James Laurino and Dylan Main have also put themselves in contention to come into the South Fremantle side to take on Peel.

Florenca continues his prolific ball winning form having graduated from the colts to reserves this year. He had another 30 possessions last week against Claremont while Main responded to being dropped with 31 disposals and eight marks, and Laurino contributed another 18 touches.

Shaun Bewick had just the seven touches in last week's win over Claremont and he will be back in the reserves as a result on Saturday against the Thunder.

There will be plenty of changes at Peel again following last Saturday's loss to West Perth at HBF Arena with Fremantle continuing to search for a winning mix at AFL level.

Ruckman Zac Clarke, midfielder Clancee Pearce and wingman Ed Langdon all worked hard for the Thunder last Saturday against the Falcons and as a result will play for the Dockers against Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium on Saturday.

Anthony Morabito had a solid game at centre half-back last week for Peel with 19 possessions and keeping West Perth big man Mark Hamilton quiet, but he hurt his hamstring late in the piece and will miss Saturday's clash with South Fremantle.

It's not all about those going out of Peel's team, though, with midfielder Michael Barlow to play for the Thunder on Saturday after being dropped by the Dockers. It will be just his third WAFL match.

Matt de Boer was held over as an emergency for Fremantle last week and didn’t play for Peel, but he will return for the Thunder on Saturday against the Bulldogs and will offer another big ball winner having averaged 30 possessions in his four games so far at WAFL level in 2016.

Peel big man Michael Apeness will also play his first league game of the season after making his return from injury in the reserves last week.

He had 34 hit outs and six possessions playing in the ruck, but at league level he will likely spend the majority of his time as a marking option in the forward-line with Jack Hannath carrying the ruck duties with Clarke earning his AFL call up.

Alexander Bray, Nathan Fahey, Josh Mathers, Brad McGowan, Richard Wight and Andrew Haydon are players from Peel's reserves who have been performing solidly to put themselves in the selection mix as well at the Thunder if any league spots happen to open up.

ROUND 9
SOUTH FREMANTLE (6-1, 1st) v PEEL THUNDER (4-3, 4th) – FREMANTLE COMMUNITY BANK OVAL, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Broadcast – 91.3 SportFM 

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