WA Day Foundation Derby Preview v East Fremantle

SOUTH Fremantle can further extend its lead atop the WAFL with a WA Day Foundation Derby win over East Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Monday but to do so the Bulldogs will need to become the first home team to win a derby in 13 attempts.

It is first against third and just six weeks after a classic in the Anzac Day clash, South Fremantle and East Fremantle do battle in the Foundation Derby for 2016 on WA Day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in what promises to be an exciting and pivotal contest.

Both clubs might have finished the 2015 season in horror fashion with the Bulldogs losing their last five games and the Sharks 12 of their last 13, but the opening half of 2016 has been dramatically better for both leading to what should be an exciting Foundation Derby in the most traditional WAFL fixture.

South Fremantle comes into the derby on top of the WAFL ladder with an 8-1 record and the best percentage in the league.

The Bulldogs suffered their only loss back in Round 7 at the hands of Subiaco and have since beaten Claremont, Peel Thunder and Swan Districts prior to last week's bye to secure top position.

East Fremantle was in outstanding form up until last week's loss to Peel. Prior to that the Sharks were the form team of the WAFL beating East Perth, Subiaco, Perth and Claremont in impressive fashion.

That came following the first derby of 2016 in the Anzac Day clash at ATOM Stadium. That day, East Fremantle appeared heading for victory before late goals for South Fremantle to Haiden Schloithe and Ryan Cook saw the Bulldogs continue their unbeaten opening to the season.

That game also continued the remarkable streak of the visiting teams winning Fremantle derbies. The visitors have now won 12 straight Fremantle derbies with East Fremantle having won its last six trips to Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

South Fremantle's last home derby win over East Fremantle came in Round 24, 2011. That game just happened to secure the Bulldogs a place in the finals that year at the expense of the Sharks and that was also the last time South Fremantle has made a finals appearance as a result.

South Fremantle can remain on top of the ladder with a win and could stay there with a loss if Subiaco loses to Peel Thunder on Saturday.

East Fremantle needs to win to maintain pace for a top two spot while a defeat could see the Sharks end the round in fifth position ahead of a clash with Subiaco following the state game next Saturday.

Both teams have been strong starting sides over the course of the season with South Fremantle outscoring its opponents by 64 points in the first quarters and 52 points in second terms. East Fremantle is also outscoring its opposition by 63 points and 22 in the first two quarters of the season.

Both have been good in third quarters with the Bulldogs plus 48 on their opponents and the Sharks 54 points to the positive. But the difference comes in last quarters with the Bulldogs kicking 22 more goals than the teams they are playing against while the Sharks are just 46 points to the good.

South Fremantle is fresh off the bye and with just about a full and healthy squad to pick from for the Foundation Derby on Monday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, there is plenty of pressure on for spots in the Bulldogs' league side.

Steven Edwards had a strong first eight games of the season for South Fremantle kicking eight goals and averaging 14 possessions as a small forward. He missed the last up win over Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval prior to the bye with a slight injury but should come straight back in to take on the Sharks this week.

Jason Maskos, Tom Vandeleur, Shaun Bewick and Jacob Martinez are all in the mix at the selection table for the Bulldogs as well.

Maskos played the opening seven games of the season before spending the past two weeks in the reserves and he was particularly impressive against Swan Districts two weeks ago with 30 possessions and seven marks.

Vandeleur is yet to play a league game back with South Fremantle this year following three years with Fremantle. He had 18 possessions and seven marks in the reserves a fortnight ago and if he plays in the derby on Monday it will be his first league appearance with the Bulldogs since Round 1, 2013.

Bewick has spent the past two weeks back in the reserves as well and had 41 possessions and nine marks last up against Swans to ensure he remains in the mix.

Martinez began the season in the league side for the Bulldogs before going out after Round 2 and he is a chance to play for the first time since then following 33 disposals, eight marks and six tackles a fortnight ago.

Brendan Verrier should also return in the reserves on Monday for South Fremantle after missing the past four games while Zephaniah Skinner will make his second appearance and first at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

East Fremantle had a day to forget last Saturday against Peel following a tremendous run of form and it certainly wasn’t helped by the absence of Jamie McNamara, Sam Read, Cameron Eardley and George Hampson.

Hampson was without question the biggest absence felt hard after he had been a match-winner over the previous four weeks averaging 28 possessions and kicking 11 goals.

He won't be back for the Foundation Derby on Monday either because of injury ruling him out also of a big role he no doubt would have played WA's state side against Tasmania next Saturday at Steel Blue Oval.

Captain McNamara and defender Read are right to return for the Sharks on WA Day, however, with Jesse Adamini, Brandon Ellis, Miles Franklin, Tom Hooker and Jake Solomon all in the selection mix as well.

Last week in a thumping reserves win over Peel, Adamini had 33 possessions for the Sharks, Ellis kicking five goals, Franklin finished with 18 disposals, Hooker 25 touches and Solomon 13 possessions and 16 hit outs.

South Fremantle coach Todd Curley is fully aware of the challenge East Fremantle will present.

"They are really well coached, organised and certainly very potent," Curley said.

"They have a really good midfield and defensively they don't have a lot of talls but get the job done and give a lot of rebound. They have been in really good form so it will be a good test for us."

WA DAY FOUNDATION DERBY
SOUTH FREMANTLE (8-1, 1st) v EAST FREMANTLE (6-4, 3rd) – FREMANTLE COMMUNITY BANK OVAL, MONDAY 2.20PM
Broadcast – 720 ABC Perth

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