Round 13 Preview v Peel Thunder

SOUTH Fremantle needs to beat Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Sunday to guarantee the Bulldogs finish Round 13 of the WAFL season on top of the ladder.

South Fremantle currently holds that top position with an 8-2 record and the best percentage in the WAFL despite a last up loss to East Fremantle in the WA Day Foundation Derby.

Peel, meanwhile, won its last three matches prior to the state game break over East Perth, East Fremantle and Subiaco to improve to a 7-4 record.

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The difference between a win and loss for both teams is stark on Sunday. South Fremantle will remain on top of the WAFL ladder with a win and could be a game and percentage ahead of the chasing pack, or at least percentage still ahead of Subiaco.

A loss for the Bulldogs and they could find themselves knocked off top spot by the winner of Subiaco's clash with East Fremantle.

Peel could either move to within percentage of top spot as well with a win or a loss would see the Thunder potentially slip to fifth spot and to be the team that those outside the top five are eyeing off in the hopes of keeping the finals dream alive.

The two teams met only back in Round 9 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle finishing all over Peel on that occasion to end up winning by 41 points.

However, Peel hasn’t lost since then going on to score impressive victories over the Royals, Sharks and Lions while South Fremantle has beaten Swan Districts before a bye and then lost to East Fremantle leading into the state game.

South Fremantle coach Todd Curley knows Peel is going to be a big test but hopes to come away with what will be another hard earned four points.

"They're all big, you just want to get to 12 wins as quick as you can to qualify. We are well short of that and we have some work to do," Curley said.

"We have a week off now with the state game which gives us five sessions to train and get better in. Peel was pretty good a couple of weeks ago so it will be a big test for us."

Peel had one representative in last Saturday's state game victory over Tasmania and he just happened to be a former South Fremantle player, Josh Bootsma and he put in a solid performance in a scarcely needed back-line.

South Fremantle, on the other hand, sits on top of the ladder and featured five players in the WAFL team with Ashton Hams racking up 29 possessions, Tim Kelly 14, Ryan Cook 14 and Marlion Pickett 12 while Ben Saunders booted six goals to give him 11 in his two appearances for WA.

South Fremantle suffered just its second loss of the season before the state game going down to East Fremantle by 39 points.

Not only did the Bulldogs lose the game, but have also lost Blaine Johnson and Haiden Schloithe to injury. Both were playing important roles at half-forward for South Fremantle with Johnson having kicked 15 goals the previous six games, and Schloithe kicking 12 goals and averaging over 18 possessions a game this season.

They will be two players tough to cover and South Fremantle could look at two debutants to do so in the form of Tyson Pickett and Brandon Donaldson. In the reserves on WA Day, Pickett kicked three goals and Donaldson two with both having proved this year they are capable small forwards.

Shaun Bewick had another big game against East Fremantle in the reserves with 31 possessions to put himself in the mix for a fourth league appearance of the season.

Jacob Martinez was named best on ground in the reserves derby as well to move closer to a third league appearance of 2016. He had 21 possessions and 10 tackles against the Sharks.

Ruckman Josh Branchi kept himself in the mix with 17 possessions, six marks and 29 hit outs while Josh Pullman should be right to go after missing the derby through injury. 

Depending on what happens with Fremantle on Saturday against Port Adelaide at Domain Stadium, the three Dockers emergencies Jack Hannath, Brady Grey and Tendai Mzungu could all end up playing with Peel on Sunday against South Fremantle.

The trio would make a significant impact as well with Hannath to carry the ruck duties in the absence of Zac Clarke while Grey and Mzungu had further firepower to a midfield brigade that includes Matt de Boer, Brad Walsh, Rory O'Brien and Ed Langdon.

Peel will be without the injured Anthony Morabito, and both Clarke and Tanner Smith who will be playing with the Dockers against the Power on Saturday.

Subiaco premiership player Shane Yarran is back from injury for the Thunder, though, to play his second game of the season. He kicked three goals in his one and only appearance so far in 2016 back in Round 7 against Perth.

Garrick Ibbotson will also return from injury through Peel on Sunday with Clancee Pearce another inclusion from the Dockers.

Calvin Thorne is back with the Thunder as well after playing in the WA State 18s with Richard Wight, Nick Merritt, Keegan Power, Michael Humble, Kieran May and Jake Dowding all in contention to play also.

ROUND 13
PEEL THUNDER (7-4, 4th) v SOUTH FREMANTLE (8-2, 1st) – BENDIGO BANK STADIUM, SUNDAY 2.10PM
Broadcast – Channel 7

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