Round 18 Preview v Subiaco

SOUTH Fremantle regains some important players after the bye battling for top spot against Subiaco on Thursday night at Medibank Stadium and looking to stop a two-game losing run.

The WAFL minor premiership could go a long way to being decided in a Thursday night blockbuster at Medibank Stadium to open Round 18 with Subiaco hosting South Fremantle.

The clash will be broadcast both live on 7mate and 91.3 SportFM from 7pm and there will be plenty on the line between the two teams that have opened up a gap as the top sides in the WAFL so far in 2016.

Subiaco comes into the contest on top with an 11-4 record and a seven-point percentage edge over the second placed South Fremantle, but the Bulldogs do have a game in hand.

The result of Thursday's clash looms as being crucial with a win for Subiaco making it decidedly unlikely they will fall from top spot. That would take the Lions two games and percentage on top of the ladder with just four games of the season remaining.

However, a win for South Fremantle and the Bulldogs could sit on top of the ladder by the end of Thursday night depending on percentage and with a game in hand, the ball will be in their court over the final five rounds to secure that minor premiership.

When Subiaco and South Fremantle first met this season both teams were undefeated heading into the Round 7 clash at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. On that occasion, the Lions proved too strong winning by 31 points before losing their first game of the season the following week.

Subiaco has won the last four matches over South Fremantle and done so relatively comfortably with the Bulldogs' last win over the Lions coming back in Round 22, 2014 when Paul Hasleby was still coach.

Current South Fremantle coach Todd Curley is yet to enjoy a victory over Subiaco at the helm of the Bulldogs.

Curley is confident the Bulldogs will bounce back hard following the losses to the Royals and Tigers prior to the bye, and he is looking forward to seeing how Thursday night WAFL football pans out.

"We're not worried at all really about a top two spot or anything like that, we just have to get back on track by winning games of footy. It will be another good test for us away to Subi," Curley said.

"We just have to regroup and bounce up, and come with more consistent effort and intent otherwise we'll be in trouble again. We certainly need to turn up better and compete harder than we did last week.

"It's a challenge when guys work and study full-time to have to juggle around training to get ready to play on a Thursday. It's a challenge but it's on TV and it's a great opportunity for us to play and see how it goes.

"It's a bit of a trial to see if it works for TV and we are happy to be part of that. It's on the schedule so we have to rock up and play. We'll just prepare the best we can and hope to bounce back."

Subiaco and South Fremantle are both ranked first and second in terms of attack and defence throughout the season as well with the Lions averaging a score of 91.4 points and giving up 67.5 while the Bulldogs average a score of 90.0 points and conceding 70.3.

Both the Lions and Bulldogs are also coming off disappointing losses in the wet before a bye last weekend leading into the Thursday night contest.

Subiaco managed just three goals in terrible conditions losing to Perth at Lathlain Park by 15 points while South Fremantle gave up six first quarter goals to Claremont before losing by 31 points at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The Bulldogs have now lost their last two matches to East Perth and Claremont.

While the win is the focus for South Fremantle, captain Ryan Cook will create history on Thursday night by leading the Bulldogs out for an 86th time that will see him become the longest serving skipper in the rich history of the club, surpassing the record he currently shares with Peter Worsfold.

South Fremantle's injuries were beginning to mount prior to the bye with Ashton Hams, Haiden Schloithe, Brock Higgins, Josh Pullman and Adam McIntosh among those sidelined.

McIntosh won't return this year with his broken leg and Schloithe will need to come back through the reserves potentially as early as this Saturday, but Hams, Higgins and Pullman all look likely to return on Thursday night.

South Fremantle's midfield hasn’t been as prolific in the absence of Hams with his calf injury that he hurt early on against Peel Thunder back in Round 13. That's no surprise considering he was averaging 28.6 possessions a game prior to that.

Pullman is a significant boost to the Bulldogs' back-line as well and he will be likely required to play on Subiaco spearhead Hamish Shepheard.

The loss of Higgins as a late withdrawal against Claremont threw out the balance of the Bulldogs as well with Zac Strom needing to take on that load with help from unlikely sources in Ryan Cook and Marlion Pickett.

But if Higgins is fit to play, Strom can return forward to team with Ben Saunders and Mason Shaw as a three-pronged forward set up.

Small defender Matthew Gundry, midfielder Jake Florenca, small forward Brandon Donaldson and utility Dylan Main are all in the mix to return to the Bulldogs' league side on Thursday night as well.

Blaine Johnson is out for the Bulldogs after copping a one-week suspension with James Laurino, Brad McPhail and Steven Edwards unable to hold their places in the side.

Subiaco's team will be significantly strengthened with the return of premiership stars as well who were missing a fortnight ago against Perth.

Leigh Kitchin and Wayde Twomey both missed that loss to the Demons due to suspension but will be straight back in on Thursday night to take on the Bulldogs.

Captain Kyal Horsley also returns after a missing a week through injury and he will look to continue the outstanding form he was in prior to getting hurt during the Round 15 win over Swan Districts.

Small forwards Shaquille McKenzie and James Garcia are also in the mix to earn a call up for the Lions while young defender Greg Clark returns having missed the previous three games.

Former South Fremantle forwards Ben Sokol and Braden Fimmano are both out of the Subiaco team following the loss to Perth with defender Dylan Elliott also unable to hold his spot in the line-up.

ROUND 18
SUBIACO (11-4, 1st) v SOUTH FREMANTLE (10-4, 2nd) – MEDIBANK STADIUM, THURSDAY NIGHT 7.10PM
Broadcast – 7mate, 91.3 SportFM

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