Round 21 Preview v Swan Districts

SOUTH Fremantle returns to Fremantle Community Bank Oval for the final home regular season game on Saturday to take on the wooden spoon bound Swan Districts ahead of the Bulldogs' first finals appearance since 2011.

South Fremantle beat Perth by 37 points after trailing by 31 just before half-time last Saturday in Carnarvon and that victory saw the Bulldogs lock away a top two finish with West Perth also losing to Subiaco.

But the Bulldogs could still finish on top of the ladder by winning their remaining three games against Swan Districts, East Perth and Perth, if Subiaco lose its last two also against East Perth and Peel Thunder.

That might remain an outside chance of happening, but South Fremantle will want to ensure being in top form of entering a first finals appearance in five years.

The Bulldogs will also be buoyed by the news that their impressive season in 2016 has seen coach Todd Curley re-sign for a further two years keeping him tied to the club until at least the end of 2018.

Coach Todd Curley re-signs with Bulldogs for two more years 
Match Day Info – Round 21 

Swan Districts might be guaranteed of finishing with the wooden spoon for 2016 having won just two matches, but the black-and-whites would dearly love to claim a scalp before the year is out and to have something positive to build on for 2017.

Swans won't want to look to the first two games against the Bulldogs this year for much confidence though. South Fremantle held Swan Districts to its equal lowest ever score in a 50-point win in Round 2 at Steel Blue Oval.

Then also at the Bassendean venue in Round 10, South Fremantle proved too strong beating Swan Districts by 47 points.

South Fremantle returns home for its final home game of 2016 after beating Perth in Carnarvon losing a couple of key players, with veteran Adam Guglielmana and state midfielder Tim Kelly going out of the Bulldogs' line-up.

Matthew Gundry, Jason Maskos and Bailey Matera are all in contention to return to the South Fremantle team just in time for the finals while exciting young ruckman Tim English is a chance to make his league debut.

English started the season with South Fremantle playing colts and impressed so much to play for WA's State 18s team and his height, skill and mobility have all made him a potential top AFL draft prospect later this year.

He has also had a taste of reserves football in recent weeks and last Saturday against Perth he had 13 disposals, seven tackles, six marks and 25 hit outs to now see him potentially make his league debut this Saturday against Swan Districts.

Meanwhile, in the reserves last week Maskos had 16 possessions and seven marks and Matera 24 disposals to put both back in contention for another chance to cement a spot in the league line-up ahead of the finals.

Swan Districts could welcome back some important players to take on South Fremantle on Saturday with Graham Jetta, Matthew Rogers and Ricky Cary among those in contention.

Rogers was relegated to the reserves last week against Claremont and had 17 possessions. If he returns to the league side on Saturday it will be his 100th WAFL match of which 33 were with Perth.

Jetta is a chance of returning to the line-up as well for the black-whites along with Cary who had a stint in the reserves last Saturday against the Tigers but managed just one goal from seven kicks.

Jackson Slater, Steven Wityk and Ben Whitsed are the other players in contention for a league call up for Swan Districts. Last Saturday in the reserves, Slater had 21 possessions, Wityk 10 touches and a goal, and Whitsed 15 disposals.

Swan Districts' cause of keeping South Fremantle's forward-line including Ben Saunders, Mason Shaw and Zac Strom in check won't be helped with the loss of captain Tallan Ames while Lindsay Murray and Ben Holman also go out from the Swans team that lost to the Tigers.

ROUND 21
SOUTH FREMANTLE (12-5, 2nd) v SWAN DISTRICTS (2-15, 9th) – FREMANTLE COMMUNITY BANK OVAL, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Broadcast – KIX Digital

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