Reserves Second Semi-Final Preview v Subiaco

SOUTH Fremantle’s reserves have been the dominant team throughout the 2017 season and the Bulldogs will look to shake off the disappointment of losing home ground advantage on Sunday to advance through to the Grand Final.

The Bulldogs’ reserves had an outstanding 2017 season ending up with a 16-4 record to be two games and percentage clear on top of the ladder earning the break in the opening week of the AHG WAFL Finals Series.

That saw Subiaco and Claremont do battle in last week’s qualifying final at Fremantle Community Bank Oval for the right to play South Fremantle in this Sunday’s second semi-final.

Subiaco prevailed over Claremont by two points in a thriller to set up the clash this Sunday with the Bulldogs with a Grand Final berth on the line.

The loser will move into the preliminary final to play the winner of Sunday’s first semi-final between Claremont and Swan Districts at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Despite earning the home ground advantage by finishing on top of the ladder and then despite South Fremantle’s league team also hosting a final on Sunday, the Bulldogs’ reserves have unfortunately been fixtured to play Subiaco at Leederville Oval.

The compromise was made to play the game at 9.10am to allow South Fremantle’s support staff, volunteers and supporters to cross from Leederville Oval to Fremantle Community Bank Oval for the league game.

But nonetheless, the South Fremantle reserves side deserves to be frustrated at not being given the home ground advantage despite having deserved it after a dominant season right throughout 2017.

They will look to use that disappointment and frustration to take it out on Subiaco to advance to the Grand Final with a win on Sunday morning.

It has already been a tremendous performance by South Fremantle’s reserves in 2017 to claim the minor premiership in the first season in charge of coach Paul Litherland. He replaced Tony Walters who was at the helm for the premierships of 2013 and 2015.

Both South Fremantle and Subiaco’s teams will consist of players still hopeful of earning a spot in the league side during the finals.

For the Bulldogs that includes Jacob Dragovich, Jarrod Parry, Kyle Russell, Brendan Verrier and possibly Shaun Bewick, Brandon Donaldson, Jake Florenca and Chad Pearson.

For the Lions that includes Brayden Ainsworth, Chris Bryan, Braden Fimmano, James Garcia, Bailey Matera, Dylan Nelson, Daniel Perkins, Rowen Powell and possibly Justin Joyce and Liam Baker.

It is an exciting South Fremantle reserves team that will in years to come provide the backbone of the league side as well. That includes a readymade replacement key forward with Mitch Dzelebdzic who has kicked 54 goals.

Then there is ruck pair Jake Solomon and Josh Branchi who are waiting for an opportunity while Noah Strom, Seaton Thompson, Daniel Cabassi, Josh Collard, Chris Ah Siu, Daniel Burke, Caleb Datson, Travis Abbot, Andrew Coutinho and Jesse Musika are among the players of the future.

RESERVES SECOND SEMI-FINAL
SOUTH FREMANTLE v SUBIACO – LEEDERVILLE OVAL, 9.10AM
Broadcast – Footy Radio

RESERVES TEAMS, LIVE STATS