South Fremantle's 2018 WAFL fixtures announced

THE 2018 McDonald's WAFL fixtures have been announced with South Fremantle's season starting on Saturday April 7 against Subiaco at Fremantle Community Bank Oval following the Round 1 bye.

 

Coming off two strong seasons the past two years with South Fremantle making successive preliminary final appearances, the Bulldogs will look to take the next step in 2018 and the path to that is now there with the release of the fixtures.

 

The 2018 season will be shortened to 21 rounds with every team playing 18 matches down from the 23 rounds and 20 games.

 

As a result the season will begin a couple of weeks later and that will be three weeks later for South Fremantle courtesy of the bye in Round 1. 

 

The finals will still commence on the first week of September with the WAFL grand final still to be played in the weekend of the AFL preliminary finals.

 

South Fremantle's fixtures see the Bulldogs take on Claremont and East Fremantle on three occasions, and East Perth, Peel Thunder, Perth, Subiaco, Swan Districts and West Perth twice.

 

South Fremantle will be hosting the WA Day Foundation Derby at Fremantle Community Bank Oval along with the annual NAIDOC Round fixture with Claremont in Round 14.

 

The Bulldogs will also take on Claremont in Albany in Round 5.

 

South Fremantle's campaign following the Round 1 bye is a clash with their finals combatants of the past two seasons, Subiaco, at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday April 7.

 

It's then up to Joondalup to take on West Perth at the redeveloped HBF Arena on Sunday April 15 in Round 3.

 

It's then time for the first derby of 2017, commemorating Anzac Day, to take place on Sunday April 22 against East Fremantle at East Fremantle Oval.

 

South Fremantle will then travel to Albany on Saturday April 28 to play Claremont before hosting Swan Districts in Round 6 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

 

Following the break for the state game which will pit the WAFL against the SANFL, Round 7 will take place on Saturday May 19 with South Fremantle playing East Perth at Leederville Oval.

 

Then after a home clash with Claremont in Round 8, it's time for the WA Day Foundation Derby and that too will take place at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. Just five days later, the Bulldogs travel to Lathlain Park to take on Perth for the first time in 2018.

 

South Fremantle then plays reigning premiers Peel Thunder for the first time in 2018 a week later, at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. Then after the Round 12 bye, it is another home clash for the Bulldogs against East Perth on Saturday June 30.

 

A third straight home match will take place to celebrate NAIDOC Round against Claremont before South Fremantle hits the road to play the grand finalists of the past two seasons, Subiaco and Peel.

 

South Fremantle hosts West Perth in Round 18 before playing Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval, hosting Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval and finishing the home and away season against East Fremantle with the Ciccotosto-Uittenbroek Cup on the line.

 

Round 1 – Bye

Round 2 v Subiaco at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Saturday April 7

Round 3 v West Perth at HBF Arena, Sunday April 15

Round 4 v East Fremantle at East Fremantle Oval, Sunday April 22

Round 5 v Claremont at Centennial Stadium (Albany), Saturday April 28

Round 6 v Swan Districts at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Saturday May 5

Round 7 v East Perth at Leederville Oval, Saturday May 19

Round 8 v Claremont at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Saturday May 26

Round 9 v East Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Monday June 4 (WA Day)

Round 10 v Perth at Lathlain Park, Saturday June 9

Round 11 v Peel Thunder at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Saturday June 16

Round 12 – Bye

Round 13 v East Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Saturday June 30

Round 14 v Claremont at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Saturday July 7

Round 15 v Subiaco at Leederville Oval, Saturday July 14

Round 16 v Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium, Saturday July 21

Round 17 – Bye

Round 18 v West Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Saturday August 4

Round 19 v Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval, Saturday August 11

Round 20 v Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Saturday August 18

Round 21 v East Fremantle at East Fremantle Oval, Saturday August 25