NAIDOC Round Preview v Claremont

SOUTH Fremantle takes on Claremont in the annual NAIDOC Round contest at Claremont Oval on Saturday looking to stop their losing slide at two and returning to second spot on the WAFL ladder.

While Claremont and South Fremantle started the NAIDOC Round tradition, right across the five matches in Round 13 of the 2019 Optus WAFL Premiership Season, all 10 competing teams will be wearing specially designed Aboriginal jumpers as part of the celebration of NAIDOC Week.

Having started in 2007 with Claremont and South Fremantle creating an annual traditional for meeting in NAIDOC Week and playing for the Jimmy Melbourne Cup, it has become one of the highlights of any WAFL season for the entire competition to take part in.

On top of all the teams wearing specially designed jumpers, the umpire uniforms will also be adorned with Aboriginal artwork while the Burley footballs used across the weekend will also feature artwork created by Shaye and Monique Humphries.

South Fremantle and Claremont began the NAIDOC Week concept in the WAFL back in 2007 by playing off for the Jimmy Melbourne Cup and with both teams wearing specially designed Indigenous themed jumpers to mark the occasions.

They have continued to do it every year since and will clash for the 13th time in NAIDOC Week this Saturday at Claremont Oval in what is an important game for both clubs.

Claremont has won nine of the previous 12 battles over the Jimmy Melbourne Cup since 2007 with South Fremantle's lone wins coming in 2009 by 78 points and the last two years by 25 and 26 points respectively.

South Fremantle's heritage of Indigenous players includes the club having named its own Indigenous Team of the Century in 2009, having four Bulldogs players named in the AFL's Indigenous Team of the Century and had almost 100 players of Aboriginal backgrounds representing the club.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islander Day Observational Committee with the committee originally responsible for organising the national celebrations.

South Fremantle and Claremont have set the standard in the WAFL with NAIDOC celebrations largely because of the Indigenous players historically who have come through their ranks, including Stephen Michael, Wally, Phil and Peter Matera, Jeff Farmer, Maurice Rioli, Nicky Winmar (South Fremantle), and Jim and Phil Krakouer, Irwin Lewis and son Chris (Claremont).

Claremont comes into the clash in tremendous form on a four-game winning streak to have now replaced South Fremantle in second spot courtesy of a superior percentage.

South Fremantle has lost consecutive matches for the first time in 2019 going down to Subiaco and West Coast the past fortnight following a supremely impressive seven-game winning streak.

Both teams come into Saturday's contest with 8-3 records so the winner will finish the round a game clear in second position.

At South Fremantle with the Bulldogs looking to stop their losing slide at two, they could  unveil another debutant on Saturday with Jonathon Frampton in the selection mix to take on Claremont at Claremont Oval.

Andrew Haydon is a chance to return after losing  his place in the side last week against West Coast while Daniel Cabassi and Seaton Thompson are the other players vying for selection.

The only player out at this stage for South Fremantle is the injured Zac Dent who has so far put together an impressive season off half-back for the Bulldogs.

From Claremont's team that narrowly beat East Fremantle by 10 points last Saturday, dual Sandover and Simpson Medallist Jye Bolton returns with Bailey Bennett, Jordan Law, Ben Rushforth, Harry McCracken and Callan England all in the mix for inclusion.

Jared Hardisty goes straight back out after playing his first game of the season with the in-form Tom Ledger also out of the Claremont line-up along with Alec Waterman.

NAIDOC ROUND
SOUTH FREMANTLE v CLAREMONT – CLAREMONT OVAL, SATURDAY 2.10PM

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RESERVES LIVE STATS
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