Second Semi-Final Preview v Claremont

SOUTH Fremantle has the chance to book in a WAFL Grand Final spot at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with a victory against Claremont in Sunday's second semi-final at the same venue.

The second semi-final will then take place at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle attempting to reach its second straight Grand Final while Claremont is trying to get to its first since winning the premiership in 2012.

Claremont and South Fremantle are no strangers to doing battle in finals in recent times unlike the first semi-final combatants. 

They met twice in last year's finals series with both games taking place at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle winning the qualifying final by seven points and then the preliminary final by 30 points.

Now another Grand Final spot is on the line when they do battle at the port on Sunday afternoon at the same venue the 2020 premiership decider will be held.

The winner will move straight into the Grand Final in two weeks' time while the loser will host the preliminary final against the winner of the West Perth-Perth first semi-final.

Both teams had terrific seasons in 2020 over the eight matches with South Fremantle winning its first seven matches before a five-point loss to a desperate Perth last Saturday night.

That booked in South Fremantle to win its first minor premiership since the flag winning year of 2009 while also guaranteeing a fifth straight finals appearance on the back of reaching preliminary finals in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and then the Grand Final in 2019.

Claremont, meanwhile, won its first two games before its loss to West Perth and then won four of its last five with only a slip up against the Demons. So interestingly both teams have lost to Perth entering this finals series but beaten West Perth.

The Tigers only narrowly claimed second position ahead of the Falcons, though, with a percentage only 0.24 more. But it didn’t matter by how much, only that it was greater.

That means Claremont are now preparing to take part in a fourth straight finals series having returned to post-season action in 2017, then winning a final in 2018 and then reaching the preliminary final in 2019 since Darren Harris took over the helm.

South Fremantle's attack is ranked No. 1 with 72.9 points a game while Claremont is just fifth at 69.3 while the Bulldogs defence is clearly also the best at 43.8 per game while the Tigers are second, giving up just 53.6 points a game.

As for the quarter by quarter breakdown over the season, Claremont is the No. 1 first quarter team in the WAFL while South Fremantle is ranked third. The Bulldogs place third in second terms and the Tigers sixth while they are then also both top two for second halves.

Claremont has outscored its opponents by 71 points in third quarters and 39 in fourth terms. South Fremantle has been 40 points better than its opposition in third periods and then a monster 150 points over the eight fourth quarters.

South Fremantle and Claremont have also been the best ball winning teams for the season compared to its opponents with the Bulldogs averaging 27.8 more disposals a game and the Tigers are ranked No. 1 at 33.4.

South Fremantle coach Todd Curley is now focused on ensuring the Bulldogs deliver the type of performance they expect from themselves rather than putting too much attention on the fact they are one win from a Grand Final spot on their home ground.

"Probably until you say it you don’t realise it if you know what I mean, you're always just focused on the work week to week. It's a new season now for the finals and we restart this week," Curley said.

"Obviously Claremont and us have done well enough to get a second chance but I'm sure they are just as keen as we are to win and go through by winning on Sunday.

"They're a good team and have been a good team for a long time. But we think we are a pretty good team as well and it will be a battle, it always is and they are always pretty close and physical affairs. It's a good achievement to get there to this point but we are still looking forward.

"This is why we're all here. We are obviously rapt to have earned the right to play and now we just want to go out and play. There's certainly no nerves at this stage, it's just about looking forward to the opportunity and hopefully we get a nice, fine day and there's a big crowd there on Sunday."

From the South Fremantle side that lost narrowly to Perth last Saturday night for its only loss of the season, Chris Luff, Noah Strom, Blayne Wilson and Jason Makos all come straight back in to strengthen the defensive unit.

At this stage, the players they make way for in the Bulldogs side to take on Claremont in the second semi-final haven’t been named.

Claremont had the bye last weekend leading into the finals and prior to that the Tigers beat West Perth to lock in second position. 

From that team, Claremont has made just the one change with classy half-forward Alex Manuel returning for his first game since Round 4 at the expense of youngster Ed McGinty.

Meanwhile, South Fremantle's Reserves will also take on Claremont earlier in the afternoon at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in the first semi-final.

SECOND SEMI-FINAL – OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON
SOUTH FREMANTLE v CLAREMONT – FREMANTLE COMMUNITY BANK OVAL, SUNDAY 2.30PM

LEAGUE LIVE STATS