ROUND 18 PREVIEW V EAST FREMANTLE

A BIG day awaits Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday with the second derby of 2021 with South Fremantle looking to make it 12 consecutive wins against East Fremantle and to consolidate a top two position in the process.

South Fremantle has enjoyed quite a run of dominance in Fremantle derbies in recent years but all signs point to a more competitive contest this Saturday with plenty on the line for both the Bulldogs and East Fremantle.

The second derby of 2021 takes place at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday afternoon with South Fremantle coming into the clash having won the last 11 meetings with East Fremantle.

Now coming into Saturday's contest, South Fremantle is fresh off a 116-point hammering of Peel Thunder in Mandurah last Saturday which saw them rise to second spot on the ladder, but the Bulldogs do need to continue winning to stay in that position.

East Fremantle might only still be a slight chance of making the finals in 2021, but the Sharks did ensure it was at least somewhat of a chance with an upset win against the fifth placed Swan Districts at New Choice Homes Park last Saturday.

That improved the Sharks to a 5-9 record on the season and while they still would need plenty to go their way to make the finals, especially Swan Districts continuing to lose, if they keep winning then anything is still possible for them in 2021.

All that sets up a fascinating Fremantle derby at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday afternoon with the Bulldogs needing a win to stay in second position and the Sharks in a must-win situation to keep their finals hopes alive altogether.

South Fremantle comes into the derby on the back of having won 11 consecutive meetings against East Fremantle by an average of 70.5 points.

Among those 11 wins have been victories for the Bulldogs over the Sharks by 145 points, 113, 95, 94, 91 and 73, but it was a lot closer back on WA Day this year when they held on for a 16-point win at Shark Park.

East Fremantle's last win as a derby was way back in Round 12, 2016 as they won on WA Day of that year at Fremantle Community Bank Oval by 39 points.

At Fremantle Community Bank Oval alone, South Fremantle has won the past six derby match ups.

From the South Fremantle team that hammered Peel Thunder by 116 points last Saturday in Mandurah, the Bulldogs have made four changes with Kye Barker, Aiden Hall, Seaton Thompson and George Wessels all earning a recall into the side in the approach the finals.

That means that premiership stars Zac Dent, Brock Higgins and Ben Rioli remain sidelined with Jaxon Bellchambers, Dylan Main, Jesse Motlop and Trent Newton out of the team that was so impressive at David Grays Arena a week ago.

East Fremantle has made just the one change from the team that beat Swan Districts last week to keep its season alive with Corey Holmes into the line-up while Corey Warner goes out.

ROUND 18 – 2021 OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON
SOUTH FREMANTLE v EAST FREMANTLE – FREMANTLE COMMUNITY BANK OVAL, SATURDAY 2.10PM

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