RD 10 PREVIEW | v EAST PERTH

SOUTH Fremantle is back at home at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Sunday to play host to East Perth with the Bulldogs desperate to return to the WAFL's winner's list.

The Bulldogs haven’t played at home now since a four-point loss to Perth back in Round 7 and have actually lost their past two games at Fremantle Community Bank Oval which they will attempt to put right on Sunday against the Royals.

South Fremantle comes into Sunday's match up at on the back of last Sunday's 27-point loss to West Perth at Joondalup despite the Bulldogs having opened up a 36-point lead during the second term, and still being 14 points in front by three quarter-time.

That leaves the Bulldogs entering Round 10 of the WAFL season in eighth position on the ladder with a 4-5 record, but with only eight premiership points on the board making Sunday's game with the fourth placed East Perth a virtual must-win affair.

East Perth comes into the game on the back of two impressive wins the last two weeks against West Perth and East Fremantle which sees the Royals now sitting ahead of both teams on the WAFL ladder with a 6-3 record to be in fourth place coming into Round 10.

The two teams already did battle earlier this season in Round 6 at Leederville Oval and on that occasion South Fremantle produced a huge third quarter on the way to the eventual 29-point victory against the Royals.

On that day, South Fremantle kicked five goals to one in the third quarter to set up the win with Zac Strom, Brendon Ah Chee and George Wessels all kicking two goals apiece. Tom Blechynden racked up 28 possessions, Toby McQuilkin 25, Matthew Parker 24, Chad Pearson 22 and Glenn Byron 22.

For East Perth, Liam Tedesco kicked two goals and Hamish Brayshaw gathered 30 disposals, Angus Schumacher 28, Stan Wright 26, Nick Robertson 25, Mitch Crowden 22 and Angus Scott 20.

That victory meant that South Fremantle has won the previous three clashes with East Perth and going back further, 10 of the past 11 meetings between the two sides.

The lone win in that period for the Royals against the Bulldogs was by five points back in Round 10, 2021 at Leederville Oval.

South Fremantle has won five in-a-row against East Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with the last win against the Royals down at the port coming by a point back in Round 10, 2017 in a thrilling finish where the winning behind was kicked by West Coast-listed big man Drew Petrie.

One player that could be a welcome return this week for South Fremantle is versatile big man Jimmy Miller. 

He has been sidelined since Round 5 with an ankle injury, but is hopeful of making a return at some level on Sunday and is confident South Fremantle can overcome East Perth again whether he's out there or not.

"It's obviously a pretty massive clash but every game from here on out is a pretty big game. I'm sure the boys can bounce back and hopefully I'm out there getting a kick," Miller said.

"I've been back running now for three weeks so I'm feeling pretty good and hopefully I'll be back this weekend as long as I get through all the training this week.

"That was a great win last time we played them and it showed that we could bounce back well, and hopefully we do the same again this weekend."

The reserves clash between South Fremantle and East Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Sunday begins at 11.40am with the Bulldogs attempting to remain in the top five coming into the game with three wins, four losses and a draw.

The day begins at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with the colts contest from 9.10am with South Fremantle attempting to climb off the bottom of the ladder with the Bulldogs currently sitting on a 1-7 record.