Round 12 Preview v Subiaco

SUBIACO and South Fremantle both had its best performances of the season last Sunday with both looking to keep that form going at Leederville's Medibank Stadium on Saturday.

Subiaco became the first team this season to beat Claremont by kicking the only four goals of the last quarter to come back from trailing all afternoon to win by 10 points at Claremont Oval.

The Lions have now won consecutive games for the first time this season having also beaten Swan Districts the previous week by 13 points at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval.

Subiaco had been struggling up to that point, but now has improved to a 4-5 record to be knocking on the door of the top-four and with some other results going its way, could even find itself sneak up into fourth spot with a win on Saturday.

South Fremantle had recorded just one win this season heading into Sunday's Foundation Derby against East Fremantle, but the Bulldogs turned on a scintillating performance to win by 67 points and revive some life into their 2013 season once again.

Now a win on Saturday against Subiaco and South Fremantle will improve to a 3-8 record heading into a bye next week to give the Bulldogs plenty of confidence to then come out and take into the second half of the season.

The two teams met earlier this season in Round 6 at Fremantle Oval with Subiaco outgunning South Fremantle that afternoon winning by 41 points.

Subiaco's Tasmanian recruit Brad McDonald goes out of the team that beat Claremont last Sunday with an injury with several players pressing their case for a return.

Ryan Herring hasn’t been setting the world on fire in the reserves but might return just to add another tall target to Subiaco's forward-line while Matt Bogensperger was somewhat surprisingly dropped to the reserves last week and put in a solid effort with 18 possessions.

Kyle Halligan and Dylan Clarke both kicked three goals each in Subiaco's reserves last week so could come in to face the Bulldogs to add some more goal kicking options.

South Fremantle found its best form last Sunday in the thumping of East Fremantle but might pay for that after Ashton Hams' best on ground performance with 34 possessions and three goals.

With Mark LeCras going out for West Coast's clash with St Kilda on Sunday, Hams looks to be his most likely replacement meaning the Bulldogs lose a major weapon to take on Subiaco with.

Mitch Carter and Sam Lowrie are both out of South Fremantle's side as well with plenty of players pushing to return.

Premiership midfielder Reece Adams found some of his best form in the reserves last week with 27 possessions and a goal to press his claims for a recall as did Warrick Andreoli with 19 disposals while Kingsley Smith would be the most likely replacement in the forward-line for Hams.

Brendon Gulley could come back in and strengthen South Fremantle's defence further with Jarrod Parry to be the feel good story of the day if he gets picked. He had another 21 possessions and seven tackles in his third game back in the reserves last week following his second knee reconstruction.

South Fremantle coach Paul Hasleby hasn’t forgotten his side's disappointing performance last time around against Subiaco but is confident of turning that result around if the Bulldogs come out with the same effort and intensity levels they showed against East Fremantle.

"They smashed us the last time we played them in one of our most disappointing games, but they were always going to take a while to gel with new players under a new coach," Hasleby said.

"They are actually playing some good footy now so the challenge is there for us, but if we back up that pressure we had against East Freo, we will be a very good chance."

By Chris Pike