Round 7 Preview v Claremont

SOUTH Fremantle is searching for its first home win of 2014, three wins on the trot and a first victory against Claremont since 2009 when the Bulldogs host the Tigers at Fremantle Oval this Saturday.

The game will be South Fremantle's first home game at Fremantle Oval during the day this season after clashes against Perth and East Perth on Friday nights in Rounds 2 and 3.

The Bulldogs had shown some good signs throughout the first four rounds particularly having chances to win against Subiaco in Round 1, Perth in Round 2 and Swan Districts in Round 4, but couldn’t quite get the job done.

However, that has turned around impressively the last fortnight with South Fremantle beating reigning premiers West Perth by 23 points at Arena Joondalup in Round 5, and then last week downing East Fremantle by 17 points in the Anzac Day derby at East Fremantle Oval.

That sees South Fremantle improve to a 2-4 record on the season and with some players in outstanding form – most notably captain Ryan Cook, dual premiership player Ashton Hams, ruckman Brock Higgins, prolific midfielder Haiden Schloithe and key defenders Dylan Ross and Nick Borovac.

Schloithe's reward for games over the last three weeks of 38 possessions, 37 possessions and then 27 to go with four goals likely will be a close tag by Claremont's Mathew Aitchison while Higgins will have a big job to do in the ruck up against Mark Seaby, Mitch Andrews and Darcy Cameron.

While South Fremantle is aiming for a third straight win this season, it does need to stop a nine-game losing run against Claremont dating back to the Bulldogs' premiership year of 2009.

Over the past four seasons, Claremont has beaten South Fremantle on nine occasions by an average of over 43 points.

South Fremantle now has some winning form heading into Saturday's clash and as a result there is little reason for coach Paul Hasleby to look to make too many changes to his line-up.

However, versatile big man James Sellar does look set to return from a knee injury and play his first game since Round 2. With Brock Higgins doing well holding down the ruck, it gives Hasleby's the chance to use Sellar forward, back and in the ruck as well.

Paul Mugambwa is out of the South Fremantle team to face Claremont with Kris Miller, Jason Maskos and Ben Sokol on standby should the Bulldogs look to make any other changes.

Claremont got back on the winner's list last week to see the Tigers head to Fremantle Oval with confidence searching for a 10th straight win over the Bulldogs.

Nobody is out of the Claremont side yet with youngster Dean Blackwell, former Perth midfielder Bernard Sneeuwjagt and experienced key defender Brandon Franz all pressing claims for selection after good form in the reserves.

RESERVES TEAM

M Banks, T Bennell, M Bolger, S Borovac, E Collard, B Collier, J D'Vauz, B Fimmano, A Gillespie, M Gundry, J Hall, L Harvey, B Hill, K Hogan, L Lucev, J Maskos, K Matera, B Matera, K Miller, S Mills, M Nicholson, S Panizza, J Pantano, J Parry, M Russell, B Sokol, T Stewart, J Symmans, J Tartaglia, B Verrier

COLTS TEAM

D Cabassi, L Clark, B Colbung, J Culleton, J Depane, B Donaldson, J Florenca, J Foster, M Grubelich, K Hosking, B Kersten, C Loersch, J McComb, C McGuinness, G McLeod, J McMaster, J Mirco, D Moore, A Nodari, L Pearson, C Salmon, N Strom, S Williamson

By Chris Pike