Round 19 Preview v East Fremantle

SOUTH Fremantle will be looking to spoil a day of celebration for East Fremantle at East Fremantle Oval in the final derby of 2014 with the Bulldogs also out to continue their good run of form at the newly named ATOM Stadium.

South Fremantle is well and truly out of finals contention with just the four wins from 15 matches so far in 2014 but the Bulldogs will want to finish on a high and beating the Sharks would be a good way to start that, while also ensuring they won't be able to finish up with the wooden spoon.

Derbies between the two in recent times has also seen the visiting side enjoying most of the success which might not bode well for East Fremantle in its first home game at the newly named ATOM Stadium.

Since 2000, South Fremantle has won 15 of its last 20 matches at Shark Park with the last two being particularly impressive and on big occasions – the Foundation Derby last year and this year on Anzac Day.

However, East Fremantle beat South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval back on WA Day comprehensively despite the final margin of only 15 points.

Not only is it a derby so it's naturally a big occasion, but it's a huge day for the East Fremantle Football Club with premiership reunions for the 1974, 1979 and 1994 league teams, the 1994 reserves and under 19s of 1974.

The Uittenbroek-Ciccotosto Cup will also be presented to the winning team of the league match while afterwards, the women's league and reserves team will also be playing off against one another on a day that features five derbies.

East Fremantle currently sits in fourth position on the WAFL ladder with a 10-6 record and appears set to play finals but the Sharks look set to finish in that fourth spot.

The Sharks are two games and significant percentage behind the second-placed Subiaco and third-placed Swan Districts so it's unlikely they can move up from fourth while they hold a comfortable three game and percentage hold over the fifth-placed Claremont so it would take something remarkable from here for them to not play finals.

South Fremantle is still without experienced pair Ryan Cook and Adam Guglielmana for the third straight game with full-forward Ben Saunders and two-time premiership player and Simpson Medal winner Ashton Hams still needing to declare themselves fit to play after not seeing out last week's clash with Subiaco at Fremantle Oval.

Lewis Harvey goes out of the South Fremantle team after playing the last three games but having just six possessions and no score in last Saturday's loss to Subiaco.

Josh Pullman and Marlon Pickett are in the mix to return to the South Fremantle side with Jarrod Garlett and Jarrod Pickett a chance to make their league debuts.

Pullman has spent the last three weeks in the reserves after playing the opening 12 matches of the season in the league side, and he might be in line for a call up particularly if Saunders isn’t right to play after coming off on a stretcher late in the third quarter last week against Subiaco.

Marlon Pickett looks to be a certain inclusion for the Bulldogs after 25 possessions in the reserves last Saturday as he prepares to play his first league match since Round 10 after a quiet patch of form following a stunning start to his league career.

Garlett has stepped up from playing colts to start 2014 to now have played the last two matches in the reserves to give the 18-year-old a chance now to make his league debut against East Fremantle on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Jarrod Pickett is expected to a top draft pick later this year and now recruiters across the country will be eagerly awaiting to see how the 17-year-old goes playing league football with South Fremantle.

There would be no better way for the future star to make his league debut than by doing in the derby and he comes into the side having spent the last two weeks in the reserves including a 22-possession effort last Saturday in terrible conditions against Subiaco at Fremantle Oval.

Jordan Dorotich loses his place in the East Fremantle team after just one possession in last week's loss to Claremont at the Showground.

That leaves Tyler Chalwell, Michael Edwards, Tom Hooker and Jake Schleicher all desperately trying to get a chance back in the Sharks league side, and then to stay there with finals on the horizon for 2014.

East Fremantle's reserves kicked just two goals in a loss to Claremont last week but Chalwell kept his name in the mix with 11 possessions and seven tackles while Hooker racked up 26 disposals to go with nine tackles and seven inside-50 entries.

Edwards worked tirelessly and finished with 36 possessions while laying eight tackles with Schleicher had 27 touches.

RESERVES TEAM
T Bennell, S Borovac, J Branchi, M Carter, E Collard, J Dragovich, B Fimmano, J Garlett, A Gillespie, J Hall, L Harvey, B Hill, B Matera, A McIntosh, S Mills, M Nicholson, N Olds, J Pickett, J Pullman, J Sgherza, T Stewart, J Tartaglia

COLTS TEAM
B Byron, D Cabassi, J Depane, B Donaldson, M Dzelebdzic, J Florenca, J Foster, W Frampton, B Kersten, C Loersch, J McComb, G McLeod, J Mirco, D Moore, A Nodari, L Pearson, C Salmon, K Stewart, N Strom, S Williamson