Reserves Second Semi-Final Preview v Subiaco

SOUTH Fremantle looks to continue its dominant season in the reserves by moving straight through to the grand final but standing in the way is a Subiaco team in the second semi-final strengthened by players still hoping for a league opportunity and with home ground advantage.

The game will begin proceedings on Sunday at Medibank Stadium with South Fremantle looking for an eighth straight win to try and win a second reserves premiership in three years, but Subiaco just missed out on a flag last year and will be looking to go one better this year.

Subiaco moved into the second semi-final by winning a thriller over Swan Districts last Sunday and now the winner between the Bulldogs and Lions will be straight into the grand final while the loser will take on either Swan Districts or West Perth in the preliminary final.

Video interview with reserves coach Tony Walters 

Player Column – Dylan Ross Second Semi-Final 

Selection dilemmas the only headache as Bulldogs reserves begin flag tilt 

South Fremantle and Subiaco met three times during the season with the Bulldogs winning on all three occasions by 34 points at Fremantle Oval in Round 5, by 21 points at Medibank Stadium in Round 12 and then by eight points in Round 19 again at Leederville.

The biggest problem for South Fremantle reserves coach Tony Walters is how he is going to able to fit 30-plus capable and qualified players down to 23 for Sunday's game.

Matthew Ah Siu, Josh Branchi, Mitch Carter, Jacob Dragovich, James Laurino, Tim Stewart, Kade Stewart and Zac Strom all finished the season in the league side for the Bulldogs and are all certain to line-up for the reserves.

Paul Mugambwa is going to captain the Bulldogs into the reserves to finish his WAFL career so he is another certain selection as are experienced defenders Dylan Ross, Nick Borovac and Chris Luff.

The back-line might be where the biggest selection headaches could come with the likes of Mitch Banks, Adam and Mitch Carter, Matthew Gundry, Jason Maskos, Brad McPhail and Stephen Mills all best suited to roles in the back-line.

The ruck brigade will be led by the returning Branchi with plenty of prime ball winners to go through the middle including Anthony Collica, Brendan Verrier, Shaun Bewick, Laurino, Dragovich and Panizza.

Then up forward there is the likes of John Sgherza, Ben Sokol, the Strom brothers, Traye Bennell, Mugambwa and potentially Kaiden and Bailey Matera.

All of that could very well make up the bulk of South Fremantle's league side for Round 1 next season but for now the focus is on the reserves and trying to get past Subiaco on Sunday to move straight into the grand final.

Subiaco was the dominant reserves team all of last season before losing in an upset in the grand final in wet conditions to West Perth, and again the Lions have put pressure on their minor premier league by being primed for second position behind the Bulldogs most of the season.

The Lions then came from behind to beat Swan Districts in the qualifying final last Sunday to book in a meeting with South Fremantle with a grand final berth at stake and as luck would have it they get home ground advantage to go with it.

Among the Subiaco team looks set to include league premiership players from last year Rhys Waters and Joel Latham, along with potentially Scott Worthington and Charles Le Fanu again if they miss selection in the senior side.

Reece Blechynden was outstanding last week for Subiaco in the win over Swan Districts to come back into the mix as well while Matt Bogensperger, Ray Daniels, Will Fetherstonhaugh, Braden Fimmano, James Garcia and Luke Norriss could get back in the hunt with a strong showing.

RESERVES SECOND SEMI-FINAL
SOUTH FREMANTLE (18-2, 1st) v SUBIACO (14-1-5, 2nd) – MEDIBANK STADIUM, SUNDAY 11.30AM
Selected teams