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WAFL Round 10 Preview - Grand Final Preview?

SUBIACO v SOUTH FREMANTLE @ MEDIBANK STADIUM
Last Time: Subiaco 19.12 (126) def South Frem. 12.14 (86)

South Fremantle worked themselves back into top form last week with a comprehensive victory over Swan Districts and they will need to repeat this performance if they are to trouble the undefeated Lions, in what is looming as a Grand Final preview.

As always with the Bulldogs, the selectors at Fremantle and West Coast will have a big influence and it appears they will have Jamie Graham back in their line-up, however, Ryan Murphy may miss and Daniel Gilmore is unavailable due to injury.

The Lions will be refreshed after last week’s bye and coach, Scott Watters will be keen for them to find their feet again quickly.

A win for Subiaco will give them a remarkable four-game break at the top of the table after just nine games and almost guarantee them the Minor Premiership before the mid-season break for the state game.

Prediction: Lions by 48 points.

EAST FREMANTLE v PERTH @ EAST FREMANTLE OVAL
Last Time: Perth 18.10 (118) def. East Frem. 10.10 (70)

East Fremantle has turned its season around over the past fortnight and enters this clash against Perth with its confidence high.

Wins over Swan Districts and Claremont has moved the Sharks off the bottom of the ladder and with their dominant record over the Demons at East Fremantle Oval there is a case for placing them as favourites this week.

Perth has been wasteful up forward for the last three weeks and it finally cost them two points last Saturday when they drew with West Perth, despite having five extra scoring shots.

The two sides appear fairly evenly matched and maybe the Demons’ hoodoo at ‘Shark Park’ will be enough to allow the Sharks to sneak home.

Prediction: Sharks by 5 points.

WEST PERTH v CLAREMONT @ ARENA JOONDALUP
Last time: Claremont 12.10 (82) def. West Perth 9.14 (68)

Claremont enters this contest on a four-game losing streak and can just about kiss their finals hopes goodbye if they can’t overcome West Perth.

A loss would leave the Tigers facing Subiaco next week needing to win at least eight of their last 11 matches to have a chance of finishing in the top four, a task that would appear a beyond a side that has managed just two victories so far.

The Falcons have produced two wins and a draw from their last three matches to revive their season and have an excellent record at home against last year’s Minor Premiers.

A combined total of just 29 points has separated the two teams over the last four battles and another tight finish is expected.

Prediction: Falcons by 11 points.

SWAN DISTRICTS v PEEL THUNDER @ STEEL BLUE OVAL
Last Time: Swans 19.19 (133) def. Peel 15.11 (101)

After a bright start to the season there are some major question marks over Swan Districts following their unconvincing win over East Perth and losses to East Fremantle and South Fremantle over the past three weeks.

Swans appear to be missing their young sparks, Nicholas Naitanui and Chris Yarran and they need to find a way to overcome their loss because the WA Under 18s representatives will be missing for a number of weeks yet.

If the Black and Whites are looking for a way to handle the pressure they need look no further than their opponents for this week as Peel were under the pump last week and responded with a solid all-round performance to dispose of East Perth.

The Thunder’s Hayden Ballantyne looms at the danger man and if Swans can limit his influence on the contest they will go a long way towards securing victory.

The inclusion of West Coast Centre Half-Forward, Ashley Hansen could well be the difference between the two teams and Swans will be hoping he can have a similar influence on the contest as he did on ANZAC Day when he kicked a bag of goals to secure a Black and White victory.

Prediction: Swans by 26 points.