IT is the annual NAIDOC Round in the WAFL this weekend to celebrate the rich Indigenous culture that continues in the league with plenty at stake with West Perth trying to break into the top two, East Perth into the top five and Subiaco and South Fremantle fighting over first place.
South Fremantle and Claremont initiated the NAIDOC Round concept in the WAFL back in 2007 and the Bulldogs and Tigers will again do battle on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.
The other NAIDOC Round fixtures on Saturday sees Peel Thunder host West Perth at Bendigo Bank Stadium, Perth take on Subiaco at Lathlain Park and Swan Districts play East Perth at Steel Blue Oval.
PEEL THUNDER (7-6, 5th) v WEST PERTH (9-5, 3rd) – BENDIGO BANK STADIUM, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams
Broadcast – 91.3 SportFM
Peel Thunder and West Perth met in the finals last year and are on track to be back in September action in 2016 again making Saturday's match a crucial one for both clubs at Bendigo Bank Stadium.
Peel made the finals for the first time in its history last year and while that ended up with losses to West Perth and East Perth, the Thunder have again put themselves in a position to be back there this year despite losing its last two matches against South Fremantle and Swan Districts before the bye.
West Perth beat Peel in last year's qualifying final on its way to a grand final loss to Subiaco and after a slow start to 2016 winning one of the opening five games, the Falcons have now played some tremendous football winning eight of their last nine matches.
And last week's 70-point win over East Fremantle at HBF Arena was West Perth's most dominant win of the season to see the Falcons improve to a 9-5 record to now be two games clear in third position, and also just one game out of second.
Peel, meanwhile, has slipped to fifth spot and a 7-6 record with its two losses prior to last week's bye. That sees the Thunder slip two games behind the third placed West Perth and be just one game clear of the sixth placed East Perth.
With West Perth needing to win to keep its top two hopes alive and Peel in a must-win situation to stay in the top five, there is plenty of stake between two teams who have every reason to expect to end 2016 by playing finals.
Peel and West Perth first met this season back in Round 8 at HBF Arena it was the Falcons who won by 17 points in a game played in difficult conditions, and that ended up being terribly low scoring.
As part of NAIDOC Round, Peel Thunder will be represented by its captain Gerald Ugle along with Shane Yarran and Karl Collard.
Peel's team two weeks ago against Swan Districts featured just two AFL-listed players in Shane Yarran and Josh Deluca who are yet to plan a game with the Dockers after Clancee Pearce injured an ankle early in the game.
With Fremantle's injury list improving since then that gives Peel some good news with some Dockers players again available to play against the Falcons on Saturday.
Defenders Sean Hurley, Ethan Hughes and Sean Hurley will all return to immediately make the Thunder defence look more solid and it will need to be after Michael Lourey kicked five goals, Max Duffy and Mark Hamilton for West Perth last week.
Peel's big man stocks immediately get considerably boosted as well with the returns of Zac Clarke and Jack Hannath, with the duo capable of sharing the ruck duties while also playing as a key forward target.
The Thunder's midfield will also be boosted by the return of Matt De Boer while Tendai Mzungu is also in the mix to play depending or not if he's required by Fremantle against Melbourne on Saturday night at TIO Stadium.
Brett Milward kicked four goals in the reserves two weeks ago for Peel to put himself in the mix for selection against West Perth as well with Nathan Fahey also coming off a strong performance with 19 disposals and five marks.
As well as Clancee Pearce, Jake Dowding, Richard Wight and Mitch Gill are out of the Thunder team that lost to Swan Districts by 39 points a fortnight ago prior to the bye.
West Perth delivered its most emphatic victory of the season last Saturday beating East Fremantle by 70 points at HBF Arena to consolidate third spot, and the Falcons welcome back some key players against Peel for the trip to Mandurah this Saturday.
Andrew Strijk missed last week's win over East Fremantle having kicked seven goals the previous two weeks and he will return as will hard man Kody Manning for his first game since Round 12 against East Perth prior to the state game.
Life member and premiership player Luke Tedesco is also in the mix to return after a week back in the reserves after reaching his 150-game milestone a fortnight ago against South Fremantle.
James Batterham, Corey Chalmers and Mitch Peirce were all impressive in the reserves last week as well to put themselves in contention for a call up.
Batterham had 20 possessions and a goal last week against South Fremantle with Chalmers finishing with 31 disposals and Peirce 17 along with five tackles.
There are some big outs for West Perth, though, with state defender Luke Meadows, hard working midfielder Aidan Lynch and last week's debutant Tyson Moulton out of the line-up.
SOUTH FREMANTLE (10-3, 2nd) v CLAREMONT (3-10, 8th) – FREMANTLE COMMUNITY BANK OVAL, SATURDAY 2.40PM
Selected teams
Broadcast – 7mate
South Fremantle and Claremont have made NAIDOC Round their own over the past decade and that tradition continues with the two teams doing battle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval over the Jimmy Melbourne Cup.
The Bulldogs and Tigers began playing during NAIDOC Week back in 2007 and it has become a tremendous event on the WAFL calendar ever since.
Coming into this Saturday clash sees both teams coming in on the back of completely contrasting seasons to date with South Fremantle holding a 10-3 record and Claremont 3-10 while the Bulldogs are in second spot on the ladder and the Tigers are second last.
But that doesn’t tell the story of how competitive Claremont has been and what a strong contest Saturday should be.
Claremont might have won just three games this season but six of the Tigers' 10 losses have been by under 10 points while they have been a realistic chance of winning all but two of them at some point during the fourth quarter. The two they were out of the running in came against Subiaco.
That all points to Claremont being a competitive outfit in 2016 but a frustrated one unable to play for four quarters and to get over the line when they have played well enough to expect to.
South Fremantle, meanwhile, has been the big improvers of 2016 having won 10 of 13 matches to remain just percentage off top spot with a game in hand on Subiaco.
But a loss last Saturday at home to East Perth means South Fremantle comes into the clash with Claremont on Saturday needing to win to remain a game clear of the third placed West Perth.
South Fremantle and Claremont met for the first time in 2016 back in Round 8 at the Claremont Showground with the Bulldogs pulling off a remarkable comeback to win by eight points after the Tigers led by 25 points early in the last quarter.
South Fremantle and Claremont have two of the strongest Indigenous histories in Australia, and as a result of that both clubs pulled together in 2007 to make it an annual contest against one another during NAIDOC Week for the Jimmy Melbourne Cup.
The event has become a tremendous occasion in the WAFL each year with a traditional ceremony held before each game along with past Indigenous greats of both clubs attending to make it a memorable day.
Both clubs also began what is now the league-wide tradition of wearing specially designed Indigenous jumpers.
Claremont has actually dominated the NAIDOC Round clashes against South Fremantle winning eight of the nine contests.
South Fremantle's Indigenous heritage will be represented on Saturday by Marlion Pickett, Jacob Martinez, Tim Kelly, Steven Edwards and potentially Tyson Pickett. Claremont's Indigenous brigade will include Francis Watson, Keifer Yu, and potentially Gerrick Weedon.
South Fremantle went down to East Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval last Saturday and is still without Ashton Hams, Haiden Schloithe and Adam McIntosh, and now key defender Josh Pullman is also out of the line-up to take on the Tigers.
Brad McPhail looks set to replace Pullman in the team as a key defender having played his one previous league game back in Round 8 also against Claremont at the Claremont Showground.
Chris Luff remains in contention for his first league appearance of the season as well following 23 possessions, nine marks and a goal last week in the reserves.
Tyson Pickett continues to put himself in the mix for his debut after another three goals last week in the reserves for the Bulldogs while Blaine Johnson should be right to come back after missing another game last week against the Royals due to a hamstring complaint.
Claremont coach Michael Broadbridge continues to search for the winning formula with the Tigers and in the hunt for that forwards Chris Oakley, Jack Richardson and Jack Bradshaw all go out of the team against the Bulldogs this week from the one that lost to Perth the previous Saturday.
Claremont has plenty of players in good form in the reserves who come into the mix to play on Saturday including Hugo Breakey, Zac Langdon, Alexander Manuel, Rowen Powell, Justin Speed and Gerrick Weedon.
Last week in the reserves against Perth, Breakey had 21 possessions and two goals for the Tigers, Powell 31 touches and two goals, Speed 26 disposals, Weedon 14 possessions and four behinds, and Manuel 12 touches and a goal.
PERTH (5-8, 7th) v SUBIACO (11-3, 1st) – LATHLAIN PARK, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams
Broadcast – 720 ABC Perth, KIX Digital
Perth is playing its best football for years right now and the Demons have a real chance to show just how much they have improved by taking on the premiers of the last two years, and current league-leaders Subiaco at Lathlain Park.
After Perth lost to West Perth back in Round 11 also on their home turf, the Demons had won just four of their previous 40 matches and it was difficult to see where they were heading.
However, things have come together impressively since then with wins over Swan Districts, East Fremantle and Claremont either side of the state game break. The wins the past fortnight over the Sharks and Tigers is the first time Perth has won consecutive matches since Rounds 1 and 2 of 2014.
That is all providing tremendous signs that Perth is on an upward trend but taking on Subiaco is a vastly different prospect.
The Lions have won the last two WAFL premierships and despite some hiccups along the way in 2016, they currently sit on top of the ladder again with an 11-3 record and they are the best scoring (96.0 points a game) and defending (69.3) team in the competition.
Subiaco has won the last seven matches against Perth as well by an average of 64.4 points with the Demons last win over the Lions coming in Round 17, 2013.
Perth can send a real message that it has dramatically improved with a win on Saturday and its cause will be helped with the Lions missing Leigh Kitchin and Kyal Horsley from the midfield. That undoubtedly is the great strength of the Demons with Clint Jones, Aidan Tropiano, Julian Jacobs and Liam McKenna leading the way.
Subiaco, however, does need to keep winning to maintain top spot on the WAFL ladder ahead of a bye next weekend and then a clash with the second placed South Fremantle on a Thursday night at Medibank Stadium.
Perth has a terrific history of Indigenous talent over time and in celebration of NAIDOC Week, Brennan Stack will be representing them while Liam Ryan, Adam Cockie and potentially Jeremy Woodley will be lining up as Indigenous players for Subiaco.
Perth is on a high coming off winnings its last two games against East Fremantle and Claremont with WA State 18s star Zac Fisher to return to the line-up to take on Subiaco on Saturday.
Ashley Boyes is also a chance to play his first game of the season after missing the opening 11 rounds of the season through injury. He had another 23 possessions in the reserves last week to put himself right in contention.
Taran Etto is also a chance for a recall for the Demons after another 21 possessions in the reserves last week while Kodie Fleay put himself in the mix with 12 touches. Stephen Mills could also come in to provide another big body after 16 disposals and five marks a week ago against Claremont.
Perth does lose important defender Jared Bell who injured a knee early in last week's win over Claremont with Jarrad Irons also out of the line-up.
Subiaco both welcomes back and loses some premiership players for Saturday's clash with Perth at Lathlain Park.
Defender Daniel Leishman is a chance to play his first league game since the 2014 grand final after stringing together some solid reserves form after electing to return several weeks ago. Last week against Swan Districts he finished with 24 possessions and seven marks.
Versatile and experienced big man Clancy Wheeler should also return for Subiaco on Saturday after one week off to rest up his body.
Jeremy Woodley, Brad Stevenson, James Garcia and Greg Clark are in the mix to call come in for the Lions as well.
Last week in the reserves, Woodley had 16 possessions and two goals, Stevenson had 13 disposals and six marks, and Garcia had 10 touches and a goal.
Subiaco does have significant outs, though, with Wayde Twomey and Leigh Kitchin both to miss due to copping one-game suspensions following last week's win over Swan Districts. Captain Kyal Horsley is also out through injury.
SWAN DISTRICTS (2-11) v EAST PERTH (6-7, 6th) – STEEL BLUE OVAL, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams
Broadcast – Heritage FM 107.3
Swan Districts will be looking for a vastly improved performance than last time it played East Perth to keep hopes avoiding the wooden spoon alive, but the Royals can't afford a slip up as they attempt to remain in the finals race.
Swan Districts and East Perth played one another back in Round 9 with the Royals dominating on the way to a 91-point victory at Medibank Stadium.
But the black-and-whites have put together some more competitive showings since then including a 39-point victory against Peel Thunder two weeks ago.
East Perth, meanwhile, has defeated Perth and South Fremantle in its past two games to remain in finals contention.
With both teams having something at stake on Saturday, it should be a good contest between two teams desperately wanting to win.
Swans currently sit on the bottom of the ladder with just two wins but a victory on Saturday and they could draw level with Claremont on three if the Tigers happen to lose to South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.
East Perth's win last week over South Fremantle improved the Royals to a 6-7 record on the season to be just one game behind the fourth placed East Fremantle and fifth placed Peel Thunder.
A big win for the Royals on Saturday over Swans could see them get a significant enough percentage boost to finish Round 16 in the top five at the expense of one of Peel or East Fremantle.
As part of NAIDOC Round, Graham Jetta could return to represent Swan Districts along with Rudy Riddoch, Warrick Wilson, Albert Dean and Kirk Ugle. Meanwhile, Malcolm Karpany, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls and Jamie Bennell will be East Perth's Indigenous representatives.
Swan Districts is coming off a 26-point loss to Subiaco last Saturday with powerful half-forward Matthew Rogers going out of the side delaying his 99th WAFL game.
Graham Jetta looks set to return after missing the Round 14 win over Peel and then playing in the reserves against Subiaco where he had 22 possessions.
Griffen Logue will also return for Swan Districts following a strong campaign in the WA State 18s team with Laurence Grescos and Ben Whitsed in the mix to receive call ups.
Grescos had 11 possessions as a defender in the reserves last week against Subiaco while Whitsed racked up 33 possessions in the midfield.
East Perth has done well the past two games to beat Perth and South Fremantle to remain in finals contention, but the Royals will lose Kane Lucas and Fraser McInnes to injury this week against Swan Districts.
Jack Redden and Liam Duggan were both strong performers for East Perth last Saturday against South Fremantle to be added to West Coast's extended squad to take on North Melbourne at Domain Stadium on Sunday. But both would be more likely to spend another week with the Royals.
Xavier Ellis and Brant Colledge have also both been named out of East Perth's provisional side for Saturday but are still likely to play with the Royals after impressive form also last week against the Bulldogs.
Tom Omodei, Matthew Allen, Shayne Hille, Jamie Bennell, David Roche, Corey Adamson, Will Maginness, Julian Ameduri and Tom Hodgson are all in contention for selection at East Perth as well following strong reserves form.
Last week against South Fremantle, Omodei had 31 possessions, Allen kicked three goals, Hill had 20 disposals, Bennell 18 touches, Roche 17 possessions, Adamson 16 disposals, Maginness 24 touches, Ameduri 17 possessions and seven tackles, and Hodgson 21 disposals