Round 8 Preview - Perth v South FremantleFriday, May 5, 2017 - 3:05 PM - by Chris Pike

PERTH and South Fremantle might appear a mismatch on paper heading into Saturday's clash at Lathlain Park, but the Demons have shown strong competitiveness and improvement which they will look to continue.

Perth and South Fremantle head into Saturday's contest with contrasting records with the Demons sitting at 1-5 and the Bulldogs 5-1.

That doesn’t mean the Demons can't put in a strong showing in an attempt to cause an upset and record their second win of the season though.

South Fremantle is coming off the bye following an ANZAC Day Derby win over East Fremantle with the Bulldogs remaining on top of the ladder with a 5-1 record having won their last four matches over Peel Thunder, West Perth, Claremont and East Fremantle.

Despite a loss to Swan Districts in Round 2, South Fremantle's wins over Subiaco as well as the Thunder, Falcons, Tigers and Sharks have been by an average of 58.2 points.

The clash on Saturday is the first meeting between the two teams this season but South Fremantle has won the last six games against Perth.

The Bulldogs won all three games over the Demons in 2016 by 98 points in Round 5 at Lathlain Park, by 37 points at Carnarvon in Round 20 and then three weeks later back at Lathlain Park by 52 points on the eve of the finals.

Prior to that, South Fremantle beat Perth by 38 points and 10 points in the two meetings of 2015, and a 12-point win in Round 16, 2014 at Lathlain Park.

The Demons' last win over the Bulldogs came by five points in Round 2, 2014 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. That was a memorable occasion with the Demons coming back from 44 points down to win by five in Kris Miller's 300th match.

Perth might have won just one game so far in 2017 beating East Fremantle by 13 points in Round 4, but the Demons have been far from disgraced in losses to Swan Districts, Subiaco, Claremont, East Perth and then last week West Perth at HBF Arena.

Both teams have representatives named in the initial WAFL State squad that will make up the team to take on the VFL at North Port Oval in Melbourne on Saturday May 27.

Clint Jones is Perth's sole representative in the squad of 37 while South Fremantle has nine players there made up of Brock Higgins, Ryan Cook, Blayne Wilson, Mason Shaw, Haiden Schloithe, Tim Kelly, Blaine Johnson, Ben Saunders and Marlion Pickett.

From the Perth team that lost to West Perth by 19 points at HBF Arena last Saturday, the Demons lose Laine Wilkins and Liam McKenna. Both will be missed through injury after being strong contributors a week ago.

Julian Jacobs is a chance to come in and play his first game of the season for Perth while former Swans big man Nelson Ansey could make his debut for the Demons.

Marshall Jones, Callum Walley and Brent Edmonds are the other players in the mix at selection for Perth to play on Saturday.

South Fremantle has had a week to freshen up since beating East Fremantle on ANZAC Day by 41 points, but it hasn’t been enough time for Ashton Hams and Steven Verrier to overcome their respective injuries.

Steve Edwards and Zac Strom are also two players to lose their place in the Bulldogs line-up to take on the Demons on Saturday.

Josh Pullman looks set to return after two games in the reserves for South Fremantle with Kyle Russell, Jake Solomon, Matthew Parker and Jake Florenca the others in the mix to play Perth.

If Parker is selected he will make his league debut after some impressive reserves form to open the 2017 season.

PERTH (1-5, 8th) v SOUTH FREMANTLE (5-1, 1st) – LATHLAIN PARK, SATURDAY 2.15PM

Selected teams, live stats 
Broadcast – HFM (107.3FM)