Round 15 Optus WAFL PreviewFriday, July 19, 2019 - 2:05 PM - by Chris Pike

THERE are just the two matches in Round 15 of the WAFL but both matches feature four of the teams trying to keep their seasons alive in the race for fifth position.

The top four spots at the of Round 14 do appear relatively locked away with Subiaco three games and percentage clear in first position while Claremont is a further game and percentage in front of both South Fremantle and Perth who sit on 8-5 records.

That has those four teams at least two games ahead of the fifth placed West Coast Eagles who occupy that position on the back of our successive victories.

But it is that fifth position that is the one that appears still up for grabs and the four teams outside the top five still a chance to break into it all do battle on Saturday afternoon as part of Round 15 action.

Those matches see East Fremantle take on Peel Thunder at New Choice Homes Park from 2.15pm and then West Perth plays East Perth at HBF Arena from 2.40pm.

Those top five teams, Subiaco, Claremont, South Fremantle, Perth and West Coast, as well as the bottom place Swan Districts, all have the bye.

East Fremantle and Peel Thunder do battle at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park with the Sharks still an outside finals chance with a win while Peel could return to fifth position if they claim the points.

East Fremantle comes into the game on the back of a solid win against Swan Districts to end a three-game losing streak which improves them to a 4-9 record on the season.

Peel was disappointing the last two weeks losing to the Eagles and Royals but they are still right in the finals hunt with a 5-8 record despite that.

The Thunder did beat the Sharks earlier in the season by 12 points on Good Friday in Mandurah and going beyond a surprise East Fremantle win against them in Round 8 last year, Peel has dominated the clashes in recent times.

The Thunder had beaten the Sharks nine straight times prior to that Round 8 loss last year so they have won 10 of the last 11 heading into Saturday's contest.

From the East Fremantle team that beat Swans last Saturday, Sean Fletcher, Alex Montauban, Jack Perham, Jeremy Sharp, Jesse Adamini and Ryan Lester-Smith have all been added to the squad.

If Lester-Smith plays, it will be his first appearance of the season while it will be Adamini's first game since Round 2, Sharp's first league game since Round 2 and Perham's first game since Round 4.

Milan Murdock, Michael Tassone and Tim Bockman are the three players out of the side so far.

And there are plenty of potential changes in the Peel line-up with Michael Randall, Lachlan Cullen, Jarvis Pina, Traye Bennell, Gerald Ugle, James Sturrock, Matt Bogensperger and Matthew Piggott all being added to the squad.

At this stage, Mitch Crowden, Lachie Schultz, Brett Bewley, Griffin Logue and Ray Giudici have been named as the players to go out.

Then there is a massive Perth Derby at HBF Arena beginning at 2.40pm on Saturday afternoon which will be broadcast live on Channel 7 for those unable to be there in attendance.

There's plenty at stake for both teams too with West Perth coming into the game in sixth position with a 6-7 record following last week's 69-point loss at the hands of the West Coast Eagles.

The Falcons will also be using the occasion to celebrate the 150th game of one of their all-time greats, Shane Nelson. 

Nelson has already surpassed the 150-game tally, but there's no better time than Saturday's derby to celebrate his milestone which means he adds life membership to a career that already includes a premiership and three Breckler Medals with West Perth.

East Perth is just one game further back coming into the contest with a 5-8 record having now won its past two matches against Swan Districts and Peel to keep their finals hopes alive heading into the derby at Joondalup.

West Perth loses 240-game veteran Andrew Strijk to miss the celebrations of Shane Nelson's 150 games while Connor West and Zac Guadagnin also go out for the Falcons.

But the West Perth inclusions include Baylee James, Kris Shannon, Conal Lynch, Tom O'Donnell, Liam Tedesco and Dylan Yem.

From the East Perth team who beat Peel Thunder last Saturday afternoon, there are no outs at this stage but Tom Amos, Nathan Arbon and Christian Ameduri have been added to the squad to take on West Perth on Saturday.

OPTUS WAFL ROUND 15

EAST FREMANTLE (4-9, 9th) v PEEL THUNDER (5-8, 7th) – NEW CHOICE HOMES PARK, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Live scores, stats
Broadcast – KIX Digital 

WEST PERTH (6-7, 6th) v EAST PERTH (5-8, 8th) – HBF ARENA, SATURDAY 2.40PM
Live scores, stats
Broadcast – Channel 7, 91.3 SportFM