Round 18 Optus WAFL PreviewFriday, August 9, 2019 - 3:45 PM - by Chris Pike

IT is the third last round of the 2019 Optus WAFL Premiership Season and every game is taking on extra significance as a result and in Round 18 that's highlighted by three tussles all with finals implications.

Each five of the Round 18 WAFL matches all take place at 2.15pm on Saturday and it could prove season-defining for a number of teams.

It all gets underway at Claremont Oval with Claremont hosting West Perth in a crucial match up for two teams currently occupying positions inside the top four. 

The Tigers remain a game and percentage clear in second position but they do need to keep winning to stay in that spot while the Falcons are fourth and a win on Saturday would all but lock away another finals appearance.

Then at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park, it's a battle of the ground co-tenants with Perth playing the West Coast Eagles.

With the Demons currently sitting fifth at 8-7 and the Eagles seventh at 6-9, the stakes a significant when they lock horns. 

West Coast well and truly stays in the hunt for a finals appearance with a victory while Perth would just about secure a first finals appearance since 1997 should they prevail.

The other game with plenty at stake for both combatants takes place at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle hosting Peel Thunder.

The Bulldogs have now again won two straight matches to remain in third position with a 10-5 record but in order to try and break into the top two they do need to keep winning.

The Thunder, meanwhile, come into the contest in sixth position with a 6-9 record. A win against South Fremantle and Peel is right in with a chance of playing finals still while a loss and they all but fall out of contention.

It's then top against bottom at Leederville Oval with Subiaco taking on Swan Districts.

Despite the fact that Subiaco looks to have done enough to secure that minor premiership for a fifth straight year and sits clear on top of the WAFL ladder with a 14-1 record, and that Swan Districts sits last at 3-12, it should be a more competitive match up than that suggests.

The first time the teams met this season saw Subiaco have to come from behind at half-time to beat Swan Districts so Swans will be hoping to put in another competitive showing to build on last week's drought breaking victory against the West Coast Eagles.

Subiaco has the added motivation of premiership stars Lachlan Delahunty and Aaron Heal both reaching their 100-game WAFL milestones.

East Fremantle and East Perth look to be out of finals contention in 2019 but both teams have shown plenty of encouraging signs this season under new coach with plenty of fresh faces.

Saturday's clash at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park now provides an opportunity for the Sharks and Royals to both try to end the season with some momentum.

East Perth comes into the game eighth with a 5-10 record while East Fremantle is ninth at 4-11.

OPTUS WAFL ROUND 18

CLAREMONT (11-4, 2nd) v WEST PERTH (8-7, 4th) – CLAREMONT OVAL, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Live scores, stats
Broadcast – 720 ABC Perth

PERTH (8-7, 5th) v WEST COAST EAGLES (6-9, 7th) – MINERAL RESOURCES PARK, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Live scores, stats
Broadcast – Livestream

SOUTH FREMANTLE (10-5, 3rd) v PEEL THUNDER (6-9, 6th) – FREMANTLE COMMUNITY BANK OVAL, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Live scores, stats
Broadcast – 91.3 SportFM

SUBIACO (14-1, 1st) v SWAN DISTRICTS (3-12, 10th) – LEEDERVILLE OVAL, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Live scores, stats

EAST FREMANTLE (4-11, 9th) v EAST PERTH (5-10, 8th) – NEW CHOICE HOMES PARK, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Live scores, stats
Broadcast – KIX Digital