Round 13 Optus WAFLW PreviewSaturday, May 29, 2021 - 3:15 AM - by Chris Pike

THERE are now just three rounds of the 2021 WAFLW season remaining and with two Grand Final rematches from the opening two seasons taking place this Saturday, Round 13 could very well be the most defining of weekends so far.

There remains five teams battling over the four finals positions with three rebounds to go in the 2021 Optus WAFLW Premiership Season meaning that the closer the end of the season gets, the greater significance each match is taking on.

While Swan Districts and Peel Thunder look locked into the top two positions ahead of their likely second semi-final match up with a Grand Final spot at stake, and South Fremantle is still winless and anchored to the bottom, there's plenty of intrigue still about this WAFLW season.

Much of that is because Subiaco is now a rejuvenated outfit and after pushing Swan Districts to within a point last week, the Lions look capable of being genuine contenders once again despite their slow start in the first half of the 2021 season.

Then there is East Fremantle who kept their finals chances alive last week against Claremont and turned the pressure right back on the Tigers with three rounds of the 2021 WAFLW season remaining.

The three Round 13 matches in the WAFLW competition gets underway on Saturday afternoon at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval with Swan Districts hosting East Fremantle in a rematch of the 2019 Grand Final.

Swan Districts came away with a thrilling one-point win over the in form Subiaco in Round 12 of the Optus WAFLW Premiership Season and that saw them make it 12 consecutive wins.

That all but locks in top position for Swans with just three rounds of the home and away season remaining and they sit three games and significant percentage clear of the second placed Peel Thunder.

However, there is a naturally strongly rivalry between Swan Districts and East Fremantle that included them doing battle back in the first ever WAFLW Grand Final in 2019 that saw the Sharks knock off Swans to secure that historic premiership.

They also clashed in the first semi-final of last year with East Fremantle managing to end Swan Districts' season with the six-point win before the Sharks fell short of Peel Thunder in the preliminary final.

So there is plenty of feeling between the two clubs and while Swan Districts might not be able to be budged from top position, they certainly won't want to be flirting with form leading into the finals for 2021.

But for East Fremantle, the Sharks just need to go on a winning streak over the last three weeks if they want to take part in a third consecutive WAFLW finals campaign. 

East Fremantle currently sits in fifth position with a 4-8 record but they kept their season alive last Sunday with a 21-point win against the third placed Claremont. 

The Sharks now finish the season against South Fremantle and Subiaco after Saturday's clash with Swan Districts, and three wins to close things off with could very well still see them end up taking part in finals action.

The two teams first met this season back in Round 4 at New Choice Homes Park with Swan Districts proving too good on that occasion winning by 28 points. The next clash took place in Round 7 with Swans also coming away with the 37-point win at Shark Park.

From the Swan Districts team that beat Subiaco by a point last week, there are four changes for Swans with Fiona Boucher, Stephanie Cain, Kloe Taylor and Danielle Wright coming into the line-up.

Nyra Anderson, Naomi Baker, Jaime Henry and S Rene go out for Swan Districts.

East Fremantle has also made three changes from the team that beat Claremont with Laura McClelland, Julie-Anne Norrish and Anjelique Raison into the side.

Lea Caccamo, Skye Prentice and Elle Sanders are the players to make way.

Then on Saturday evening, it's a rematch of the 2020 WAFLW Grand Final with Subiaco hosting Peel Thunder at Leederville Oval.

Subiaco has put themselves back in a top four position on the back of improved form in recent weeks and while they played well last week, ultimately the one-point loss to Swan Districts does leave them vulnerable in fourth position.

Peel is locked into second position and can continue their momentum towards the finals with another win over the Lions on Saturday night, but for Subiaco it is a must-win game if they want to maintain their hold on a finals position.

Subiaco has made plenty of changes from the team that lost to Swan Districts by a point last week.

McKenzie Dowrick, Tarnica Golisano, Jamie Rust and Aimee Schmidt come into the Lions team while Taylisha Brown, Beatrice Devlyn, Tylor McIntosh and Kate Pocsidio go out.

And from the Thunder team that was too good for South Fremantle last week, Tanisha Anderson, Abby Barnden, Katie Grieve and Beth Schilling come into the side.

Meanwhile, Whitney Benson, Hannah Church, Greta McKinley and Aisha Wright are out of the Peel line-up.

That last match up of Round 13 then takes place on Sunday afternoon with South Fremantle hosting Claremont at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

South Fremantle comes into the Sunday clash on home soil still seeking that first ever win in the WAFLW competition, but if it came on Sunday against Claremont, it would put the Tigers in a precarious position.

Claremont remains in third position on the WAFLW ladder with a 6-6 record but they have been struggling for form in recent times including losing to East Fremantle last week with that result keeping the Sharks hopes of reaching the finals alive.

Now if Claremont can't return to the winner's list on Sunday against South Fremantle, it leaves the door open for East Fremantle to still replace them in the top four.

South Fremantle would also love nothing more than recording that elusive first ever WAFLW victory before the 2021 season concludes.

South Fremantle has added Gabrielle Canicosa, Tahlia Dawson-Gibbs, Shakira Pickett, Mim Strom and Kara Turley to their squad to take on Claremont on Sunday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Mikaila Kowald is the only out at this stage from the team that lost to Peel Thunder in Mandurah last Saturday night.

Claremont has made four changes from the side that went down to East Fremantle last Sunday with Adele Arnup, Kelsey Lang, Kate Orme and Julia Uhe into the line-up at the expense of Hayley Colvin, Emily Elkington, Ayesha Razvi and Charlotte Tompkin.

Round 13 in the WAFLW Reserves competition all takes place on Sunday afternoon with Peel Thunder playing Subiaco at David Grays Arena, South Fremantle hosting Claremont at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, and West Perth taking on East Fremantle at Provident Financial Oval.

And in the Youth Girls Rogers Cup action, Peel Thunder also faces Subiaco from 10.15am on Sunday, South Fremantle hosts Claremont from 10.20am and West Perth is at home to East Fremantle from 3pm.
 

OPTUS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 13

SWAN DISTRICTS v EAST FREMANTLE – STEEL BLUE OVAL, SATURDAY 12.35PM

SUBIACO v PEEL THUNDER – LEEDERVILLE OVAL, SATURDAY 5.15PM

SOUTH FREMANTLE v CLAREMONT – FREMANTLE COMMUNITY BANK OVAL, SUNDAY 2.00PM