WAFL Second-Semi Final PreviewFriday, September 17, 2021 - 3:30 PM - by Chris Pike

SUBIACO and South Fremantle renew their recent run of battling in finals on Saturday at Leederville Oval with a place in the 2021 WAFL Grand Final on the line.

Up until Subiaco missed making the finals last year during the shortened and delayed 2020 season, the Lions and Bulldogs have become quite accustomed to taking on one another in finals contests in recent seasons.

Over the previous four seasons in fact, the two teams met in five finals match ups culminating in the 2019 Grand Final that was won by Subiaco by 96 points. 

The Lions won the previous four match ups over the Bulldogs too in the second semi finals of 2016, 2018 and 2019, and preliminary final of 2017.

The closest of those five finals battles was an 18-point win for Subiaco in the 2018 second semi-final, but things have changed a plenty since that 2019 Grand Final that the Lions handed the Bulldogs a thumping in.

South Fremantle went on to finish on top of the ladder for the 2020 season and capitalised on that by winning the club's first premiership since 2009.

Then so far in 2020, the two teams have split their two meetings with the home side winning on each occasion leading into this Saturday's second semi-final match up at Leederville Oval.

It all points to a fascinating contest with the winner to move into the Grand Final in two weeks' time at Optus Stadium while the loser will play host to either Claremont or West Perth in next week's preliminary final.

For Subiaco, reaching the Grand Final would make it their seventh appearance on the big day in the past eight years while for South Fremantle it would be a third successive Grand Final showing.

WAFL TEAM OF THE YEAR 2021

QUALIFYING FINAL REACTION – SOUTH FREMANTLE

QUALIFYING FINAL MATCH REPORT

FINALS ANALYSIS – SUBIACO

FINALS ANALYSIS – SOUTH FREMANTLE

Subiaco got back to usual proceedings in 2021 after a down year in 2020 by finishing the home and away season with a 14-4 record to claim the minor premiership, and earn the week off in the opening weekend of the finals.

Prior to 2020, the Lions had won premierships in 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019 while finishing on top of the ladder every year between 2015-19 and reaching the Grand Final six straight seasons between 2014-19.

It was a remarkable run of dominance but their return to premiership contention again in 2021 has seen the Lions do so with a significantly different looking playing squad.

Only Jordan Lockyer, Angus Dewar, Hayden Kennedy, Aaron Heal, Leigh Kitchin, Max Walters, Ben Sokol, Lachlan Delahunty and Greg Clark will play in Saturday's second semi-final who were there for a significant period of those dominant years.

South Fremantle, meanwhile, bounced back from that Grand Final loss in 2019 on the back of losing the previous three preliminary finals to win the premiership in 2020, and now has backed it up with a second place finish in 2021.

Ultimately the Bulldogs were only one Peel goal against Subiaco away from a second straight minor premiership as well so really precious little separates South Fremantle and the Lions in 2021.

The Bulldogs won the first meeting between the two by 18 points back in Round 5 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval before the Lions scored a 44-point victory at Leederville Oval in Round 16.

Subiaco now comes into Saturday's second semi-final fresh off the week off after a narrow Round 22 win over Peel Thunder.

From that team, the Lions have made just the two changes with Jackob Atkinson and Jack Mayo coming into the line-up while Isaac Clinch and Lewis Putt go out.

South Fremantle took part in another classic with Claremont last Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval ending up with a one-point win to book their place in the second semi-final against Subiaco.

From that team, the Bulldogs have made a couple of changes opting for premiership ruckman Brock Higgins over Hamish Free while captain Dylan Main has been named for the injured Zac Dent.

The WAFL Team of the Year was named this week with both these teams well represented. Subiaco had Greg Clark, Leigh Kitchin and Lachlan Delahunty named in the starting 18 while South Fremantle had Noah Strom, Haiden Schloithe, Mason Shaw and Blake Schlensog in the final 22.

Meanwhile, the colts second semi-final will take place at Claremont's Revo Fitness Stadium on Sunday morning between Swan Districts and Claremont.

Swans were the standout team in the season of the colts winning their first 15 matches while the Tigers won their way into the second semi-final with a qualifying final win against East Perth last week.

Now the winner on Sunday will advance to the Grand Final while the loser will host either East Perth or East Fremantle in the preliminary final.

The reserves second semi-final will be taking place at Revo Fitness Stadium as well on Sunday between Claremont and Perth.

The Tigers finished on top of the ladder in the reserves to book their second semi-final spot while the Demons won their way into the clash by beating Swan Districts in the qualifying final last week.

The winner of Sunday's clash will move straight into the Grand Final while the loser will play either Swan Districts or Subiaco in the preliminary final next week.
 

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – FINALS SERIES
SECOND SEMI-FINALS

LEAGUE
SUBIACO v SOUTH FREMANTLE – LEEDERVILLE OVAL, SATURDAY 2.40PM
Live scores, stats
TV: Channel 7
Radio: 91.3 SportFM, SEN

RESERVES
CLAREMONT v PERTH – REVO FITNESS STADIUM, SUNDAY 11.30AM
Live scores, stats

COLTS
SWAN DISTRICTS v CLAREMONT – REVO FITNESS STADIUM, SUNDAY 8.50AM
Live scores, stats