WA Day Derby Returns to Blockbuster Status Thursday, June 2, 2022 - 3:06 PM - by Mark Readings

FOR the first time in several seasons the WA Day Foundation Derby is being billed as a WAFL blockbuster between two premiership contenders. 

The biggest day of the WAFL home and away season has arrived with South Fremantle hosting top of the table East Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. 

The Bulldogs have dominated recent matches against their old rivals, having won the past 12 encounters, often by big margins, dating back to 2016. 

An illustration of the gap between the two teams is shown in three matches between 2017 and 2020.  

The Bulldogs scored a crushing 145-point result on WA Day 2017, a 113-point hammering in Round 21 the following year, before claiming a 95-point victory in the opening round of 2020. 

A win by South Fremantle in this Round 7 encounter will equal the longest ever winning streak by the Bulldogs over their bitter rivals, dating back to 2006. 

Such has been South Fremantle’s stranglehold in these games, they’ve won 17 of the past 20 matches. 

East Fremantle’s last derby victory came on WA Day 2016 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. 

But after years in the doldrums, the Sharks have hit the ground running in 2022, winning five of their six opening games. 

“It has been a fantastic start to the year with us building on the improvement we showed late in 2021," East Fremantle coach Bill Monaghan said.

"We’ve really started to spread the load with our senior players standing up, and the guys in the 30-50 game range now having a bigger influence on contests." 

The Sharks boss is desperate to earn what would be his first derby win against South Fremantle while coaching the Sharks. 

“It certainly has been tough going when it comes to derbies in my time, but we go into this game in good form and a degree of confidence," Monaghan said. 

"Our supporters and members should be more optimistic than they’ve been in years, so I really hope they turn up in good numbers on Monday." 

East Fremantle celebrated its first match at its temporary home at the WACA with a convincing 44-point win over reigning premiers Subiaco last weekend. 

Jonathon Marsh produced a superb performance with five goals from 18 disposals, while Blaine Boekhorst was dominant with 37 possessions. 

“Each week is a challenge, so whether it’s South or Subiaco we prepare well and look to nullify the opposition," Monaghan said.

"We can’t afford to think too far ahead or be happy with what we’ve done to this point of the year as there’s still a long way to go in the season." 

The last time these sides met, in Round 18 last year, the Bulldogs flexed their muscles with a 61-point victory, but history isn’t on the mind of South Fremantle coach Todd Curley. 

“East Fremantle has had a great start to the year, playing some good footy with plenty of confidence," Curley said.

"Previous results don’t mean much because both clubs will have a lot of changes to personnel."  

Last year’s runners-up are in fifth position on the WAFL ladder, and they enter the Fremantle Ports WA Day Derby with a 3-3 record, a sign of their inconsistency.     

The build-up, the hype and the anticipation of derby week is unlike any other in the WAFL. 

"The expectation of supporters is high and that filters down to the players," Curley added.

Winning derbies is a highlight for everyone and affords supporters bragging rights. 

"We’re aware of the history and the rivalry, but we also know that we need to live in the moment, and we can only control what happens on Monday," Monaghan said.

We’re expecting it to be a cracking game and we aim to put in a performance that all East Fremantle supporters can be proud of." 

Going back to 1900, these clubs have met 385 times, with East Fremantle winning 198 matches to South Fremantle’s 183. 

On Monday, another chapter will be written by these two famous WAFL clubs. 

Bouncedown for the Fremantle Ports WA Day Derby between South Fremantle and East Fremantle is 2.35pm at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.