Bulldogs-Sharks Battle to Maintain Finals SpotThursday, August 1, 2024 - 7:58 PM - by Chris Pike

COMING off a massive WA Day Derby earlier in 2024, the Fremantle arch-rivals do battle again in Round 18 and there's a lot on the line with both South Fremantle and East Fremantle trying to lock in a finals berth.

Going back to WA Day this year and a crowd of 7468 packed Fremantle Community Bank Oval to see a terrific contest where South Fremantle prevailed by 14 points to have now won 16 of the past 17 derbies.

The stakes are once again high this week with South Fremantle sitting with an 8-5 record along with last week's draw with Swan Districts while as reigning premiers, East Fremantle is just two points behind at 9-5 and having now won three straight.

Chad Pearson will be leading the Bulldogs into a second derby as skipper having never lost to East Fremantle in 127-game WAFL career. He doesn’t want that to change this week as they battle over the Ciccotosto-Uittenbroek Cup.

"Derbies are always the biggest games in the home and away season," Pearson said.

"The history and passion of both fan bases makes it one of the games you circle on the calendar at the start of the season and the games you always want to be part of.

"7000 people in Round 9 was one of the best atmospheres I've been part of and one hopefully we can top come this Saturday.

"Given where both teams are on the ladder and how desperate both are for wins late in the season only adds to the pressure and excitement, with that finals like atmosphere it’s one we all can’t wait for."

East Fremantle premiership winning 178-game defender Cam Eardley will be playing his 24th derby this Saturday and looking for a fourth win against the Bulldogs, but it's more what it means in the context of the season that makes this even more significant.

"There’s always something special about derbies and I still remember my colts debut in a derby at Fremantle Oval. I learnt from early on that the rivalry is real," Eardley said.

"Past players still talk about derbies being their favourite hit outs, and I think I’ll look back on my career with a similar feeling.

"Both teams gear themselves up for these days and every contest means that little bit more. They are always big games but none so more than this weekend.

"With the top five so close, and only a handful of games left in the season, I think this derby will be the biggest and most significant for a while.

"If we win, we can jump South Freo into fourth, and if they win they go six points ahead of us which will be difficult to chase down this late in the season.

"The atmosphere at Fremantle Derbies is unmatched in my opinion and hopefully, the crowd turns up like they always do and we can put on a spectacle for all the supporters.

"It’s a high stakes game and I think it will have a finals type feeling about it."