WAFL Round 2 PreviewFriday, March 27, 2015 - 2:22 PM - by Chris Pike

ROUND 2 of the 2015 McDonald's WAFL Premiership season sees all four finals teams from last year match up against one another while West Perth and Perth look to bounce back from disappointing starts to their campaigns.

All four matches take place on Saturday afternoon with East Fremantle playing Subiaco at East Fremantle's ATOM Stadium, East Perth hosting Swan Districts at Leederville's Medibank Stadium and West Perth facing Peel Thunder at Joondalup's HBF Arena. All three matches bounce down at 2.15pm.

Then at 2.40pm, this week's broadcast game on 7mate sees Perth host South Fremantle at Lathlain Park.

Claremont has the Round 2 bye ahead of a Good Friday clash with South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval.

EAST FREMANTLE (1-0) v SUBIACO (1-0) – ATOM STADIUM, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams
Broadcast – KIX Digital

East Fremantle and Subiaco meet in what is without question the match of the round in a rematch of last year's preliminary final and with both teams coming off impressive first up performances.

Subiaco beat East Fremantle in last year's preliminary by five points but that was largely thanks to the Sharks' woeful kicking of 7.26 for the afternoon.

East Fremantle then had to watch Subiaco go on and win the premiership by beating East Perth in the grand final so that torment has been sitting with the Sharks all summer long.

They took some of that frustration out on the Royals last Saturday night beating them by 55 points at Domain Stadium after kicking the first eight goals of the game and keeping East Perth goalless until the 13-minute mark of the third quarter.

And now East Fremantle will look to knock off the reigning premiers at home this Saturday.

However, Subiaco was terrific last Saturday kicking six goals to one in the last quarter to beat Claremont by 45 points to show that they are a real threat to becoming back-to-back premiers this season.

East Fremantle could hardly have been more emphatic or impressive in last Saturday night's win over East Perth, at least in the first three quarters, but the Sharks haven’t had the best news at selection coming into Saturday's clash with the minor premiers.

Liam Anthony made a scintillating return to the WAFL with East Fremantle after his time in the AFL with North Melbourne against the Royals finishing with 28 possessions and two goals, but he goes out of the team to play Subiaco this week.

George Hampson will also miss the clash against his former side through injury. Hampson won Subiaco's 2013 fairest and best award and then was instrumental in the Lions' beating East Perth in last year's grand final and claiming the 2014 premiership.

However, he got hurt during last Saturday night's win over East Perth and now hasn’t come up in time to be fit to take on his old teammates this Saturday at ATOM Stadium.

The Sharks do have some impressive players trying to break into the side, though, including Tom Hooker, Dion Anthony, Jack Fletcher, Jayden Schofield and Jarryd Lindsay.

Subiaco also looked terrific last Saturday running over the top of Claremont in the last quarter to win by 45 points, and the Lions did so without the presence of some key players.

The forward-line still functioned tremendously to kick 15 goals with Shane Yarran and Clancy Wheeler booting five goals apiece, and now it looks stronger again coming into the clash with the Sharks with the inclusion of premiership full-forward Matt Boland.

Tom Smith had 20 possessions, 11 tackles and two goals in Subiaco's reserves win over Claremont last week to put himself right in contention to add to his one league appearance with the Lions last year.

And Brett Robinson looks set to make his debut with Subiaco with the goalkicking midfielder returning to the WAFL after spending 2014 playing with South Bunbury.

The 2010 premiership midfielder from Swan Districts has joined the Lions and old mate Wayde Twomey in 2015, and after missing Round 1 through illness will be looking to add to his 83 games of WAFL experience this Saturday against East Fremantle.

EAST PERTH (0-1) v SWAN DISTRICTS (1-0) – MEDIBANK STADIUM, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams

East Perth and Swan Districts both played finals last year but could have hardly had more contrasting starts to the season leading into this Saturdays' clash at Medibank Stadium.

East Perth made its second straight grand final last year after being minor premiers and beating Subiaco in the second semi-final, but the Royals' had a horror start to the 2015 season last Saturday night against East Fremantle at Domain Stadium.

The Royals didn’t kick a goal until the 13-minute mark of the third quarter and it was only an improved showing in the last term with four goals to two that made the final losing margin a more respectable 55 points.

Swan Districts, on the other hand, did a tremendous job just to make the finals in 2014 before losing at home in the first semi-final to East Fremantle.

The black-and-whites then came out an inspired outfit last Saturday dominating Perth at Steel Blue Oval to end up winning by 96 points to now enter their clash with the Royals this Saturday with plenty of momentum and confidence.

With the AFL having the bye ahead of Round 1, West Coast have had Tom Barrass, Jamie Bennell, Mitch Brown, Brant Colledge, Liam Duggan, Josh Hill, Malcolm Karpany, Dylan Main, Fraser  McInnes, Simon Tunbridge and Alec Waterman granted permission to play for East Perth on Saturday.

Of those, Bennell, Colledge, Duggan, Hill, Karpany, McInnes, Tunbridge and Waterman have all been named to play after being given clearance by the AFL despite having played during the NAB Challenge for the Eagles.

Then on top of that, fellow West Coast-listed players Kane Lucas, Murray Newman and Paddy Brophy have been named to play with the Royals as well having been eligible to do due to not having had the NAB Challenge exposure in recent weeks.

However, what East Perth will be fully aware of following losing the last two WAFL grand finals and then last Saturday night's hefty defeat to East Fremantle is that just because AFL-listed players are in their side, it doesn’t necessarily given them an advantage.

Last Saturday night, only Lucas had a strong game from West Coast for the Royals with his 31 possessions and while Duggan and Waterman were also solid, they got little out of their other five AFL-listed players.

From the team that lost to the Sharks last week, Clayton Giblett is the only out at this stage with Rowen Powell pressing for his league debut after dominating the reserves last week with 24 possessions and five goals.

Swan Districts delivered just about a flawless Round 1 performance last Saturday beating Perth by 96 points at home and that is reflected at the selection table for this week's clash with East Perth.

Coach Greg Harding has decided to make no changes to the team that won so emphatically to open the season against the Demons.

That means that despite the Swans' reserves winning by 50 points last week with Ben Whitsed racking up 30 possessions, Jesse Turner 26, David McKay 25, Albert Dean 24, Levi Ridley 24, Lindsay Murray 22 and Dylan Nelson kicking four goals, none of them have been able to break into the league side for this week. 

WEST PERTH (0-1) v PEEL THUNDER (0-0) – HBF ARENA, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams
Broadcast – 91.3 SportFM (www.sportfm.com.au)

West Perth had a tough start to its 2015 season losing to South Fremantle last Friday night and now the challenge is ahead of the Falcons this Saturday in their home opener against Peel Thunder at HBF Arena.

West Perth came into the 2015 season with high hopes of a rejuvenated year after a disappointing 2014 following the 2013 premiership, but the result was a 35-point loss to South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval under lights on Friday night.

Not only did the Falcons lose the match, but the way they used the ball in particular was disappointing for coach Bill Monaghan and those in attendance, and then on top of it they lost premiership star Jordan Jones to a hamstring injury as well.

West Perth will be confident of bouncing back quickly on Saturday against Peel at HBF Arena, but it won't be easy with the Thunder team to possess up to 17 Fremantle-listed players and then some top quality WAFL talent led by Brendon Jones, Gerald Ugle and Eddie Dann.

Peel had the opening round bye so will be making their first appearance of the 2015 season and the Thunder will be determined to start off on a winning note, and to try and make up for last year's heartbreaking loss to West Perth at the same venue when Anthony Tsalikis kicked the match-winning goal on the siren after Peel earlier led by 42 points at half-time. 

From the West Perth team that lost to South Fremantle last Friday night, Jordan Jones goes out with a hamstring tear that looks set to sideline him for up to a month.

Key position player Marcus Adams is also battling a foot complaint but has been named in the selected side.

Following the retirement of Dan Hunt at the end of last season, with Michael Pettigrew unlikely to now return in 2015 and Nick Rodda playing forward, Jones and possibly Adams are two players West Perth couldn’t afford to lose from its back-line early in the season.

It will likely mean that Rodda will have to play back to try and ensure that the Falcons can match up on Peel's bevy of tall players they will likely have in their forward-line.

Tim Sutherland is also a chance to make his league debut to provide some more height to West Perth's line-up.

That will mean a restructured forward-line for the Falcons with Michael Lourey likely to play as the marking option with Matt Fowler to come into the side as a leading target.

Drew Rohde showed good signs last week across half-forward so will remain and then Kody Manning and Steve Potente will supply some support at ground level, and Brayden Antonio, Matt Johnson, Kris Shannon and Callum Papertalk are all in contention to come into the team and are goalkicking options.

League premiership duo from 2013 Ray Bartholomew and Marc Crisp join Jones out of the West Perth team at this stage along with reserves premiership player from last year Trent Manzone.

Fremantle have been granted permission by the AFL to have Michael Barlow, Paul Duffield, Garrick Ibbotson, Danyle Pearce, Max Duffy, Connor Blakely, Jack Hannath, Jonathon Griffin, Michael Apeness and Lachie Weller play with Peel this Saturday if they so choose.

Of those, Duffield, Barlow, Blakely, Apeness, Duffy, Weller, Hannath, Griffin and Pearce have all been named to play.

On top of that, fellow Dockers listed players Alex Pearce, Tanner Smith, Brady Grey, Josh Deluca, Colin Sylvia, Jacob Ballard, Ethan Hughes and Ed Langdon have all been named to play for the Thunder.

That leaves Peel with only Eddie Dann, Josh Bootsma, Gerald Ugle, Brayden Lawler, Josh Mathers, Brennan Gillam and Mitch Gill as WAFL players in the initial squad of 25.

And of those, Jones is the captain and a multiple fairest and best winner at two clubs, and Bootsma and Ugle have played in the AFL.

That is a strong Peel line-up and with a host of the Fremantle players looking to push for selection in Round 1 of the AFL season, the Thunder will be tough opposition for a West Perth team desperate to bounce back from their season-opening loss last Friday night.

PERTH (0-1) v SOUTH FREMANTLE (1-0) – LATHLAIN PARK, SATURDAY 2.40PM
Selected teams
Broadcast – 7mate

Perth started the 2015 season in horror fashion and South Fremantle was impressive in Round 1, but things can quickly change just a week later and it will be a fascinating contest this Saturday afternoon at Lathlain Park between the Demons and Bulldogs on 7mate.

Perth came into the season on a 14-game losing streak from the end of 2014 but new coach Earl Spalding had reason to expect a much more competitive effort from his side in Round 1 against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval.

However, the result was a 96-point loss at the hands of the black-and-whites with the Demons now given seven days to pick up the pieces from that defeat and to try and turn things around this Saturday at home with the added exposure of the match being shown live on 7mate.

South Fremantle also has a new coach in 2015 with Todd Curley taking over the helm at the Bulldogs and he had a much more enjoyable start to his second stint as a senior coach than did Spalding.

South Fremantle was impressive beating West Perth by 35 points last Friday night at Fremantle Oval giving the Bulldogs their first Round 1 victory since they beat East Perth by four points in a remarkable contest in 2010.

The Bulldogs then had the bye in Round 1 in both 2011 and 2012, and did beat East Perth again in 2011 in Round 2 and then Perth in a stunning comeback in Round 2 of 2012, but the last two years has seen them lose their season-openers.

South Fremantle lost its first four matches of 2014, the opening seven of 2013 and three of the first four in 2012 so after winning last Friday night, the Bulldogs are looking to make their first good start to a season since winning five of their first six matches in 2011. That was also the last time South Fremantle played finals.

Perth had a difficult start to its season last Saturday against Swan Districts but it is a stronger looking Demons line-up that has been named this week to take on South Fremantle.

Hawthorn premiership player Chance Bateman returns to the Perth side to add his leadership, skills and running ability, and based on his form to close out 2014 he still has plenty left in the tank to help out the Demons with.

Key defender Chris Billings missed Round 1 through suspension but returns to face the Bulldogs this Saturday and his reward will be to help out fellow key defenders Brent Latch and David Johnston in matching up on South Fremantle's key forwards James Sellar, Josh Pullman and Ben Saunders.

Kane Ransted is also included in the squad for Perth after playing solidly in the reserves last week on return to the Demons this season after being away in 2014. He brings with him 71 games and 80 goals previously, but he is equally capable of playing forward or back.

Joel Kalajzic had 25 possessions in the reserves last week for Perth and he could have earned himself a league recall while Callum Wally picked up 20 disposals last week in the reserves and the former Claremont colts and reserves player could be in line for league debut now this Saturday.

Kieran Hug is the only out at this stage from the Perth side that lost to Swan Districts by 96 points last Saturday.

South Fremantle loses Anthony Collica from the side that beat West Perth last Friday night at Fremantle Oval after he picked up 18 possessions in the opening round, but depth is far from a concern at the Bulldogs early in the season.

Toby Bairstow, Chris Luff, Matthew Gundry and Bailey Matera are all fighting to take Collica's spot in the team to take on the Demons on Saturday, and possibly fill one or two more positions if the coaching staff decides more changes are necessary.

Bairstow is a veteran of 107 league games and he racked up 34 possessions in the reserves last week to put himself right in contention to add to South Fremantle's midfield this Saturday.

Luff is a quality key defender who has joined South Fremantle from Peel Thunder this season where he previously played 43 matches, and now the 24-year-old former State 18s representative could make his league debut with the Bulldogs this week.

Gundry is a small defender who finished the 2014 season in strong form in the league team and he did his chances of a recall no harm in the reserves last Saturday while Matera is a chance for his league debut this Saturday after 23 possessions in the reserves.

Further highlighting South Fremantle's depth to start the season, John Sgherza, Mitch Carter, Paul Mugambwa, Alistair Gillespie, Ben Sokol, Adam Carter and Sam Lowrie will all remain in the reserves this week.

All have previously proven themselves capable of being strong league footballers and on top of that, Cory Dell'Olio, Jarrod Parry and Nick Borovac are quality players remaining on the sidelines for at least one more week.