McDonald's WAFL Round 23 PreviewFriday, August 28, 2015 - 4:19 PM - by Chris Pike

ROUND 23 of the WAFL season sees Claremont fighting for its place in the finals needing to beat West Perth to replace Swan Districts in the top five while Peel Thunder also needs to defeat South Fremantle to consolidate third position and a finals double chance.

All focus will be on HBF Arena with Swan Districts having the bye and needing West Perth to beat Claremont to remain in the finals, while the only way the Tigers can replace Swans in fifth position is by handing the Falcons their first defeat at home this season.

Peel Thunder can then guarantee third position and a finals double chance with a win over South Fremantle at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

If South Fremantle wins, then East Perth can claim third position from Peel if the Royals defeat Subiaco in the battle of the Medibank Stadium co-tenants.

The other match in the last round then features the bottom two teams, East Fremantle and Perth at ATOM Stadium.

WEST PERTH (13-6, 2nd) v CLAREMONT (9-10, 6th) – HBF ARENA, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams 
Broadcast – 91.3 SportFM 

Claremont heads to HBF Arena on Saturday needing to hand West Perth its first loss on home soil for 2015 if the Tigers are to make the finals in 2015.

West Perth has won all nine of its games at HBF Arena this season on its way to a 13-6 record to now be guaranteed of a home final next Sunday against either Peel Thunder or East Perth.

The Falcons enter the clash in good form and despite not needing to win like Claremont does, they will want to score a 10th straight win at HBF Arena and fourth consecutive overall to head into the finals while a host of West Perth players need to perform well to secure their place in the team.

The challenge is now ahead of Claremont to beat West Perth in order to make the finals and to knock out Swan Districts from fifth positon.

With the Tigers again suffering a fadeout last Saturday to go from leading Swan Districts by 22 points in the third quarter to losing by 11, Swans took fifth spot and now the only way Claremont can regain it is by beating the Falcons on Saturday.

Claremont star Ian Richardson will also earn life membership by playing his 150th match with the Tigers to add to his career that has already included two premierships, a fairest and best award, six appearances for Western Australia and a Simpson Medal.

West Perth and Claremont has already met twice so far this season with the Tigers winning back in Round 7 at the Showground by 20 points and that just happened to be their first win of 2015 following their 0-5 start.

However, West Perth hit back in Round 18 at HBF Arena to continue its unbeaten record on its home turf in 2015 with the Falcons finishing strongly over the Tigers to end up winning 13.12 (90) to 12.8 (80).

West Perth now has the challenge of making sure the players are fresh heading into the finals despite Saturday's game against Claremont being the Falcons eighth straight since their last bye, but also welcoming back some injured players.

Co-captain Luke Tedesco will return from a calf injury for his first game since Round 14 following two games back in the reserves.

Kris Shannon also returns after missing the last two games with a hamstring complaint while ruckman Chris Keunen and midfielder Aidan Lynch are both back in the West Perth line-up after missing last week's win over South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval.

Brayden Antonio delivered a monster performance in the reserves last Saturday with 37 possessions, six marks, five inside-50 entries and two goals to put himself back in the mix for a league recall eight days out from the finals beginning.

Premiership half-forward Marc Crisp has now strung together several strong reserves games to be a chance of breaking back into the West Perth team for the first time since Round 9 while 20-year-old midfielder Dean Munns has strung together consistent reserves form to remain a chance to make his debut.

Tyler Keitel goes out of the West Perth side after rolling an ankle late in last Saturday's win over South Fremantle while Shane Nelson, Joe Morrow and Kody Manning are also out of the Falcons team. However, all four are expected to be available for selection next week for the home final against either East Perth or Peel at HBF Arena.

Claremont is in a must-win situation heading to HBF Arena against West Perth if the Tigers want to move through to the finals next weekend and to either take on Peel Thunder or East Perth in a cut-throat final on Sunday.

Running defender John Williams goes out of the Claremont team to take on West Perth from the one that lost to Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval last Saturday.

Claremont's leading goal kicker for the season Jack Bradshaw will return after missing last Saturday after being a late withdrawal.

With Bradshaw, Richardson, Beau Maister, Kepler Bradley and the resting ruckman Mitch Andrews or Mark Seaby, the Tigers have the making of a potent forward-line but it hasn’t quite let to the amount of goals combined overall for the season they would have hoped.

However, there is still time for it to click and for Claremont's attack to deliver winning scores.

Three other players have put themselves in contention to come into the Claremont team after good form in the reserves with Matthew Goyder coming off 27 possessions last week while Tom Willett had 24 disposals and Matthew Palfrey 18 touches.

PEEL THUNDER (12-7, 3rd) v SOUTH FREMANTLE (8-11, 7th) – BENDIGO BANK STADIUM, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams 

Peel Thunder can secure third position and a finals double chance by beating South Fremantle for a third time season in the Round 23 clash at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Saturday.

Peel has now won five of its last six matches to have guaranteed its place in the finals for the first time in the club's history since entering the WAFL in 1997, and now the Thunder can secure third position with a win over the Bulldogs on Saturday.

A win in that for the Thunder would mean that they take on West Perth at HBF Arena next Sunday in the qualifying final.

A win would then see Peel advance to play Subiaco in a second semi-final at Medibank Stadium while a loss would see them host the winner of the elimination final in a first semi-final.

However, all that could be thrown out the window if South Fremantle is able to beat Peel Thunder to avoid finishing its season with four straight losses to ease the distress of the Bulldogs missing the finals for a fourth straight season.

A South Fremantle win if East Perth also defeats Subiaco would mean that Peel slips to fourth position and then will host the elimination final next Sunday at Bendigo Bank Stadium against either Claremont or Swan Districts.

South Fremantle might not be able to play finals now for a fourth straight year, but the Bulldogs have been competitive throughout most of the 2015 season and will look to finish on a high to start setting the tone for a big pre-season, and a crack at the finals in 2016.

The game will also be the 192nd and last in the career of dual premiership veteran Craig White for South Fremantle and the Bulldogs will want to send out one of their favourite sons with a victory.

The two teams have already met on two occasions so far this season and in both meetings it has been Peel's bigger bodies and experienced midfielders who have led the way in two victories in difficult conditions.

Both days were wet and wintry, and it started with Peel beating South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval by 44 points in Round 9 and then only three weeks ago, the Thunder kicked the last four goals of the game to respond to the challenge of the Bulldogs to win 14.13 (97) to 11.1 (67).

Peel has some mixed news at selection based on what is happening at Fremantle as the Dockers gear up to take on Melbourne at Domain Stadium on Sunday.

Alex Pearce and Hayden Crozier have both been dropped from the Fremantle team and will line up for Peel on Saturday against South Fremantle.

Whether or not Pearce plays forward or back for the Thunder, though, might depend on whether Matt Taberner remains with Peel or not.

Taberner and Pearce are both emergencies for Fremantle on Sunday, but if they each line-up for the Thunder then it's likely Taberner will play forward, and Pearce back.

Lachie Weller will return for Peel after missing last week's win over Perth while fellow midfielders Clancee Pearce and Ed Langdon have received a call up by Fremantle.

Another big man Zac Clarke is out suspended for Peel but the Thunder are well equipped to cover his loss with Jack Hannath and Craig Moller in their side.

Laine Wilkins, Corey Morris, Dylan Winton, Brayden Lawler, Mitch Gill and Jamahl Mulholland are all in the mix to come into the Peel side as well to take on South Fremantle with one last chance to press their case to be there for the Thunder's first ever finals appearance next Sunday.

South Fremantle's reserves have been dominant this season to be clear on top of the ladder but league coach Todd Curley has resisted the urge to make wholesale changes for the final game of the season against Peel to give a heap of those key players in the reserves a chance.

Anthony Collica had 45 possessions last week against West Perth, Shaun Bewick 36, Mitch Banks 25, Brendan Verrier 24 (eight tackles, seven marks) and Simon Panizza 22 but none of them have been able to get a look in for the last round against the Thunder in Mandurah.

Experienced defender Dylan Ross is also now in good form as well having had another 25 possessions and nine marks last week, but he hasn’t received a call up and neither has fellow backman Chris Luff.

That is despite South Fremantle's defence being stretched by West Perth last Saturday and now likely needing to match up on Matt Taberner, Alex Pearce, Craig Moller and Sean Hurley against Peel this week.

South Fremantle will unveil another debutant, though, with 20-year-old Tim Stewart to make his league debut just seven days after his younger brother Kade was impressive in his first match against West Perth.

The presence of Tim and Kade Stewart as well as Ashton Hams, Kyle Hams, James Laurino and Haiden Schloithe will make Saturday a proud day for Katanning with all six players to line-up for South Fremantle having come to the Bulldogs from the town.

Jason Maskos and Traye Bennell are the other two players who have come into the mix to get one last crack in the league team for 2015 before then going back to take part in the reserves' push for a premiership.

EAST PERTH (11-8, 4th) v SUBIACO (16-3, 1st) – MEDIBANK STADIUM, SATURDAY 1.40PM
Selected teams 
Broadcast – KIX Digital, 7Mate

East Perth and Subiaco met twice in last year's finals series, have split their battles so far in 2015 and could very well meet again sometime in September ahead of Saturday's clash between the Medibank Stadium co-tenants in the final home and away game of the season.

East Perth and Subiaco have built a big rivalry since becoming co-tenants at the Leederville venue more than a decade ago, and now both the Royals and Lions will be desperate to enter the finals in winning form.

However, East Perth has decidedly more to play for with the Royals still a chance of finishing in third position to earn a finals doubles chance while Subiaco is guaranteed of the minor premiership and a bye in the first week of the finals currently sitting at 16-3 to be three games clear on top.

If East Perth is able to beat Subiaco for a second time this season having also beaten them in last year's second semi-final, then the Royals could still take third position if Peel Thunder also loses to South Fremantle.

However, a Royals win combined with a victory for the Thunder, or indeed an East Perth loss, would mean that they remain in fourth position and then will host an elimination final against either Swan Districts or Claremont at Medibank Stadium next Sunday.

East Perth does come into the clash fresh off the bye last week and before that the Royals had won five straight matches to be in their best form this season.

Subiaco beat East Perth in last year's grand final and now have dominated the competition this season with the Lions' only questions surrounding the fitness of some key players, and who will make up their best 22 now heading towards the finals.

The Medibank Stadium co-tenants have met twice so far this season and split the victories with East Perth scoring a commanding 64-point win back on Friday where the Royals handed the Lions their first loss of the season.

Subiaco then hit back in Round 16 with the Lions beating the Royals 12.13 (85) to 9.8 (62) but East Perth is now in vastly better form heading towards the finals and the Lions enter Saturday's clash with nothing to play for.

East Perth's depth in the big men department will again be tested with Fraser McInnes and Scott Lycett both out injured, and with Tom Barrass being called up to the West Coast team to take on Adelaide on Sunday at Adelaide Oval.

That gives Paul Johnson a big job to do in the ruck virtually on his own and then for Eagles teenager Tom Lamb to continue to present as the main marking option for the Royals in attack with support from six-gamer Clayton Giblett.

The Royals will also lose Murray Newman and Jackson Nelson from the team that beat Peel two weeks ago prior to the bye with Newman remaining in the Eagles team after playing last Sunday against the Western Bulldogs, and Nelson travelling as the emergency to Adelaide for West Coast.

East Perth will gain the services of West Coast midfielder Scott Selwood, though, as he comes in to form part of a midfield with the likes of Kane Lucas, Brendan Lee, Steven Payne, Mitch Howlett and the returning Freddie Clutterbuck.

Clutterbuck will play his first game since Round 13 having now played two matches back in the reserves on return from injury.

Callum Hart, Shayne Hille, Agid Gardoud, Tom Hodgson, Julian Ameduri and Lewis Wilson are the other East Perth players looking to break into the league side ahead of the finals campaign beginning next Sunday.

Pressure is now heating up for spots in the Subiaco team with a week off to come next week ahead of their first final in two weeks' time with the Lions earning the break by winning the minor premiership for 2015.

The league's leading goal kicker Shane Yarran will return for Subiaco having missed last week's win over East Fremantle following a concussion the previous week. While leading the goal kicking with 44 goals, Yarran has managed just seven majors in his last six games.

However, kicking winning scores hasn’t been an issue for Subiaco with Matt Boland, Kyle Halligan, Michael Wood, Chris Phelan and Simon Moore having all picked up the slack in recent weeks.

Premiership defenders Joel Latham and Charles Le Fanu are also in line to come back into the Lions' line-up for their final game before the finals with another backman Aaron Heal a chance to get another opportunity as well.

Brett Robinson goes out of the team for Subiaco but the Swan Districts premiership midfielder is set to be right for the finals.

Interestingly, Subiaco has again gone in without a recognised ruckman backing in the makeshift pair of Lachlan Delahunty and Clancy Wheeler up against Paul Johnson despite East Fremantle's Rob Young getting on top against them last Saturday even though the Lions still won by 77 points.

EAST FREMANTLE (5-14, 8th) v PERTH (2-17, 9th) – ATOM STADIUM, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams 
 
East Fremantle and Perth will still occupy the bottom two positions on the WAFL ladder at the end of the season no matter what happens at ATOM Stadium on Saturday, but both will be desperate to finish their disappointing seasons on a winning note.

Perth has won just two games for the season and will end up with the wooden spoon no matter what happens on Saturday but East Fremantle has had a disastrous finish to the season to come in to the clash with the Demons on a 12-game losing run.

The Demons have arguably been a more competitive outfit this season despite the fact that they have recorded just the two wins, but ending with a second win in their last four matches of 2015 would provide some positive vibes to close the year with.

East Fremantle only missed last year's grand final because of inaccurate kicking on goal in the preliminary final against Subiaco, and then the Sharks responded by starting the 2015 season well with five wins from their first seven games.

However, East Fremantle is now winless since then having lost its last 12 games including a changeover in coach with Brad Dodd now in charge having replaced Steve Malaxos.

As if avoiding losing the last 13 matches of the season won't be enough for East Fremantle, the Sharks will have the added motivation to win for retiring big man Rob Young and captain Rory O'Brien who will play his 200th WAFL match.    

East Fremantle and Perth have played two interesting contests so far this season with the Sharks winning the first meeting in Round 8 at ATOM Stadium on the back of an 11-goal opening quarter despite the Demons outscoring them the rest of the afternoon.

Perth then recorded its second win of the season back in Round 19 by beating East Fremantle 13.10 (88) to 10.9 (69) at Lathlain Park.

East Fremantle could blood another debutant for the final game of the season with Matt Baseden a chance to come into the side against Perth after good form in the reserves, and another 29 possessions last week against Subiaco.

Dion Anthony is another player who has shown some dominant form in the reserves for the Sharks with another 35 possessions last week so he could receive another opportunity in the final game of the season.

Aaron Holmes could also get a chance at his third league game while Andrew Stokes could get his fifth league appearance and underperforming forward Jack Perham could have one more opportunity to show something at league level before 2015 ends.

Jayden Schofield and Josh Cuneo are the two players to go out of the East Fremantle team at this stage from the side that lost to Subiaco last Saturday at Medibank Stadium.

Perth could make a host of changes in the search of a third win for the season and the Demons' defence looks set to be significantly strengthened with the returns of Brent Latch, Chris Billings and David Johnston.

The only problem is that East Fremantle doesn’t exactly have a bevy of tall forwards for those Perth forwards match up on, so there is every chance that Johnston, Billings and Latch could find themselves used in the ruck or in the forward-line at different points during the game on Saturday.

Andries Mercer has strung together some good form now in the reserves for Perth be a chance to make his debut in the final game of the season with Mitch Henderson having graduated from the colts to the reserves this year, and the 19-year-old is also a possible debutant.

Midfielder Michael Sinclair is a strong inclusion to the Perth side as well against East Fremantle with his ability to do run-with roles effectively through the middle, but also to be another prolific ball winner for the Demons alongside Dene White, Aidan Tropiano and Liam McKenna.