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NAIDOC ROUND PREVIEW V EAST FREMANTLE

Friday, July 6, 2018 - 9:09 PM by Chris Pike

WEST Perth heads to East Fremantle Oval to play the bottom placed East Fremantle in NAIDOC Round of the WAFL on Saturday.

It's NAIDOC Round in the WAFL as East Fremantle hosts West Perth on Saturday at East Fremantle Oval with the Sharks just trying to be competitive while the Falcons can't afford a drop off as they look to consolidate third position.

East Fremantle comes into the game having lost four straight to remain anchored to the bottom of the ladder with a 2-10 record despite an improved second half in Geraldton last Saturday to only lose to Claremont by 20 points.

West Perth, meanwhile, remains in third position with a 7-5 record despite a 33-point defeat to Subiaco as part of the International Football Festival at Joondalup Arena last Saturday.

The Falcons are still two games clear in third position and will want to hold on to that advantage along with staying in touch for second spot.

Both teams have some added incentive too starting with East Fremantle to farewell former captain Jamie McNamara who will be playing his 145th and final match with the Sharks.

And West Perth ruckman Chris Keunen will be playing his 200th game for the Falcons as well as part of a career that has already seen him play in a premiership, earn life membership and represent Western Australia.

West Perth has enjoyed its time playing against East Fremantle in recent times with the Falcons having beaten the Sharks on the past four occasions by an average of 51.5 points.

East Fremantle's last win against Claremont came back in Round 4, 2016 and it was an empathic result by 50 points.

But going back further, West Perth has won six of the previous seven meetings with East Fremantle.

Their first meeting in 2018 took place in Round 7 at Joondalup Arena with West Perth cruising to the 88-point victory.

Both teams will wear specially designed Indigenous themed jumpers in celebration of NAIDOC Week which has become an annual event in recent years in the WAFL.

West Perth's jumper features two snakes that symbolise the intertwining of two cultures with the feet symbolising walking together. The white stars represent the 343 games played by West Perth legend, and Djinda Falcons patron, Bill Dempsey.

East Fremantle's jumper was designed by Rostrata Primary School student Manisha Pillai and includes elements designed by Booragoon student Heidi Mischok and Jonty Bone from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. The lines represent a track and the circles represent people, together showing the community to the club.

West Perth could recall Rudy Riddoch and the timing would be perfect in celebration of NAIDOC Week.

Dean Munns, Dylan Yem and Baylee James are also in contention to come into the Falcons line-up as is 192-game veteran Matt Guadagnin as he tries to break in for his first league appearance of 2018.

Jordan Mills and Nathan Alexandre are out for West Perth following last Saturday's loss to Subiaco at Joondalup Arena.

From the East Fremantle team that lost to Claremont in Geraldton last Saturday, Jonathon Marsh is set to return for the Sharks alongside Zac McCarrey and Jy Stone.

Chris Scott is the only out at this stage for East Fremantle.

ROUND 14 – NAIDOC WEEK
WEST PERTH v EAST FREMANTLE – EAST FREMANTLE OVAL, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Broadcast –
7mate

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