Teams Locked! R12 WAFL Preview

After sitting out last week with the bye, East Fremantle return to the WACA this Saturday looking to continue their good form against West Coast. The Sharks won a critical game against Swan Districts last time out and need to chalk up another victory to provide some respite from the chasing back and fight to stay in touch with the top 3. 

The Sharks have made 4 changes to the team that defeated Swan Districts with Cody Leggett, Tom Joyce and Milan Murdock returning form injury lay offs, while Jack Cleaver has been selected to play his first game with East Fremantle for the season. Cleaver had been playing at Essendon in the VFL but has returned home before the June 30 deadline and will add some run and skill off half back. Leggett returns and will play his 100th WAFL game. Since closing from Perth (67 games) in 2020, Leggett has played multiple roles but has settled into the forward position where he has hit the scoreboard this year. Murdock has completed his mandatory concussion break after sustaining a head knock in the early parts of the loss to East Perth. Tom Joyce also injured his ankle that game and the duo will be looking to build on their positive starts to the season.

Much like their AFL counterparts, West Coast has struggled in the WAFL in 2023 with limited numbers of AFL listed players being fit to play. The silver lining has been the opportunity provided for those top up players, with East Fremantle listed player Josh Browne, out on a season loan in 2023, standing up for the Eagles through the midfield. 

Dillon O’Reilly will be looking to continue his improved form line, having kicked 6.4 in a best on ground performance against Swans last outing. After an interrupted pre-season, O’Reilly has slowly been improving and has now kicked 22 goals for the season to sit equal 3rd on the goal kicking table behind Ben Sokol and Tyler Keitel. Down back, the every reliable Matthew Jupp will be looking for a miserly display from the back 7 while midfielders Kyle Baskerville, Fraser Turner and Harry Marsh will be looking to continue their recent good form. 

The game forms part of the WAFL NAIDOC fixture, with the East Fremantle jumpers being designed by Mid West Yamatji woman, Chaili Bolton. As part of the celebration, there will be a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony starting from 1.55pm. Bounce down is at 210pm.