Latest News Round 17 Preview v Perth
Round 17 Preview v Perth
Posted on 15/07/2011
EAST Perth returns home this Saturday to host Perth and regains some star veteran players as the Royals look to continue their recent strong form over the Demons.
East Perth has beaten Perth the last four occasions the teams have met and done so emphatically. Earlier this season in Round 10, the Royals thumped the Demons by 69 points and then in the two meetings last year they won by 67 and 117 points.
Then late in the 2009 season when both teams were still in the hunt for a finals berth East Perth thumped Perth by 118 points, so those last four victories have come at an average of an unbelievable 93 points.
However, Perth can remain in the hunt for a finals berth with a win up against East Perth on Saturday at Medibank Stadium, while the Royals will be determined themselves to win and avoid slipping to the bottom of the table.
East Perth welcomes back some much-needed experience in the form of captain Michael Swan, vice-captain Craig Wulff and prolific-ball-winning midfielder Pat Travers. Rob Macaulay, Shaquille McKenzie and Jake Derickx could also come back in.
Brendan Hancock, Chris Warrell and Luke Sampey go out of the East Perth side that went down to Williamstown last week.
The Demons will likely need to win at least six, if not all seven, of their remaining games in 2011 to make a finals appearance for the first time since 1997, but they have shown an ability to take it up to the best teams in the competition.
That included a win over Claremont in Round 14, but then the week after that it was a disappointing loss to Swan Districts. Perth has had an up and down season, but its best does suggest it is capable of playing finals football.
However, that is unlikely to happen unless a win over East Perth eventuates, but the Royals will not want to drop the four points and risk slipping to the bottom of the ladder if Peel happens to beat Swan Districts.
East Perth did get its first win in a month in its last WAFL appearance two weeks ago against Peel, but then last week was a 71-point Foxtel Cup defeat at the hands of an AFL-strengthened Williamstown at Etihad Stadium.
Perth's side is strengthened as well with the return of captain Steve Armstrong and 100-gamer Jarrod Kayler-Thomson but in-form ruckman Andrew McDougall goes out from the team that lost to Swan Districts a fortnight ago.
