ROUND 9 PREVIEW V EAST FREMANTLE

WEST Perth has pulled off two remarkable wins the last three weeks and now another four points this Saturday against East Fremantle at HBF Arena will see the Falcons enter next week's State game break in second spot on the WAFL ladder.

With the winner set to sit in second position heading into the State game break, there is plenty at stake heading into Saturday's clash between West Perth and East Fremantle with both coming off performances that were both disappointing and scintillating at different times.

Perhaps the simplest way to describe why the match should be fascinating is the fact that East Fremantle kicked 10 goals in the first quarter last Sunday while West Perth booted 10 majors in its last quarter on Saturday.

That shows that both teams are capable of piling on goals in a hurry and in exciting fashion when they are up and going.

However, East Fremantle was outscored by Perth for the rest of the day on Sunday at ATOM Stadium to only end up winning by 24 points after leading by 43, while West Perth came back from 42 points down against East Perth late in the third quarter to end up winning by 38.

The Sharks' win over the Demons saw them win a fourth straight match to improve to a 5-2 record to be a game clear in second position, but the Falcons sit just behind on 4-3 and with a superior percentage they will move into second spot with a win on Saturday.

East Fremantle has now won the last four games against West Perth coming into Saturday's clash at HBF Arena as well with the Sharks beating the Falcons by 73 points in Round 22, 2013 just over a month before West Perth went on to win the premiership.

Then last year the Sharks won all three meetings over the Falcons by three points in Round 1, nine points in Round 12 and 17 points in Round 20. 

West Perth will make at least one change from the team that beat East Perth last Saturday with speedy small forward Kris Shannon going out of the side meaning that either Marc Crisp or Steve Potente loom as the natural replacement for him.

Both Crisp and Potente are 2013 premiership players with the Falcons, but Crisp has been in the reserves now for the last six games and Potente for the last three. However, they have continued to work hard to keep their names in the mix for a league recall.

Tyler Keitel could be in line to make his WAFL league debut as well having now played three matches in the reserves with West Perth since being cleared to join the Falcons from East Perth.

Particularly with East Fremantle possessing a forward-line that will include James Bristow, Rob Young, Jack Perham, Brandon Ellis and Ryan Lester-Smith, his height might be required to help out in West Perth's defensive unit.

Blake Wilhelm is another West Perth player who has been working hard in the reserves and the 22-year-old continues to press to get the chance to make his league debut.

East Fremantle will still be without experienced and quality midfielders Jamie McNamara and Bradd Dalziell for the clash with West Perth, and then State defender Andrew Stephen joins them after he strained his hamstring during the first half of last Sunday's win over Perth.

However, the Sharks' defence will be strengthened with the return of Matthew Jupp who will play his first game since having his jaw broken against Claremont back in Round 4.

Jake Schleicher should also return to further strengthen East Fremantle's midfield after he was a late withdrawal from last Sunday's win over Perth. Aaron Holmes and Jack Fletcher have continued to perform solidly in the reserves as well to put themselves in the mix for a spot in the league team.

RESERVES SQUAD
B Antonio, M Ashfield, J Batterham, C Chalmers, B Denysiuk, M Douglas, B Fotheringham, C Franklin, K Fullgrabe, M Geraghty, A Innes, J Kirwen, T Manzone, B McGillivray, J Morrow, T Moulton, D Munns, C Papertalk, M Peirce, Z Saunders, T Sutherland, B Walton, H Yarran

COLTS SQUAD
A Allen, J Bennett, A Charlie, R Dolman, E Hills, K Hindmarsh, J Horgan, E Larmett, C Lynch, T Manners, N Marinovich, J Moore, B Mountford, S Nelson, T O'Brien, D Robertson, J Romanelli, T Smith, D Stasev, B Thompson, J Turner, M Walley, B Zanon