Round 20 Match Previews

TRENT Manzone and Keifer Yu celebrate 100-game milestones with their respective clubs in crucial games for West Perth and Claremont in Round 20 of the WAFL on Saturday with Perth, East Perth and Peel Thunder all needing to win too as the race to the finals heats up.

It’s the second last round of the 2018 WAFL season and while the top three positions appear locked away and Swan Districts and East Fremantle anchored to the bottom two spots, East Perth, Claremont, Perth and Peel Thunder remain in a battle over the remaining finals positions.

All four Round 20 matches take place on Saturday afternoon and it all gets underway at Claremont Oval with the fifth placed Claremont hosting the seventh placed reigning premiers of the past two years, Peel Thunder.

With both teams coming into the contest with 7-9 records and only separated by percentage, the winner will take a giant stride towards a finals berth while life becomes increasingly difficult for the loser.

Claremont will also be celebrating the 100th game milestone of Keifer Yu who has proven himself an equally adept contributor whether providing run out of defence, being dangerous forward or playing through the middle since making his league debut for the Tigers in 2010.

Another game with plenty at stake takes place at Leederville Oval from 3.10pm and will be shown live on Channel 7 as East Perth plays West Perth with the Polly Farmer Shield on the line.

It’s a big game for both clubs too with the Royals entering in fourth position but they will likely fall out of the top five with a loss and could stay out with a game against Peel in the final round.

West Perth look locked into finishing in third position but coming off back-to-back losses and with the bye in the final round, the last thing the Falcons want is another loss to take into the finals.

Hard running and prolific ball winning midfielder Trent Manzone will also be celebrating his 100th game with the Falcons having been a strong contributor since making the move west from Queensland in the premiership year of 2013.

South Fremantle also hosts Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with the Bulldogs out to continue their winning form and confirm second position and a home qualifying final.

It’s an even more important game for the Demons who need to win to be any hope of returning to the top five and enhancing their hopes of a first finals appearance since 1997.

The other game of Round 20 takes place at East Fremantle Oval featuring the wooden spoon bound East Fremantle hosting the undefeated Subiaco.

TABtouch Team Lists

Click the graphics below for specific match previews.