FOOTBALL, soccer and hockey all have their final game of the regular season, while Lakeside Lighting must win tonight if it wants to stay in the hunt for an SBL title.
SBL
The Lakeside Lightning women have yet to beat the Mandurah Magic this year, a streak they are going to have to break tonight if they want to force the semi-final series into a deciding third game.
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READ NOWThe Lightning went down to Mandurah 86-76 in game one last week but have plenty of upside, the least of which being they will play in front of what is sure to be a raucous home crowd tonight.
Star import Ali Schwagmeyer was quiet by her lofty standards last week, scoring 17 points despite averaging almost 22 a game, and will need to lift her team to the win over what will be a confident opponent.
Lakeside hosts Mandurah in game two of the semi final at Lakeside Recreation Centre from 7.30pm August 25.
Should the Lightning win tonight game three will be played from 7pm August 26 at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
WAFL
East Fremantle has one final chance to avoid finishing season 2017 with the wooden spoon, but it involves snatching a huge upset win against fourth-placed Swan Districts.
Their two matches against Swan Districts have been among East Fremantle’s closest this year, a 32 point loss in round 5 and nail-biting seven point loss in round 16.
Currently on the bottom of the ladder and four points behind Perth, the Sharks need to win to leapfrog the Demons, who have the bye this week.
With a home final locked in for next week, South Fremantle will have the best preparation possible when it takes on Peel Thunder tomorrow.
The second-placed Bulldogs will also take on the third-placed Peel in next week’s qualifying final.
Win or lose, Saturday’s game will have no impact on where the two teams finish, giving South Fremantle the perfect chance to get a look at their opponents and learn from the game ahead of the important first final.
East Fremantle takes on Swan Districts at Bassendean Oval and South Fremantle takes on Peel Thunder at Rushton Park.
Bounce down for both games is 2.15pm August 26.
HOCKEY
It took them until the second last game of the season to finally get a win on the board but Fremantle’s premier 1 women will be playing for another when they take on Westside Wolves tonight.
While still on the bottom of the ladder with just the solitary win, the Magpies will be full of confidence that they can take down their sixth-placed opponents, who have won six games this season including a 2-1 win the last time the two sides met.
Fremantle’s premier 1 men will also be taking on Westside Wolves, with a win not only cementing a fifth-place finish and a finals berth but also the opportunity to jump into fourth if Vic Park go down to ladder-leaders UWA the following afternoon.
Having won just one more game than their opponents this season, it will be a hard fought game that is expected to be perfect preparation for the upcoming finals.
Fremantle’s premier 1 men take on Westside Wolves from 7pm August 25 at the Perth Hockey Stadium, with the women to play straight after from 8.30pm.
SOCCER
After a strong start to 2017 where they were one of the teams to beat, the middle half of the season proved disappointing for Cockburn City but that will not stop it trying to finish the year with a bang.
In its last game of the year Cockburn takes on Perth Glory and will be playing not just for a win but for the chance to finish better than 2016, when they finished ninth with five wins.
Cockburn currently sits ninth and a win against Perth Glory gives it the chance to jump to eighth if Subiaco loses to Bayswater City.
The last time the two sides met in round 13 Perth Glory came away with a win 3-2.
Cockburn City takes on Perth Glory from 3pm August 26 at Ashfield Arena.
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