Where and when: MCG, Saturday June 1, 1.45pm AEST
Last time they met: Optus Stadium, round 23, 2018: Fremantle 9.13 (67) lost to Collingwood 11.10 (76)
The Magpies had to win the final-round clash against the lowly Dockers to secure a top-four berth, but they trailed by eight points midway through the last quarter before conjuring the last three goals, two of them in quick succession to Brody Mihocek. Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury had it on a string.
What it means for Collingwood: The understrength Pies have done just enough against ordinary opposition in recent weeks but, given they slaughtered the Dockers at the ‘G last year, this could be a chance to close the percentage gap with top team Geelong.
What it means for Fremantle: In their first of just two MCG fixtures for the season, the Dockers will be keen to prove their top-eight credentials by claiming one of the competition’s biggest scalps.
How Collingwood wins: Gun ruckman Brodie Grundy will continue to provide a wealth of opportunities to a deep running brigade, which in turn will serve quality scoring opportunities to a flexible attack. Their familiarity with the MCG should not be understated.
How Fremantle wins: Rory Lobb to break even with Grundy and trouble him with his leap, enabling skipper Nat Fyfe and veteran David Mundy to gain the ascendancy around stoppages and distribute to their pacy runners.
The stat: The Pies have won their past four against Freo, and their past six against them at the MCG, including a 61-point shellacking there in their corresponding clash last year.
The match-up: Nat Fyfe v Scott Pendlebury
The opposing skippers, who were AFLX teammates in Fyfe’s Flyers team in February, appear set to lock horns in a duel that could shape the outcome. Pendlebury (No.23 in the Official AFL Player Ratings) is likely to be assigned responsibility for Fyfe (No.2) at stoppages – an appetising prospect for football purists.
It’s a big week for: Chris Mayne
The former Docker figured in both wins over his previous club last year but had little of the ball as he played predominantly defensive roles. The former forward will be keen to show how far he has come as a ball-generating, link-up wingman.
Big call: Freo’s after-the-siren hero Michael Walters will produce contenders for both the Mark of the Year and Goal of the Year.
Mottsy’s Tip: Pies by 45 points
**Our Admin isn’t always online. If you have access to the SuperCoach scores, the SCT Coaches would be very appreciative if you could pop them into the comments below. Thank you!**
Leave a comment / Scroll to bottom
Final teams #AFLPiesDockers: No late changes.
Rory Lobb putting up a decent effort against Grundy. Both scoring well but Lobb scoring better this 1st quarter
Lobb was seen limping off the ground after landing awkwardly in a marking contest right on quarter time.
Had work done on it but has returned for the 2nd quarter
Grundy came off the ground with right leg injury after landing awkwardly. Seems to be relatively fine
1/2 time
Pies 6-5-41
Dockers 4-4-28
S Pendlebury 76
B Grundy 59
J Stephenson 49
A Treloar 48
L Greenwood 46
J De Goey 44
J Aish 43
S Sidebottom 41
B Maynard 40
B Mihocek 39
J Howe 39
B Reid 36
D Beams 35
T Phillips 34
J Crisp 34
W H-Elliott 33
D Moore 33
C Mayne 32
J Roughead 30
T Varcoe 29
C Brown 15
J Thomas 13
R Lobb 76
N Fyfe 68
M Walters 63
B Hill 49
C Blakely 48
J Hogan 40
L Ryan 40
E Langdon 33
T Duman 33
D Tucker 32
A Brayshaw 30
N Wilson 30
E Hughes 29
D Mundy 23
R Conca 21
S Switkowski 20
J Hamling 19
B Bewley 17
B Cox 13
B Matera 9
A Cerra 8
A Pearce 5
Lobb putting in a ripper half, really putting his name in the ring for a chance in my team for round 13
Just noticing Bewley is only getting about 60% TOG which isn’t too promising. His score with it isn’t too bad but he needs more time for us coaches
pearce off
ankle
Mundy back to his round 1 and 2 form, with about 10 minutes left in the final quarter only being on 30.
i have cursed him
i should have played gibbons & benched mundy
my worst 3 trades thos year are fast becoming
boak , whitfield & mundy
over the last 4 weeks
need grundy to have a big 8 mins
grundy 20 pts in 2 mins 😉
Up to 125 with 3 mins to go. Looks safe enough to lock that in
Cog is on 198 versing Gold Coast sun
walters has ice in his veins when it comes to kicking the match winning goals
He has kicked one
Last week was a match winning point but was still a fair punt, nearly went in.
Needed a goal today and slotted it, him or Barra are the only ones that could kick them, rest of our side struggles under half the pressure!
Well done Freo
grundys score went backwards last 5 mins
moores score went backwards too
Fyfe 123?!?! Supercoach can go fuck it self
Two turnovers in last few minutes.
He set up the last two scores
145 now. Still unders
Walters got 9 points for kicking winning goal. Pretty sure bont earlier this year got almost 30 pts
no reason the dockers cant win the flag this year
beating the pies @ the G is an ominous sign
I don’t know if they can quite go that far, but their rebuild is tracking very, very nicely. Carlton please take note.
Freo supporter from inception here, top 8 is still not in the bag, we seem to be playing better away and against better sides. Next year barring injury could be the one.