Game Chat – Gold Coast v Fremantle

Written by Father Dougal on March 31 2019

Where and when: Metricon Stadium, Sunday March 31, 3.40pm AEST

Last time they met: Optus Stadium, round three, 2018: Fremantle 13.18 (96) beat Gold Coast 10.8 (68)

Gold Coast won its first two matches under Stuart Dew but came crashing back to earth in this one. Without their own home ground while the Commonwealth Games took centre stage, the Suns sold this match to Fremantle but it was the Dockers who cashed in. Superstar Nat Fyfe was incredible, tallying 38 disposals, 14 clearances, eight tackles and two goals in the win.

What it means for Gold Coast: The Suns have spent the pre-season telling us they want to give their fans a team to be proud of – here’s their first chance.

What it means for Fremantle: After so much rightful praise for their round one victory, the Dockers need to validate it with another bold showing against a team they should beat.

How Gold Coast wins: The Suns must dominate in the trenches, starting with a better connection between Jarrod Witts and his midfielders. Gold Coast can create more than enough avenues to score if it does this and cuts down its unforced turnovers.

How Fremantle wins: Play the way it did against North Melbourne last week. The swift ball movement that undid the Kangaroos can also hurt a Suns outfit not blessed with a ton of pace.

The stat: He gives most teams trouble, but Nat Fyfe owns Gold Coast. His average of 30.6 disposals and 8.5 clearances a game are both higher than against any other opponent. He also has nine Brownlow Medal votes in six matches.

The match-up: Touk Miller v Nat Fyfe

Fyfe (third overall in the AFL’s Official Player Ratings) started his season in blistering form with 10 clearances, five from the centre, against North. Miller (148th overall) might not have a direct tagging job but should line up on the Freo skipper at plenty of stoppages. If Fyfe cuts loose, Gold Coast is in for a long day.

It’s a big week for: Jack Hombsch

Now at his third club the versatile defender will play his 100th game. While it’s a nice milestone for Hombsch, the 26-year-old will also have his hands full with Fremantle’s three-pronged tall forward line proving a handful for North Melbourne last weekend. Slowing down Cam McCarthy or Matt Taberner would help his team immeasurably.

Father Dougals’s Tip: Fremantle by 24. I just don’t see a team that can’t handle the Saints beating the Dockers. Who do the Suns have to match Fyfe?  I have high confidence in this pick. How weak would it be to waffle about this one?

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14 thoughts on “Game Chat – Gold Coast v Fremantle”

  1. LATE CHANGES
    Gold Coast: George Horlin-Smith (back) replaced in the selected side by Jesse Joyce
    Fremantle: No change

    FINAL INTERCHANGES
    Gold Coast: A.Miles, B.Fiorini, J.Joyce, N.Holman
    Fremantle: A.Cerra, A.Brayshaw, M.Taberner, T.Colyer

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  2. it’s a “behind-a-thon” thus far in the suns – freo match. Suns up 4 -2 (that’s total scores for both sides!) after 12 minutes of play (real clock time) 8 minutes left in 1st quarter

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  3. Oh my this is getting painful to watch. I pity anyone else that is watching this performance.

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  4. I genuinely cheered when the siren sounded. Imagine if the boys could kick straight! Would’ve been a 120 to 58 victory. Good on em!

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    1. Congerts LGCS. (This is through gritted teeth.)

      The down side is we lost and Mundy is a spud. 🙁

      The upside is I still kinda scored ok, and Collins looks to be a good cow after all. 🙂

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  5. Massive intercept mark from Collins in the dying seconds. Stick with him, job security solid

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    1. Handy score schwarz, this is a great example of not trading too quickly, i had ridley and hore dropped but still had six on field, conventional sct wisdom told me not to panic, also with balta out there was a case to move drew fwd and pickup bailey scott, but again sct mantra of gaining more data came to the fore.

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