Where and when: Optus Stadium, Sunday March 24, 3.20pm (AWST)
Last time they met: Optus Stadium, round 10, 2018: Fremantle 8.10 (58) lost to North Melbourne 12.14 (86)
North Melbourne became the first interstate side to leave a clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium with the four points after overcoming some woeful early inaccuracy. Tagger Ben Jacobs (29 disposals, one goal) kept red-hot Dockers superstar Nat Fyfe (31, eight clearances) under control and was best afield, while Jarrad Waite booted three goals.
What it means for Fremantle: Fyfe described Freo’s favourable start to the season as “juicy” at captains day and with Gold Coast (away) and St Kilda (home) to come, the Dockers could set themselves up if they can overcome North.
What it means for North Melbourne: The Roos missed out on finals by one victory last year and this is the sort of 50-50 game they need to win to finish inside the top eight at season’s end.
How Fremantle wins: The Dockers’ forward stocks have been decimated, so it could take something special from midfield guns Nat Fyfe, Michael Walters and David Mundy to give the attack enough supply to kick a winning score.
How North Melbourne wins: The Roos bolstered their engine room during the off-season and if they get on top on Optus Stadium’s expanses and protect an understrength backline it will go a long way to victory.
The stat: Nat Fyfe tallied 31 disposals, 24 contested possessions, eight clearances and a goal last time the teams met but it still wasn’t enough to lead Freo to a win, with the Roos dominating contested ball (163-146) and inside 50s (60-46).
The match-up: Ben Brown v Joel Hamling
Hamling is Freo’s best shutdown defender and did a solid job on Brown last season, keeping the then Coleman Medal leader to two goals, albeit in wintry conditions. If Brown gets off the leash the Roos’ scoring power might be too much for the Dockers.
It’s a big week for: Rory Lobb
The bombshell news that Jesse Hogan wouldn’t be available for round one has heaped pressure on Lobb to stand up in attack in his first game for Fremantle. The Dockers were seemingly blessed with tall targets but injuries to Brennan Cox (hamstring) and Matt Taberner (calf) mean Lobb and previously out-of-favour ex-Giants teammate Cam McCarthy will need to lead the forward line.
Father Dougals’s Tip: The North by 3. I feel like the Shinboners have improved enough, and the Dockers declined enough, that North will be able to pull off an upset. I have low confidence in this pick, because both teams are capable of throwing out real stinkers and getting clobbered.
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Thanks FD.
No Fyfe in my team, but I still hope he goes well.
Hoping Mundy can turn back the clock with a run in the midfield.
Anything over 90 and I will be happy enough.
Going on this weeks results any thing could happen.
I’m picking the Draw!
I saw earlier this week in the paper that both teams were paying $1.90, tough one to pick. Think you might be onto something, FT.
Also, what’s a good score this week? Considering that there were plenty of low-ball, uncharacteristic premo scores (Gawn, Grundy, Danger, Zerret, Oliver) and the Collins debacle.
With Williams’ 82, I’ll finish on 2077 (having butchered my captaincy on Danger).
Is that good?
I’m looking at 2050ish. I think average will be between 2050-2100
Come on Lobb give me reason on why I want you in my Tech team!
He’s not a keeper. The question is, how long do we wait?!
#earlydays
From all current correspondence 2000-2100 looks to be the expected average scores.
Any SCT expecting more after final game?…
Goldy has me at 2090 as we speak.
Around 2180-2200, could’ve been so much bigger if i made some better choices but can’t do much about that
looks like the ball is a bit slippery over there
Goldy go you good thing..!
Spot for Scott on the field next week. Nice.
2033 with Mundy to play.
Go Freo!
Well done, FT. Tipped the Dockers here.
Still too early to call.
I’ve followed this side from the start
Rollercoaster with out many highs.
I’m still tipping the draw. 😉
Had Goldy for whole pre season then change to gwan, watch Preuss get name this week
Anyone with scores from the match?
Scott will start on field next round the rookie looks the good
Yippee!!! Just cracked 2000.
1897 Fyfe and Mundy Whooo!!!
Goldstein and Ryan. 😀
HT scores
Fremantle Dockers: 11.9.75
Nat Fyfe 89
Cameron McCarthy 71
Michael Walters 58
Bradley Hill 57
Darcy Tucker 56
Alex Pearce 56
Luke Ryan* 54
Ed Langdon 43
Andrew Brayshaw 43
David Mundy 42
Matt Taberner 37
Joel Hamling 37
Reece Conca 34
Travis Colyer 27
Bailey Banfield 27
Adam Cerra 27
Sean Darcy 26
Rory Lobb 21
Hayden Ballantyne 19
Nathan Wilson 18
Lachlan Schulz 14
Ethan Hughes 6
North Melbourne : 6.0.36
Jamie Macmillan 62
Bailey Scott 60
Todd Goldstein 56
Ben Cunnington 52
Trent Dumont 48
Jared Polec 47
Shaun Atley 47
Jasper Pittard 47
L. Davies-Uniacke 45
Luke McDonald 41
Dom Tyson 41
Robbie Tarrant 39
Shaun Higgins 34
Jy Simpkin 33
Jack Ziebell 29
Aaron Hall 28
Kayne Turner 27
Marley Williams 26
Ben Brown 23
Mason Wood 22
Ben McKay 17
Ed Vickers-Willis 2
1956 plus whatever Fyfe gets likely 2100
Good job resting Fyfe for the last qrt Ross, his back on
Sad to see. Fyfe is struggling. I dont think he is 100% ready. He needs to heal properly otherwise he wouldnt last the 22 games and finals…
Struggling with 150 points
North was aweful today. It is not everyday that they will score 144 points and win by more than 80 pts. Freo is a different team without Fyfe so they really need to manage him well. I know it is bad for supercoach but done well he is in Brownlow form this year.
9 points off 2200 will be a great start I’d think
Captain Gawn instead of Fyfe
-126
Fielded Petruccelle rather than Parker
-44
Fielded Butters rather than Scott
-30
Fielded Hore rather than Wilkie
-20
All up that’s 220 points and while I’m likely to score 2130, 2350 is close to a winning score.
The diff for captaining Gawn instead of Fyfe is -63, not -126.
Yep……..if you have both……
(2×87) + 150= 324
(2×150) +87= 387
Difference of 63
Don’t get too upset, TrooRoo…..nailing those rookies is always a tough task
Similar stories to come TrooRoo.
My mids bench was Constable, Drew and Scott.
My vice / capt. was Cripps.
I also have M Crouch, Sheed, Coniglio and Fyfe.
I am now toddling off to bed to listen to some classical violin music.
Curse you Murphy and your Satanic Laws.
……until next time guys @#$&*(mumble, mumble) G’night.