Game Chat – Fremantle v North Melbourne

Written by Father Dougal on March 24 2019

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.

**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!**

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32 thoughts on “Game Chat – Fremantle v North Melbourne”

  1. 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!

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    1. 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.

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  2. 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?

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  3. From all current correspondence 2000-2100 looks to be the expected average scores.
    Any SCT expecting more after final game?…

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    1. Around 2180-2200, could’ve been so much bigger if i made some better choices but can’t do much about that

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      1. Still too early to call.

        I’ve followed this side from the start

        Rollercoaster with out many highs.

        I’m still tipping the draw. 😉

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  4. 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

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    1. 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…

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        1. 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.

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  5. 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.

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    1. 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.

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