SUMMARY
Fremantle's defeat of West Coast just how attacking Ross Lyon's men can be, albeit against the undermanned Eagles. The Sydney Swans' experienced heads helped them hold off the Giants in round three, and they'll be needed again for the league's toughest road trip. With names like Nat Fyfe and Lance Franklin running around in brilliant form, this looms as an absolute belter.
Tag team for Buddy
WHERE AND WHEN: Domain Stadium, Perth, Saturday 6.45pm AWST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
1QF, 2014, Sydney Swans 13.15 (93) d Fremantle 10.9 (69) at ANZ Stadium
R5, 2014, Sydney Swans 13.14 (92) d Fremantle 11.9 (75) at the SCG
2PF, 2013, Fremantle 14.15 (99) d Sydney Swans 11.8 (74) at Domain Stadium
R8, 2013, Sydney Swans 11.4 (70) drew Fremantle 9.16 (70) at the SCG
R2, 2012, Sydney Swans 14.10 (94) d Fremantle 12.9 (81) at the SCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Swans won both of these sides' encounters in 2014. In round five at the SCG, Lance Franklin booted 4 goals and Josh Kennedy starred with 38 possessions. In the qualifying final at ANZ Stadium, Luke Parker had 32 touches while Matthew Pavlich kicked four goals for Fremantle.
2. The Swans hold the head to head advantage over Fremantle, winning 16 games to 12, with one draw. Since 2009 it's four wins each and one draw.
3. This game will be a battle of the competition's two best ruck divisions. Fremantle is ranked 1st for hit-outs with 56 per game, while the Swans are 2nd at 53.3.
4. Freo have a fantastic record against the Swans at Domain Stadium, winning six of their eight contests and five of the past six.
5. Both sides have been strong defensive teams so far in 2015. The Swans are ranked 2nd for least points conceded with 64.6 per game while Fremantle are 4th at 69.6.
6. Nat Fyfe and Lance Franklin are probably the two hottest players in the competition right now, and sit 7th and 8th respectively on the AFL's Official Player Ratings.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR
Craig Bird, the Swans' stopper likely to get the job of curbing the influence of Fremantle star Nat Fyfe. Suspensions may well have cost the Freo Docker a Brownlow Medal last year and he's started 2015 on fire, racking up 31, 36, and 31 touches in his three games. Bird put the clamps on GWS youngster Dylan Shiel in the Sydney derby last week but Fyfe is a whole different prospect, and he'll need plenty of help from his teammates to have any chance of stopping the best player in the competition so far this year.
