FIRST PRELIMINARY FINAL
Fremantle v Hawthorn, Domain Stadium, Friday, 6.20pm AWST
Form
It's a strange football world we find ourselves in when a minor premier from Perth does everything expected of it by winning its first final to gain the benefit of a week's break and yet enters its home preliminary final as the underdog against a Victorian team that lost its first final in Perth.
But, of course, that Victorian team is dual reigning premier Hawthorn. The Hawks, as expected, rebounded hard from their qualifying final loss to West Coast after icing their Semi-Final at half time.
Meanwhile, the jury is out on whether Freo will be sufficiently match-hardened given they rested half their best side in the last round and have now had another weekend off.
The purple haze will be in full voice to help get the home team across the line.
Injuries
The Hawks have no fresh injury concerns from the win over Adelaide, but will again be sweating on the fitness of Jack Gunston. The star forward missed last week with an ankle injury and remains in doubt.
Back-up ruckman Jon Ceglar should be fit if he is required.
The Dockers have their own concerns with defender Luke McPharlin unlikely to get up as he struggles with a calf injury. The veteran was a late withdrawal against the Swans and coach Ross Lyon is preparing to play without him again this week.
Matthew Pavlich, who was in a moon boot, and Nat Fyfe, who was spotted on crutches, are both expected to play.
MRP
Only minor anxiety for Hawthorn fans with skipper Luke Hodge making high contact with star Crow Brodie Smith, while Hawks defender Ben Stratton also appears to have little to worry about after laying a high tackle on Richard Douglas.
We learnt from Hawks loss: Pavlich
What's at stake?
Freo know time is running out to win a premiership with the current crop that has served the club so well – for skipper Matthew Pavlich it's go-time – and a win over nemesis Hawthorn would provide them with untold belief for the Grand Final. If the home side loses, the fallout could be significant personnel-wise.
The Hawks, meanwhile, will be determined to remain in the hunt for a club record third successive premiership to show the entire footy industry that reports of their demise had been greatly exaggerated.
Last time they met
The Hawks' recent stranglehold over Freo, winning seven of their past eight encounters by an average of 45 points. First-placed Freo was 12-1, three games clear of fourth-placed Hawthorn when they clashed at Launceston's Aurora Stadium in round 15, but the Hawks rag-dolled Fremantle in a real statement game.
By half-time Hawthorn led by 38 points after restricting Freo to just one goal, and only six for the match, two of which came in junk time. Sam Mitchell (39 possessions) and Luke Hodge (31 touches and three goals) led the way for the victors, with Hodge handing Freo superstar Nat Fyfe (20) his first individual defeat for the season.
Freo fans will be relieved that this one's at Domain Stadium, where they won their most recent battle with the Hawks, by 19 points in round 21 last year.
Pre-season paying off: Walters
Talking points
• Will Freo gamble at the selection table by picking tagger Ryan Crowley after serving a 12-month ban for doping, which expires on Thursday. Crowley has enjoyed success on Hawks playmaker Sam Mitchell in the past, holding him to just 12 touches in the 2012 Grand Final – Mitchell's lowest tally in a full game in almost seven seasons.
• Pundits are debating whether Freo can conjure enough goals to beat the high-scoring Hawks, but maybe the question should be: can Freo apply its famous defensive mechanisms to such a level that 12 goals will be enough?
• Will Hodge again be given the task of making Fyfe accountable? It certainly worked last time. But the flexible Hawks won't want to appear predictable. Whatever coach Alastair Clarkson comes up with will be fascinating.
• Which Hawk defender will be sent to Matthew Pavlich – James Frawley, who did such a sterling job on Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker, or veteran Brian Lake? And what happens to the other one if Freo favours a small, pacy attack?
