While a three-day weekend is always welcome, Fremantle Dockers fans had to endure the time off without being able to watch Freo, due to their NAB Challenge bye.
But fans have even more of a reason to be excited ahead of this weeks game against Geelong, as Freo have put together an impressive record when coming off the bye.
Freo after the bye (Since 2010)
2010- Freo 17.13.115 def Port Adelaide 8.10.58
2011- Freo 15.8.98 def Sydney 13.9.87
2012- Freo 14.5 89 def by Essendon 17.11 113
2013- Freo 12.14.86 def Brisbane Lions 6.10.46
2014- Freo 13.11.89 def Western Bulldogs 6.15.51
2015- Freo 12.8.80 def Collingwood 11.7.73
Fremantle have won five of their last six games since coming off a bye since 2010.
Points Against
Fremantle’s defence has gone from strength to strength after the bye, as Freo average 71 points against following the bye, a nine-point decrease from their cumulative average of 80 points.
Points For
Freo’s average score following the bye has increased by four points, going from 88 points up to 92.
Post-bye Performers
Michael Barlow
In the last six games following the bye, Barlow has been the top possession winner on the ground in four of them, averaging more than 28 disposals in those games.
Garrick Ibbotson
Ibbotson has consistently elevated his game following Freo’s week off. He amassed 28 disposals against Brisbane in 2013, his second highest tally in a single game. ‘Ibbo’ also improved across the past six games and averages 21 touches after the bye, a four-disposal increase on his career average of 17.
Post-bye career bests
Stephen Hill kicked a personal best four goals in Freo’s post bye-week game against the Western Bulldogs in 2014
Matthew Pavlich laid eight tackles in his performance against Sydney in 2011, a personal best for the club champion.
Against Collingwood in 2015, Lachie Neale equalled a club record with 14 clearances. He currently shares the single game clearance record with Nat Fyfe and Troy Cook.
