Numbers Game
77,796 – Combined attendance in two meetings between Freo and Richmond in 2015
32 –Number of games played between Fremantle and Richmond, with Freo having a win-loss record of 15-17 against the Tigers
22 – Number of contested possessions David Mundy had against Richmond in 2011, a career high for the Freo skipper.
12 – Fremantle record for Most marks inside 50 in a single game set by Tony Modra against Richmond in Rd 4, 2000.
4 – Players who played games for both clubs (Chris Bond, Ashley Prescott, Graham Polak, Troy Simmonds)
1 – Freo’s first ever match was against Richmond in round one, 1995.
Griffin's behind the scenes influence
Last time we met
Fremantle (12.10.82) def Richmond (10.18.78) in rd 17, 2015
David Mundy was the star of the show with 28 disposals and a match-winning goal with 32 seconds remaining.
Nat Fyfe pursued the ball and the opponent all day, the Brownlow Medallist finished with 25 disposals and 10 tackles.
Stephen Hill used his left boot to great effect, with 19 of his 24 disposals coming by foot and he led the team with seven inside 50 entries.
Garrick Ibbotson only had the four marks against Richmond, but none more important than his intercept of Bachar Houli’s kick-in that set up David Mundy’s game winning goal.
Walters prepared for "fierce fight"
The other ‘Griff’
Richmond big man Ben Griffiths hasn’t had a good run when playing Fremantle. In five career games against Freo he has averaged only six disposals a game and suffered a concussion in the NAB Challenge matchup between the two sides earlier in the year. Much has changed since the pre-season meeting and Griffith’s is playing some quality football and was a key contributor to Richmond’s win against Sydney with a career-high five goals.
Limiting Lloyd
Sam Lloyd will forever be remembered by Tigers’ fans for last week’s after the siren goal against Sydney, but he has been more than just one famous kick in 2016. Lloyd has been a handy goal sneak, and currently sits second at Richmond with 15 goals so far this season. Expect an important role for Freo’s mid-sized defenders such as Lee Spurr or Cam Sutcliffe to limit his influence on Saturday.
Big game for captain Mundy
Freo skipper David Mundy wouldn’t be content with his performance against Hawthorn in round eight but is beginning to run into form after missing three games at the start of the year due to injury. Mundy had a season-high 29 disposals against the Hawks, and will look to build against a Richmond side he has performed strongly against in recent years.
First to the ball
While getting to the ball is crucial in every aspect of football, it’s especially relevant against Richmond who currently give away free kicks at the third highest rate in the AFL. The Tigers average 22.4 free kicks against per game, only behind Brisbane and Geelong, so getting first to the ball will not only give Freo first possession but the best chance to benefit from an occasionally errant Tigers team.
Role reversal
Fremantle and Richmond find themselves in a similar situation but with different outcomes to this time last year. In round 10, last season Tigers were on a three game winning streak and defeated a then unbeaten Freo side. Fast forward one year and Freo are still chasing their first win of the year while Richmond have been disappointing but are coming off a potentially season saving win after the siren against Sydney last week. Freo will be looking to halt Richmond’s new found momentum and put themselves in the winner’s column in the process.
