The numbers game
2014 – Fremantle and Port Adelaide have alternated wins and losses in the past five games since round 8, 2014.
238 – Danyle Pearce career games (Freo 84 Port Adelaide 154)
31 – Games played between Freo and Port Adelaide (Won 14 Lost 17)
6 - Neither team has put together a winning streak against the other since Freo won six games in a row against Port between round 19, 2009 and round 22,2013.
3 – Number of players to have played for both Freo and Port Adelaide (Josh Carr, Nick Lower, Danyle Pearce)
Weller's interstate assistance
Last time we met – Round 23, 2015 at Adelaide Oval
Fremantle (8.5.53) def by Port Adelaide (18.14.122)
A young and undermanned Freo side travelled to Adelaide Oval and despite a fast start, couldn’t overcome a full strength Port Adelaide team.
Freo began the game well with a four goal to one first quarter, but only managed to kick another four goals for the rest of the game.
Eleven Freo players had less than 30 games experience at the time, including debutants Connor Blakely, Brady Grey and Ethan Hughes.
Michael Barlow led by example with a game-high 35 disposals, seven tackles and a goal.
Ethan Hughes and Brady Grey acquitted themselves well in their first game at AFL level with 22 and 20 disposals respectively.
Lyon keen to continue experiment
Three in a row?
Lachie Weller became Freo’s second consecutive AFL Rising Star nominee with a 22 disposal, four-goal performance against Brisbane, and Freo fans will be hoping to see another youngster added to the list after Saturday’s game against Port Adelaide. Weller joined Connor Blakely as Freo’s second Rising Star nomination and recent solid performances from Darcy Tucker and Sam Collins suggest a third nod may not be out of the question.
Danyle Pearce’s peculiar stat
Midfielder Danyle Peace played 154 games with Port Adelaide before moving to Fremantle in 2013 and has been a consistent performer, averaging more than 19 disposals in four seasons so far with Freo.
Pearce has had differing results when playing against his two teams during his 12 year career.
As a Port Adelaide player, Pearce averaged 17.5 disposals a game against Freo, his fourth lowest against any single team.
In contrast, when playing for Freo against his old club, Pearce averages 21.6 touches a game, his fourth highest against any single team.
Freo’s Gray Matter
Quelling the impact of Port Adelaide star midfielder Robbie Gray will be a key part of Freo’s game on Saturday. Gray missed rounds six to eight with a hamstring injury but has been in fine form since returning.
The strong midfielder has averaged more than 28 disposals a game in the past month and has scored 10 goals from nine games in 2016.
Michael Barlow has performed well in his newly found tagging role and could see himself lining up on the two-time All Australian.
Milestone men
Both Freo and Port Adelaide will be looking to secure a win for two of their best running players on Saturday. Tommy Sheridan plays his 50th game for Freo and is averaging a career-high 18.7 disposals a game so far in 2016. For Port Adelaide, livewire Chad Wingard plays his 100th game, and while his disposal count has been down in 2016, he’s been dangerous with 21 goals through 10 games.
