The numbers game
7 – Fremantle’s current winning streak against the Demons. The side last lost to Melbourne in Round 13, 2011.
8 – The amount of changes to Freo’s line-up since they last played Melbourne in Round 22 last year.
61 – The amount of consecutive matches Lachie Neale will have played when he takes to the field in Darwin. Saturday night’s match will be just his third against the Demons since he last missed in Round 3, 2014. Next on the list is Lee Spurr, who will play his 17th on the trot.
61.8 – Fremantle’s winning percentage against the Demons – the highest of any non-expansion side. In 34 matches against Melbourne, Freo has won 21 and lost 13.
95 – Freo’s largest winning margin against Melbourne, in Round 21, 2013. In that match, Hayden Ballantyne and Matthew Pavlich led a list of 12 goalkickers as Fremantle won 20.13 (133) to 5.8 (38).
Last time we met
Fremantle 17.6 (108) def Melbourne 8.6 (54)
In Round 22 last year, Fremantle was able to claim the minor premiership for the first time, with a professional 54-point win over the Demons. Lachie Neale (34 disposals and two goals) and David Mundy (35 disposals) had 19 clearances between them, feeding from the dominant tap-work of Aaron Sandilands (43 hit-outs). Matthew Pavlich and Danyle Pearce, who each slotted three majors, led a spread of 11 goalkickers as the side ran out 54-point winners in front of 33,529-strong crowd at Domain Stadium.
TABtouch 22: Three changes for Top End clash
Adapting to the conditions
In their last match against Collingwood, Fremantle battled against the rain, wind and bitterly cold temperatures. This week Ross Lyon’s men will face the extreme heat of the Top End, with a temperature of 30 degrees forecast for the first bounce on Saturday evening. Forward Hayden Ballantyne said the side knew how to prepare for the conditions.
“We played up there a couple of years ago so we kind of know what the conditions are going to be like,” he said.
“That helps us prepare a little bit.”
Rebounding Dees
A key factor of Melbourne’s rise up the ladder has been their ability to rebound the ball aggressively from half-back. Third-year player Jayden Hunt, who made his debut this season, has been widely praised for his blistering speed and disposal. As recently as last week, Melbourne senior coach Paul Roos described Hunt’s 14-disposal match as “one of the best” low-possession games he’d seen. Supporting him is Bernie Vince, who is averaging career-highs in possessions, metres gained, score involvements, intercept possessions, rebound 50s and inside 50s. Oscar McDonald and Neville Jetta have also looked damaging, while Tom McDonald has peeled off his man when needed.
Coming off the bye
Fremantle has won five of six encounters in the match following the bye, since it was introduced in 2011. In contrast, Melbourne has won just two of seven encounters. However, the Demons were impressive in their loss to Adelaide last week, and will be looking to keep that form going against Ross Lyon’s men.
