SUMMARY
Following a disappointing loss to Brisbane in their last start at home, Ross Lyon's rebuilding outfit will be keen to produce a better showing at home against Port Adelaide on Sunday at Optus Stadium, where they have generally played with greater confidence, faster ball movement and shown an ability to kick a winning score.
Port Adelaide have climbed into fourth spot on the ladder after comfortably securing a fifth consecutive victory over St Kilda last round and, with four of the last six games at Adelaide Oval, Ken Hinkley's men will be eyeing a top-two finish. But first they will have to get the job done against an understrength Fremantle outfit which fell in a 54-point loss to a wasteful Melbourne in Darwin. The Dockers sorely missed giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands (calf) and superstar Nat Fyfe (hamstring) around clearances, and the challenge doesn't get any easier against Paddy Ryder and the Power's big-bodied midfield.
WHERE AND WHEN: Optus Stadium, Sunday, July 15, 2.40pm AWST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R1, 2018, Port Adelaide 16.14 (110) d Fremantle 9.6 (60) at Adelaide Oval
R2, 2017, Port Adelaide 22.13 (145) d Fremantle 8.8 (56) at Adelaide Oval
R13, 2016, Fremantle 12.14 (86) d Port Adelaide 9.15 (69) at Subiaco Oval
R23, 2015, Port Adelaide 18.14 (122) d Fremantle 8.5 (53) at Adelaide Oval
R1, 2015, Fremantle 11.9 (75) d Port Adelaide 10.8 (68) at Subiaco Oval
THE SIX POINTS
- Port Adelaide dominated Fremantle in round one, winning the disposal count by 81, inside 50s by 13 and clearances by 10. Todd Marshall booted four goals and Jack Watts kicked three on his Power debut.
- Fremantle have to find a way to combat Port's clearance work without Aaron Sandilands and Nat Fyfe. The Power are the No.1 clearance side (41.3 per game), while Freo is ranked 14th (35.7) and struggled in that area (42-28 ) against Melbourne in Darwin.
- Fremantle's road woes have been well documented but Ross Lyon's side is a much tougher proposition at home. Freo average 84 points at Optus Stadium, where they have won five of eight games. Port is averaging 86 points per game this year.
- The Power have laid the most tackles this season (averaging 72.2 per game), while Fremantle is ranked 16th (60.9).
- The supply battle will be crucial. Freo were outmatched in the inside-50 count (78-28) by Melbourne and is ranked 16th in the key statistic (49 per game), while Port is equal third (55.3) and had 21 more inside 50s than St Kilda last round.
- Spring-heeled Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder has climbed to a career-high Schick AFL Player Ratings ranking of No.40 overall, rising a remarkable 128 places this season, and will be a challenge for Freo big men Michael Apeness and Sean Darcy.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Freo defender Alex Pearce enjoyed a superb start to the year coming back from a broken leg and kept Charlie Dixon to one goal in round one, but the Power star slotted a season-high four goals last round and looms as a danger man in Port's attack.
