Dockers defence can stop Hawthorn
The West Australian
Ross Lyon insists Fremantle will adhere to their defensive mantra in a bid to conquer Hawthorn for just the second time in five years and reach the club’s second grand final.
The Dockers coach said wins by West Coast, Richmond and Port Adelaide this season did not represent a clear blueprint to beating the reigning premiers as he confirmed that tagger Ryan Crowley was still only an outside chance of earning a shock recall for Friday night’s preliminary final at Domain Stadium.
He said key defender Luke McPharlin was unlikely to recover from a calf problem, but forward Matt Taberner was in the selection frame.
Four Fremantle players stand between Hawthorn and another Grand Final
Herald Sun
FOUR Dockers stand between Hawthorn and a fourth consecutive Grand Final.
Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Lachie Neale are the men who must be quelled by the Hawks if they are to go the long way around to a premiership decider.
Sure, footy is a team game, but it’s this quartet of contested ball wreckers who hold the key.
Ryan Crowley sideshow rolls on as Dockers preliminary final against Hawks looms
The Age
The sideshow of the Dockers preliminary final against the Hawks – whether Ryan Crowley will make a dramatic return to football – could continue to play until late on Friday afternoon.
While claiming the 2012 Dockers fairest and best winner was unlikely to play at Domain Stadium on Friday night, Fremantle coach Ross Lyon refused to rule him out.
He said the decision would remain with the match committee.
Hawthorn are underdogs against Fremantle, says Isaac Smith
The Age
If there's a value bet this week, it's Fremantle. That's if you agree with Hawthorn midfielder Isaac Smith that the Dockers are favourites to beat the Hawks in Friday night's preliminary final at Domain Stadium.
Hawthorn have won seven of their past eight games against their opponents this week – a streak that dates back to 2011. As such they enter the match hovering at odds around $1.55 to qualify for their fourth consecutive grand final, with Fremantle approximately $2.45 at most corporate bookmakers.
But according to Smith, those framing the markets have things the wrong way around. "Freo are going to be tough opposition, they finished on top for a reason, they're a good side and we're definitely the underdog going into the game over there on their home ground," Smith said at Waverley Park on Monday.
AFL Finals: Ryan Crowley a strong chance to return for Fremantle
The Australian
A former pupil of Ross Lyon has no doubt the Fremantle coach is weighing the merits of fielding Ryan Crowley in Friday’s preliminary final against Hawthorn.
Crowley’s doping ban ends on Thursday and while Lyon appeared to rule him out last week, his language softened yesterday.
“He’s a chance, isn’t he?” Lyon said. “It’s been done before. It can be done again. It’s unlikely, but it’s a chance. We’ve had a few injuries around the edges. Does that open it up? Possibly. No one will know until the ball’s bounced, will they?”
Tall Docker Taberner likely to return, says Lyon
afl.com.au
Fremantle forward Matt Taberner is a strong chance to return for Friday night’s preliminary final as coach Ross Lyon searches for a forward line formula that can topple Hawthorn.
Taberner played in eight of the first nine rounds when the Dockers' forward line featured three talls, including Matthew Pavlich and the resting ruckman.
The Dockers were undefeated in the first nine rounds and averaged 94 points a game.
Finals curse set to strike Luke McPharlin again
The Australian
Time appears to have run out for Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin to play against Hawthorn in Friday night’s preliminary final in Perth.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon conceded as much yesterday, four days out from the knockout final to decide a grand final spot.
“The injury bobbed up out of nowhere,” Lyon said. “I asked him to give everything he can to get back as quickly as he can, and that’s all you can do.”
McPharlin, rising 34 and Fremantle’s oldest player, has a history of breaking down at the business end of the season and could well retire without playing in another finals series.
Mitchell knows Dockers will try shut-down job
The West Australian
Triple Hawthorn premiership hero Sam Mitchell is anticipating a hard tag from Fremantle in Friday night’s preliminary final, regardless of whether Ryan Crowley plays.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon has left the door ajar for Crowley to make a shock return at Domain Stadium following a drugs suspension.
Crowley has been back in full training since July 28, but has not played since last year’s semifinal defeat to Port Adelaide.
