Fremantle and Geelong will take vastly different sides when it comes to experience into Saturday’s clash at GMHBA Stadium.
The average age of Fremantle’s named 22 for the Cats clash is 25 years and one month, compared to Geelong’s average of 27 years and nine months.
The average games played for both sides compare at 80.4 games played for Fremantle, to an average of 144.4 games played for Geelong.
In terms of age rank, which includes all teams selected 22’s for this round only, Fremantle are ranked at 13th while Geelong rank 1st across the competition for the most experienced list this weekend.
Speaking ahead of his 100th milestone game, Darcy Tucker praised Geelong’s outfit for the experienced, contested game they display through the midfield.
“They have a very quality team and a very experienced list,” Tucker said.
“Their midfield prides themselves on the contest, it’s their DNA and it has been for a long time.
“They can be very damaging, we know we have to match them in the contest. That is where it starts, we have just got to be fierce and take it on.”
Many of Fremantle’s young contingent will be playing their first ever AFL game at GMHBA Stadium, with Tucker to run out for his second at the venue.
Tucker said the playing group will get a feel for the narrower width of GMHBA Stadium on Friday, and believes the dimensions of the ground could suit Fremantle’s game style well.
“We have got a very young group…I know a lot of our boys haven’t played at Geelong,” Tucker said.
“We’ll get a good look at it today at our captains run, and we will see how narrow the ground is and I think we have already mentally prepared for that.
“We have got a lot of fresh faces in our group and even for myself, I have only played there once in my AFL career.”
Tucker said the clash provided a great opportunity to test themselves against a repeated finals contender over the past decade.
“It’s clear that it’s going to be a challenge, Geelong at Geelong,” Tucker said.
“We aren’t putting too much pressure on. We have been playing really good footy and we know when we play our way it does stand up.
“It’s a really exciting challenge…it’s a good opportunity to see where we are at this week. We’ll stick to the plan and go in full of confidence and hopefully, come away with the win.”
