With the enigmatic Hayden Ballantyne suspended for Saturday’s clash with the Bulldogs, a spot is up for grabs in Freo’s forward line. At the head of a long queue of well-performing WAFL youngsters is Hayden Crozier, who was unlucky to miss out on selection in round 1. He’s been very solid at Peel Thunder and should go close to selection this week. Also in contention are Josh Mellington, Lachie Neale, Tom Sheridan, Jesse Crichton and Viv Michie.
Son from the West
Nick Lower played two seasons at Fremantle, where he built a reputation as a tough and uncompromising midfielder. Seeking more opportunities, he joined the Western Bulldogs at the end of last season. Dogs’ coach Brendan McCartney saw a tagger in the South Australian and set about re-inventing his game. Lower has claimed some big midfield scalps throughout the NAB Cup, but on Saturday he completely blanketed Brisbane’s best player from the pre-season competition, Daniel Rich. Which former Freo midfield teammate will he be sent to on Saturday? Maybe it will be his old housemate, Michael Barlow, who was Freo’s best on-baller in round 1.
Where the Dogs appear to have improved
A blend of improving young players, old stars finding fitness and new recruits have conspired to make the Dogs are far more dangerous proposition than the experts had predicted in the pre-season. The performance against the Lions just reiterated the fact that every side must be fully respected in this competition, especially in the early rounds when no one really knows just how much improvement the supposed ‘easy-beats’ have had over the summer.
A week off v continuity
When the ball is bounced at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, it will have been exactly two weeks since Freo played its first game of the season. The Dogs will be coming off a seven-day break. Will these factors play any part in the outcome of the game? Time will tell.
Etihad record
After some indifferent form in prior years at Etihad Stadium, Fremantle was impenetrable at the ground in 2012, winning all three games there. It included a great effort to defeat St Kilda on a Friday night and a stirring victory over fellow finals’ aspirants North Melbourne that secured Freo a spot in September. Ross Lyon had an amazing record at the venue as St Kilda’s coach and he appears to have instilled that into his new side.
2013 STARLIGHT PURPLE HAZE GAME: Friday 12 April v Essendon at Patersons Stadium, 6.40pm bounce down. Dress in purple to WIN! Proudly supported by Fremantle Ports. Click for more information.
