Last five times
R2, 2012: Sydney 14.10 (94) d Fremantle 12.9 (81) at the SCG
R17, 2011: Fremantle 15.8 (98) d Sydney 13.9 (87) at the SCG
R20, 2010: Sydney 14.12 (96) d Fremantle 13.9 (87) at Patersons Stadium
R9, 2010: Fremantle 14.16 (100) d Sydney 9.9 (63) at the SCG
R5, 2009: Fremantle 18.13 (121) d Sydney 16.4 (100) at Patersons Stadium
Last time they met
SYDNEY v FREMANTLE SATURDAY 7 APRIL 2012, SCG
FREMANTLE 2.2 3.3 9.4 12.9 (81)
SYDNEY 4.4 9.7 11.9 14.10 (94)
GOALS FREMANTLE: Mayne 4, Crowley 2, Anthony, Sandilands, Pearce, Mzungu, Bradley, Johnson
GOALS SYDNEY: Reid 3, Jetta 3, Goodes 2, McVeigh, O’Keefe, Rohan, Malceski, Roberts-Thomson, McGlynn
SUB: Michael Barlow replaced Josh Mellington in the second quarter REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Nicholls, Jennings, Mollison
OFFICIAL CROWD: 22,242
It was a case of multiple personalities for Fremantle in round 2 last year. The team that played the first half left a great deal of its effort back in the change rooms to fall 40 points behind the Swans. The visitors picked up their game after the main break to get within two goals late in the third term, but an experienced Sydney side steadied to win the match. One Freo Docker who brought his A-game from the start was Aaron Sandilands, who amassed 54 hitouts to maul his ruck opponent for the second week running. Chris Mayne was another to shine with four goals. The lesson to be learnt was an obvious one for Freo — nothing less than a four-quarter effort would suffice to match it with the best sides in the AFL.
Ross Lyon: When the whips were cracking early, you want to play how we did in the second half... but there are some really good lessons there for the group.”
BROWNLOW MEDAL VOTES
3 Josh Kennedy
2 Nathan Fyfe
1 Lewis Jetta
DOIG MEDAL VOTES
12 Aaron Sandilands, 12 Nathan Fyfe, 8 Ryan Crowley, 8 Michael Johnson, 8 Matthew de Boer, 8 Michael Barlow, 8 Clancee Pearce, 6 Zac Clarke, 5 Luke McPharlin, 4 Chris Mayne, 4 Stephen Hill, 4 Tendai Mzungu, 4 Kepler Bradley
Social Media
Twitter - Make sure you follow our match day account @FreoFC_MatchDay for comprehensive pre-game info, match scores, highlights, stats and analysis, and post-game recaps. Don't forget to follow the club's official account @Fremantle_FC for updates throughout the week.
Facebook - Get score updates and chat with other Freo fans during the game with our official Facebook account.
Instagram – For a behind-the-scenes look at game day follow FremantleDockers on Instagram.
The selection table
Fremantle – Nat Fyfe returns after a two-week suspension , but Stephen Hill remains on the sidelines with a quad injury . Jon Griffin is gone for the rest of the season , while young midfielder Lachie Neale is now out for 4-6 weeks. Zac Clarke may not be fit enough to play AFL yet but he may be required given the ruck quandary. If Ross Lyon looks to the WAFL for an inclusion, midfielder Viv Michie has consistently performed well , while Tanner Smith and rookie Matt Taberner are tall options.
Sydney – Premiership ruckman Shane Mumford is a 50/50 chance of playing according to Swans’ coach John Longmire . Defenders Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Rhyce Shaw are unavailable, as is key backman Alex Johnson, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
Possible line-ups - Freo mentioned first in bold
Possible line-ups - Freo mentioned first in bold
| F: | M Walters | C Mayne | H Ballantyne |
| B: | T Armstrong | T Richards | M Mattner |
| HF: | N Suban | M de Boer | H Crozier |
| HB: | N Smith | H Grundy | N Malceski |
| C: | D Pearce | D Mundy | N Fyfe |
| C: | L Parker | J McVeigh | D Hannebery |
| HB: | M Johnson | Z Dawson | G Ibbotson |
| HF: | R O'Keefe | J White | L Jetta |
| B: | L Spurr | L McPharlin | P Duffield |
| F: | A Goodes | S Reid | J Bolton |
| Ruck: | J Hannath | M Barlow | R Crowley |
| Ruck: | M Pyke | J Kennedy | K Jack |
| INT from: | T Mzungu, C Sutcliffe, Z Clarke, T Smith, T Sheridan, A Silvagni | ||
| INT from: | B McGlynn, C Bird, D Rampe, J Lamb, M Morton |
X Factors
Fremantle – Zac Dawson/Zac Clarke: Whether Clarke plays or not, Freo’s ruck could be assisted by a Zac on Saturday night. If Clarke is selected, he’ll give Freo some height with Sandilands and Griffin out. If he is not, Dawson may be called upon to ruck again, just as he did against Collingwood.
Sydney – Lewis Jetta: Jetta’s pace has the capacity to turn any match. He can’t be allowed to find any space or he will light up the SCG and ignite the fans.
Key Match-ups
Ryan Crowley v ?: Interestingly, Crowley did not place a hard tag on a Sydney midfielder in the round 2 game last season. In fact, Crowley was one of Freo’s best offensive players with 21 disposals and two goals. Will Ross Lyon employ similar tactics on Saturday night?
Luke McPharlin v Sam Reid: Reid has been in mixed form this season but is a quality forward at his best and a vital component of Sydney’s forward line. McPharlin will look to continue his great form, which included holding Travis Cloke goalless last week.
Nat Fyfe v Josh Kennedy: These two are contested ball and clearance marvels. Whether or not they go head-to-head, they will be the midfielders generating many of their respective side’s attacking forays from stoppages.
Jack Hannath v Mike Pyke: With Jon Griffin out and Shane Mumford doubtful, the ruck battle could be first-year player Jack Hannath against premiershipplayer Mike Pyke. The Swans should have an advantage, but Hannath showed last week that, with some help, he can be competitive enough to keep Freo in it.
Dream Team
Fremantle: Freo’s number seven has seven Brownlow Medal votes and a Dream Team average of 96 from his three games at the SCG. Find out more about Nat Fyfe’s SCG love here
Sydney: Daniel Hannebery has averaged 95 over his past four against Freo, and that included a low score the last time the teams met when he came on as the sub in the third quarter.
Keys to victory
Freo will be happy if: The game becomes a hard-fought slog. The small SCG suits the Swans’ contested style, but if there’s a side in the AFL that won’t mind a clogged up contest, it’s Ross Lyon’s Fremantle.
Sydney will be happy if: Mike Pyke and Shane Mumford, if he plays, fully capitalise on the ruck advantage they have without Aaron Sandilands, Jon Griffin or Kepler Bradley in the Freo line-up.
THE SIX POINTS from afl.com.au
1. This will be the 26th meeting between these two teams, with the Swans holding the advantage 14-11.
2. They have met 14 times at the SCG, with the Swans dominating contests attheir home ground, winning 10 of them. But the Dockers have improved, winning two of their past three at the Sydney venue.
3. Both teams are typically strong defensively, and that is no different so far in 2013. Through seven rounds, Freo is ranked second for least points conceded, with the Swans sitting seventh.
4. A tight tussle could again be on the cards on Saturday night. The past three games between Fremantle and the Swans have been decided by an average of 11 points.
5. The Swans are the AFL's No.1 side for contested possessions, with the Dockers ranked ninth. The Swans' midfield is also ranked first overall in clearances.
6. The highest attendance for games involving these sides at the SCG is 30,228, achieved in round 17, 2003. So far in 2013, the Swans have averaged just under 25,000 fans for SCG games against Gold Coast, Geelong and the Brisbane Lions.
