When and Where - Sunday 27 May, 2.40pm (WST) bounce down, Patersons Stadium
Perth Broadcast information
TV: Live from 2.30pm on Fox Footy and Channel 7
Radio: Live from 2.30pm on 720 ABC and 882 6PR
For the full AFL national broadcast schedule, click here
Game day coverage
Twitter and Facebook - For gameday photos, score updates and statistics
Stay tuned to www.fremantlefc.com.au after the game on Sunday for player interviews from the rooms
Form-line
Freo - W L W W L W W L
West Coast - W W W W W W L W
The medical room
Freo - Adam McPhee remains on the sidelines after missing last week’s match. Clancee Pearce has recovered after copping a hard knock against the Hawks last week.
West Coast -The Eagles have received a major boost with the inclusion of midfield star Matt Priddis. Forwards Mark Lecras, Josh Kennedy and Mark Nicoski all have long-term injuries.
Who’s hot
Freo - Luke McPharlin: McPharlin was his usual brilliant self last week, holding Hawthorn star Lance Franklin to just one goal despite the avalanche of ball entering the Hawks’ forward 50. He’ll be called upon again to stand Jack Darling or Quinten Lynch.
West Coast - Dean Cox: The champion ruckman booted five goals when playing in the forward line against St Kilda last week. His work around the ground for a big man is tremendous and his influence must be curbed on Sunday.
X-Factor
Freo - Hayden Ballantyne: The enigmatic midfielder/forward has been a little down of late. However, ‘Ballaz’ is as determined as they come and he will be desperate to put in a big performance. His fire could help ignite Freo’s charge towards a win.
West Coast - Jack Darling: With West Coast’s top three goal scorers from 2011 all out, Darling has been the one to stand up and take his game to another level in just his second season. He’s now a vital component of the Eagles’ forward set-up.
Key match-ups
Aaron Sandilands v Nic Naitanui: This tantalising match-up sees the sheer size and strength of Sandilands go up against the phenomenal athletic ability of Naitanui. The Eagle has indicated that he hopes to use his leap to win the taps against Sandi. But as last week’s loss to Hawthorn proved, winning the taps equates to nothing if the midfield isn’t on its game.
Ryan Crowley v Matthew Priddis: While the ruck battles are a major key, it’s the in-and-under work at the stoppages from the opposing midfields that will decide this game. Priddis is brilliant at winning the hard ball and will look to give his team first use of the ball. Ryan Crowley should get the job on him after holding the Eagle to just 13 possessions when the teams last met.
Stats that matter
Scoring from stoppages
- West Coast are the best in the AFL (349 points).
- Fremantle are 14th (230 pts)
Hitouts
- Fremantle leads the AFL with 405 (297 clearances)
-West Coast 344 hitouts (294 clearances)
Marks from opposition kicks
-These are the top two sides in the competition for marks from opposition kicks - West Coast (129); Freo (127).
When they last met
Fremantle 2.3 3.6 6.7 9.10 (64)
West Coast 1.6 3.7 6.14 8.17 (65)
GOALS
Fremantle: Hill 2, Clarke 2, Barlow, Ballantyne, McPhee, Mayne, Fyfe
West Coast: Kennedy 3, LeCras 2, Shuey, Priddis, Darling
BEST
Fremantle: Broughton, Barlow, Mzungu, McPharlin, Crowley, Grover
West Coast: Shuey, Cox, Waters, Kennedy, Glass, Rosa
INJURIES
Fremantle: Jonathon Griffin (hip)
West Coast: Nil
SUBSTITUTIONS
Fremantle: Jonathon Griffin replaced by Paul Duffield in the third quarter
West Coast: Jack Darling replaced by Patrick McGinnity in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Schmitt, Ryan
Official crowd: 41,055 at Patersons Stadium
West Coast survived an incredible late rally from Fremantle to win a classic Carlton Mid Derby by one point, with Fremantle forward Hayden Ballantyne hitting the post with a 52m set shot after the siren.
Fremantle came from a game-high 22 points down halfway through the last term, kicking three consecutive goals to bring the margin back to three points when Eagle Matt Rosa was penalised for deliberate out of bounds in the dying seconds.
Ballantyne kicked from outside 50m on the boundary and his shot looked like sailing through for a goal before hitting the post, with West Coast surviving to win 8.17 (65) to 9.10 (64) in a dour but memorable Derby.
Ruckman Dean Cox, who had 42 hit-outs and 22 possessions, was awarded the Ross Glendinning Medal for his standout performance, with Luke Shuey (26 possessions, 16 contested) and Beau Waters (23 possessions and nine marks) also influential for the winners.
Michael Barlow played the best of his three games since returning from a broken leg, winning an equal game-high 26 possessions, including 14 contested.
Greg Broughton (26 possessions) continues to flourish in a midfield role, while, Ryan Crowley revived his best form as a stopper, keeping key Eagles midfielder Matt Priddis to 13 possessions.
Toyota AFL Dream Team
Freo - Michael Barlow: Barlow has only played two games against West Coast, winning the Ross Glendinning Medal in early 2010 and then gaining a team-high 26 disposals in round 18 last year. He has averaged 103 DT points against the Eagles.
West Coast - Scott Selwood: Selwood has been a revelation in 2012, averaging a whopping 109 DT points, which is a 22 point rise on his 2011 average.
Where Freo can win it - Ground level
This might sound like a broken record, but winning the stoppages is imperative to winning this match.
The ruck talent and potential that will be running around Patersons Stadium on Sunday is arguably the best seen on a footy field in many years, with Freo’s Sandilands, Zac Clarke and Jon Griffin versus West Coast’s Cox and Naitanui.
But it’s what Mundy, Barlow and co do at ground level against the Eagles’ on-ball division that will decide this match.
