When and where: Metricon Stadium – Saturday 4 May, 2013 – 7.40pm EST
Last time they met – Round 6, 2012 – Metricon Stadium, Saturday 5 May
FREMANTLE 3.0 5.3 10.7 14.10 (94)
GOLD COAST 3.1 8.2 10.2 14.3 (87)
GOALS FREMANTLE: Mayne 3, de Boer 3, Neale 2, Crowley, Pavlich, Clarke, Mzungu, Roberton, Hill
GOALS GOLD COAST: Bennell 3, Swallow 3, Iles, Hunt, Russell, Brennan, Shaw, Caddy, Brown, Day
SUB: Lee Spurr replaced Stephen Hill in the third quarter
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Nicholls, Kamolins, Mitchell
OFFICIAL CROWD: 11,670
BROWNLOW MEDAL VOTES
3 Harley Bennell (GC); 2 Luke Russell (GC); 1 Michael Johnson
DOIG MEDAL VOTES
9 Garrick Ibbotson, 8 Chris Mayne, 8 Michael Johnson, 8 Matthew de Boer, 8 Lachie Neale, 6 Luke McPharlin, 4 Matthew Pavlich , 4 Clancee Pearce, 4 Hayden Ballantyne, 4 Lee Spurr, 4 Zac Clarke, 4 Greg Broughton , 2 Zac Dawson
Freo fans might have had considerably shorter nails following the match against winless Gold Coast, but in anyone’s language, a win is a win. The young Suns, minus superstar Gary Ablett Jnr, went all-guns-blazing, but Ross Lyon’s men were composed enough to dodge whatever artillery was thrown their way. Ultimately, it was Tendai Mzungu’s soccer goal with seconds remaining that ensured Fremantle its second away win in succession. Lyon wasn’t giving his side too much kudos for their performance after the match, however, unhappy they had leaked nine goals from stoppages after not conceding one all season up to this match. Matt de Boer and Chris Mayne were superb with three goals each, while Ryan Crowley showed he could run both ways with a slick 25-touch, one-goal display.
Freo Fact: Lee Spurr was the eleventh rookie- listed player to debut for Freo since 2009.
Ross Lyon: “We go away with some really big lessons from this game as a football club about not being an if: ‘if’ we turn up and ‘if’ we give effort. We want to be an every minute and an every moment and an every quarter kind of team.”
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 is the big out after he was handed a two-match suspension at the AFL Tribunal. Paul Duffield should return from a minor calf injury, while his replacement, Nick Suban, was excellent against Richmond and should have done enough to keep his spot, as did Garrick Ibbotson in his first game for the season. Zac Clarke would be a big inclusion, given Kepler Bradley’s knee injury. Clarke was listed as a test for last week’s game and just failed to get up, but Ross Lyon has already indicated that the ruckman/forward is likely to come back through the WAFL. Lachie Neale could be under some pressure to keep his spot after a quiet night last round, while Hayden Crozier had a big game for Peel Thunder and will come under strong consideration.
Gold Coast – The Suns are reasonably settled at the minute, with Danny Stanley making a successful return in last week’s win over GWS. Brilliant midfielder Harley Bennell is a chance to return, while defenders Nathan Bock and Matthew Warnock are the only notable long-term absentees.
Possible line-ups - Freo mentioned first in bold
| F | Walters | Mayne | Ballantyne |
| B | Murphy | May | McKenzie |
| HF | Suban | Hannath | de Boer |
| HB | Thompson | Day | Broughton |
| C | Hill | Mundy | C Pearce |
| C | Harbrow | Hunt | Rischitelli |
| HB | M Johnson | Dawson | Ibbotson |
| HF | Stanley | Lynch | Matera |
| B | Spurr | McPharlin | Duffield |
| F | Prestia | Dixon | Hall |
| Ruck | Griffin | Crowley | Barlow |
| Ruck | Z Smith | Ablett | D Swallow |
| INT from | Mzungu, Neale, D Pearce, Sutcliffe, Crozier | ||
| INT from | O'Meara, Brennan, Shaw, Hutchins |
X Factors
Fremantle – Nick Suban: Suban had considerable x-factor in last Friday’s win over Richmond, making a huge difference when he came on as the sub. If Fyfe is unavailable, the opportunity is there for someone to step up and play a big one on Saturday night. If Suban puts his head over the ball and attacks the contests with the same ferocity he did against the Tigers, he could be that man.
Gold Coast – Charlie Dixon: Dixon is emerging as one of the brightest young key forwards in the competition. He broke the Suns’ goalkicking record with six against GWS last week. He is now crucial to Guy McKenna’s set-up.
Key Match-ups
Ryan Crowley v Gary Ablett: The one we’ve all been waiting for. It’s time to put phones down and let football do the talking. In reality, this is football purist’s dream: the best player in the AFL versus one of the best negators of recent times. Many say Ablett cannot be tagged. Crowley, who has performed well on the little master in the past, will gladly put that theory to the test on Saturday night.
Luke McPharlin v Charlie Dixon: If you want evidence of how important McPharlin is to Freo, take a look at Friday night’s match against Richmond. He was simple impassable on the last line. If you’re wondering what Dixon means to the Suns, just watch him tear the Giants to shreds in the same round. Another great battle looms as the veteran guile of McPharlin takes on the youth and exuberance of Dixon.
David Mundy v Karmichael Hunt: Hunt usually gets a tagging role, and Mundy looks a good bet to be the man he is assigned to, especially if Fyfe is out. ‘Barra’ put in an average performance against the Tigers, but he rarely plays two quiet games in a row. This could be a pivotal match-up.
Matt de Boer v Trent McKenzie: McKenzie’s left foot is fast developing into one of the most lethal weapons in the competition. The Suns use him all over the field to kick over lines, and sometimes straight over goal umpires’ heads. De Boer usually gets a lock-down role in Freo’s attack and could find himself quelling the young Sun.
Dream Team
Fremantle: In round 15, 2011, Jon Griffin scored 155 Dream Team points against Gold Coast. He will lead the ruck again on Saturday and could rack up another good total against less experienced opponents.
Gold Coast: He’s only played Freo once as a Sun, but Ablett managed a phenomenal 175 points in the 2011 game. Ryan Crowley was not the tagger he is now under Ross Lyon, so be mindful.
Freo will be happy if: Ryan Crowley at the very least prevents Gary Ablett from wielding too big an influence on the game.
Gold Coast will be happy if: Charlie Dixon continues his incredible form up front. Tough ask against Luke Mac and the miserly Freo defence.
