The Numbers Game
34,625 – Last year’s attendance was the highest between the two teams
6008 – Subiaco postcode, all Freo/GWS clashes so far have been played at Domain Stadium
127 – Freo’s average score against GWS
84 – Freo’s lowest score against GWS (Rd 18, 2015)
63 – GWS Giants’ highest score against Freo
53 –Games Rhys Palmer played for Freo before joining GWS in 2011.
14 – Goals Matthew Pavlich has kicked in four games v Giants
Last time we met
Fremantle (12.12.84) def GWS Giants (9.9.63) in Rd 18, 2015.
Lachie Neale had a team-high 38 disposals against the Giants.
Stephen Hill received two Brownlow votes for his 32 touches in round 18 last season and found plenty of running room on the day, taking five bounces.
Michael Walters was at his efficient best, kicking four goals and no behinds from 14 disposals. The smooth-moving forward was also a factor when not scoring himself, as he finished with seven inside 50s and a goal assist.
Freo skipper David Mundy lead by example in the midfield, and had Freo moving the right way with a game-high 11 clearances.
Getting runs on the board
Both Fremantle and GWS are looking to avoid an unwanted record when they meet each other at Domain Stadium on Saturday night.
Freo will be looking to register their first win of 2016, while the Giants aim to break their WA hoodoo, having not won at Domain Stadium in four attempts against Freo.
Could Freo stifle GWS encore?
The pressure will be on the Giants to follow up their impressive round six performance when they defeated reigning premiers Hawthorn by 75-points. The expectations on the Giants are at the highest they’ve been in the club’s short history and it will be interesting to see how they respond after such a resounding victory. Freo have displayed an ability to play alongside the in-form teams of the competition so far in 2016, with tight contests against Adelaide, North Melbourne and West Coast ultimately lost due to one-quarter lapses.
Savvy Spurr
Freo leadership group member Lee Spurr has made a habit of playing some of his best football against GWS. Spurr averages 22 disposals a game against the Giants, his best against any team in the AFL, including a career high 32 touches in round 18, 2015. In addition to his finding the ball, Spurr has also found the goals, with one of his five career goals coming against the Giants.
No love for this Mum
Freo will be celebrating Mother’s Day early on Saturday, and fans are invited to join by using #myfreomum on social media.
But on the field it’s a different story all together. Freo rucks Jonathon Griffin and Zac Clarke will have to play a physical brand of football as they go up against Giants big man Shane Mumford.
Mumford currently sits seventh in the AFL in hit outs with 180, but his best work occurs in the contest, as his 27 tackles is the most of any ruckman so far in 2016.
