Sunday will be an emotional day as the Fremantle Football Club prepares to farewell Matthew Pavlich against the Western Bulldogs are Domain Stadium.
Conversely the Bulldogs will be aiming to put emotion aside as they push for a potential top-four finish.
Here is what to note when the two sides meet on Sunday afternoon.
Farewelling a legend
All eyes will be on Matthew Pavlich as he takes the field for his 353rd and final game of AFL football. There are a number of intriguing stats surrounding Pavlich which make for interesting viewing. If he kicks just one goal, he will become the 21st player to reach 700 or more goals and just the fifth to play 300 games and kick 700 goals. It will be a celebration of Fremantle’s greatest ever player.
The Story
Experienced campaigners return
Ross Lyon hinted during the week that some of Pavlich’s long-time teammates could return for the final game of the season. Aaron Sandilands returns from injury to play just his fifth game of 2016 and Matt De Boer, who has been in good form for Peel Thunder, will play game 138. Sandilands and Pavlich have been teammates for 15 years, while De Boer has played alongside his former captain since 2009.
Two Lachie’s collide
One contest to watch will be that of Fremantle’s Lachie Neale and Western Bulldog’s Lachie Hunter. Both midfielders are in career best form and are in the running to make their first All-Australian team. Neale is on track to break the all-time regular season disposals record of 721, while Hunter is averaging more than 29 disposals per game this season. Both are excellent ball users and will have an influence on this game.
Neale record beckons as Pavlich goal looms
The Yaz Factor
Shane Yarran had a blistering start to last week’s game against GWS, showing his pace to sprint away from Joel Patfull to kick an excellent goal. The mature age recruit’s height and speed make him a handful for defenders so watch out for him charging out of the goal square.
