SUMMARY
This has been one of the great modern rivalries with the two sides playing in three finals since 2010 and four other games that were decided by less than two kicks. But this game is unlikely to match the quality of those encounters with the Freo Dockers struggling in 2016. The Cats will start heavy favourites but they will need to be wary of Fremantle who would want to atone for their past two performances. The Cats have lost four of their past seven including three to bottom-eight sides. Freo have won their past two at Domain Stadium but their past two performances on the road have been poor. They have been beaten in the midfield and the task does not get any easier against Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood.
Match day information
WHERE AND WHEN: Domain Stadium, Friday 15 July 6.10pm WST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R2, 2015, Fremantle Dockers 15.14 (104) d Geelong Cats 9.6 (60) at Simonds Stadium
R20, 2014, Geelong Cats 12.9 (81) d Fremantle Dockers 11.13 (79) at Simonds Stadium
R9, 2014, Fremantle Dockers 13.18 (96) d Geelong Cats 9.10 (64) at Domain Stadium
2QF, 2013, Fremantle Dockers 12.15 (87) d Geelong Cats 9.18 (72) at Simonds Stadium
R14, 2013, Geelong Cats 11.19 (85) d Fremantle Dockers 7.2 (44) at Simonds Stadium
Head to head stats
THE SIX POINTS
1. Fremantle’s midfield was the difference the last time the sides played. David Mundy had 39 disposals, Nat Fyfe 36, Michael Barlow 31, Stephen Hill 29 and Aaron Sandilands dominated the ruck with 51 hit-outs.
2. Geelong is the number one ranked team for marks inside 50 with 15.4 per game. By contrast, Fremantle is ranked 16th with 9.7 per game.
3. The Cats are also ranked first for inside 50s, averaging 57 per game. But last week they struggled to convert finishing with their lowest score of the season.
4. The teams have played 15 times at Domain Stadium with the Cats winning eight times.
5. Fremantle is ranked 16th for scoring this season, managing only 76 points per game. Their defence has conceded 91 per game, compared to 71 in 2015.
6. Patrick Dangerfield surpassed Nat Fyfe as the number one player on the Schick AFL Player Ratings earlier this year. Both Dangerfield and Joel Selwood (10th) are in the top 10. Fremantle’s best two players, Fyfe (fourth) and Aaron Sandilands (30th), are unavailable through injury.
