Sandilands is vital: Bell
The West Australian

Former Fremantle captain Peter Bell says ruckman Aaron Sandilands is the key to the Dockers beating Hawthorn tonight and delivering the club a second grand final appearance.

Bell said Sandilands would determine more than most whether the game was played on Fremantle’s terms with repeat entries inside their attacking 50, or whether the Hawks controlled the game with their slick ball movement.

“He is a highly influential player and his ruckwork has been really good because of his size and his ability to give that midfield first use of the footy,” Bell said. “I think he has had an outstanding year.


Few fired up like Dawson  
The West Australian

Zac Dawson will never get a better chance than tonight’s preliminary final at Domain Stadium to put to bed the one game he regrets the most.

Four times he has played on grand final day under coach Ross Lyon and four times he has fallen short of the ultimate reward — three of them at St Kilda.

One was decided by a Matthew Scarlett toe poke that swung a gripping contest in Geelong’s favour in 2009, another a cruel bounce of the ball that denied Stephen Milne the opportunity to kick the match winner against Collingwood in the drawn 2010 showpiece.

For a key defender who forged a reputation as a strong finals performer over those two years, Dawson looks on that period with pride as much as any other feeling.

 
Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters key to Fremantle victory
Herald Sun

Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters are Fremantle’s firestarters.

Problem is they have barely got warm in recent times against Hawthorn.Since the start of 2013, either of Ballantyne and Walters has kicked three goals in a game 34 times. Fremantle has won 30 of those matches. It’s pretty straightforward — when they spark they ignite Docker success.But not against the Hawks.

In the Ross Lyon era (since the start of 2012) both small forwards have played the Hawks five times for very little return — Walters four goals in total and Ballantyne three.



AFL finals 2015: Ryan Crowley overlooked for preliminary final
The Age

Ross Lyon has been true to his word, overlooking tagger Ryan Crowley for Fremantle's preliminary final date with Hawthorn on Friday night at Domain Stadium. Daniel Wells won't make his long-awaited return either, missing out on selection in the North Melbourne squad for his side's clash against West Coast the following night at the same ground.



AFL finals 2015: Freo star Matthew Pavlich needs to step up says Jonathan Brown
The Age

Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich needs to dramatically increase his scoring output during the remainder of the finals series if he is to cement his status as one of the AFL's all-time greats, according to triple premiership spearhead Jonathan Brown.

Pavlich has built a reputation for standing up in big games, but he went goalless in his team's nine-point qualifying final win over Sydney a fortnight ago.



AFL finals 2015: Five questions on the Fremantle-Hawthorn preliminary final
The Age

Can Fremantle allow Sam Mitchell to run without a tag?

Mitchell has averaged 30.9 touches this season - 34 in the past three games, including two finals. Calls for Ryan Crowley to play his first game this season are based on him keeping Mitchell to just 12 touches in the 2013 grand final. Against Fremantle in round 15 this season Mitchell also amassed a season-high 39 possessions. West Coast showed in the qualifying final two weeks ago that the Hawks don't always win if Mitchell plays well. He had 35 possessions and the Eagles won by 32 points. But Fremantle must limit the Hawks' possession count as the reigning premiers win when they get their hands on the ball a lot.


Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles have history on their side in prelims
Perthnow.com.au

Good news, Freo and West Coast fans. WA’s considerable home-ground advantage appears to count for even more in preliminary finals, if history is any guide.

To reach the Grand Final, Hawthorn or North Melbourne will have to do something no Victorian team has ever done: Win a prelim outside Melbourne.

There have been seven instances of Victorian clubs travelling interstate for preliminary finals. On each occasion, the visiting team has come up short.