Match Preview: Freo v Gold Coast
Read the afl.com.au preview of Saturday's Starlight Purple Haze Game
SUMMARY
GOLD Coast travel west after an impressive win over Richmond but Fremantle was white hot on the opening night of the season and pose a far greater challenge to the Suns. Gold Coast is yet to win at Patersons Stadium and yet to beat Fremantle in its short history. The Dockers will be wary of the Suns impressive young running brigade but Fremantle's big-bodied midfield was dominant against Collingwood. Ryan Crowley will once again tag Gary Ablett, who is coming off 41 disposals and two goals against the Tigers. Crowley kept Ablett to 28 possessions and a goal in their meeting last year. In each of his next six games Ablett gathered 30 plus possessions and polled a total of 16 Brownlow votes. Another interesting match-up will be Tom Nicholls facing the man mountain Aaron Sandilands in the ruck. Nicholls battled well against Shaun Hampson in round one but Sandilands' recent form has been sublime.
WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Saturday March 23, 2.40pm
Follow the game on Match Centre here
TV AND RADIO: Click here for the broadcast guide
LAST THREE TIMES
R6, 2013, Fremantle 15.9 (99) d Gold Coast 7.12 (54) at Metricon Stadium
R6, 2012, Fremantle 14.10 (94) d Gold Coast 14.3 (87) at Metricon Stadium
R15, 2011, Fremantle 17.10 (112) d Gold Coast 9.8 (62) at Patersons Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. No team had more inside-50s in round one than Fremantle. The Dockers had 65 entries while Gold Coast was 10th with 48.
2. The Suns have not beaten Fremantle in their short history. The Dockers have won all three matches by 50, seven, and 45 points respectively.
3. There was a huge differential in the interchanges in round one for these teams. Fremantle had the most in the competition with 118. Gold Coast had the equal least with just 75.
4. Gold Coast remain winless at Patersons Stadium. In four visits the Suns have three losses to West Coast and one to Fremantle.
5. The Dockers laid 71 tackles in round one, which was the sixth best in the competition. The Suns were 13th with just 58.
6. Gary Ablett is the number one player in the Official AFL Player Ratings with 725 points. The combined tally of the Dockers' highest rated player Stephen Hill (472) and three-time All Australian Aaron Sandilands (253) is 725 ratings points.
Prediction: Fremantle by 20 points
