Round 1 - Fremantle v West Coast - Carlton Mid Derby

Patersons Stadium - Saturday 23 March, 2013 - 4.40pm WST

Last time they met - Round 19, 2012

Fremantle 17.11.113 defeated West Coast 6.12.48

Matthew Pavlich booted eight goals and Freo's midfield dominated all day long. David Mundy and Nat Fyfe were excellent, while Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters put the icing on the cake with five goals between them.

Watch Hayden Ballantyne’s Carlton Mid Derby Moment


Social Media

Twitter - Make sure you follow our match day account @FreoFC_MatchDay for comprehensive pre-game info, match scores, highlights, stats and analysis, and post-game recaps.

Don't forget to follow the club's official account @Fremantle_FC for updates throughout the week.

Facebook - Get score updates and chat with other Freo fans during the game with our official Facebook account.

Instagram – For a behind-the-scenes look at game day follow FremantleDockers on Instagram


The selection table

Fremantle - It's pretty much smooth sailing at Freo with only Aaron Sandilands and Anthony Morabito unavailable. Young forwards Hayden Crozier and Josh Mellington have put their hands up for a spot in the forward line, but otherwise, the 22 that lines up on Saturday should be fairly predictable.

West Coast - The Eagles will be without All Australian ruckman Nic Naitanui and midfielders Matt Rosa, Sharrod Wellingham and Daniel Kerr.


X-Factors

Fremantle - Danyle Pearce: Freo's midfield will be similar to the last time these sides met, except for the addition of the classy left footer from Port Adelaide. His kicking skills are as good as any and he will give West Coast one more player to be mindful of on Saturday. Pearce's presence should help loosen the shackles on the likes of Stephen Hill and Nat Fyfe.

West Coast - Mark Lecras: The brilliant forward/midfielder did not play in 2012 and the Eagles missed his class. He's a match-winner and he's shown strong form in the NAB Cup to suggest he's recovered well from his knee reconstruction.


Key Match-ups

Ryan Crowley v Scott Selwood: The 2012 club champions from their respective sides could clash on Saturday night. Crowley left a wake of defeated opponents last year and may line up on Selwood, who emerged as one of West Coast's best midfielders in 2012. Selwood has also played the role of negator throughout his career, so it will be interesting to see how both players are used on Saturday night.

Matthew Pavlich v Eric MacKenzie: Fremantle's skipper torched his West Coast opponent for eight goals the last time the sides met. Eagles' captain Darren Glass missed that game, so MacKenzie will have more help this time.

Jon Griffin v Dean Cox: Minus stars Aaron Sandilands and Nic Naitanui, the ruck will be fought between Griffin, who has filled in well for Sandilands over the past two seasons, and Dean Cox, who is arguably the best ruckman the AFL has seen in the past 20 years. Zac Clarke will also be called upon to assist Griffin against the Eagles champion.


Dream Team

Fremantle: Matthew Pavlich scored 144 in the last meeting, while midfielders Dave Mundy, Michael Barlow and Nat Fyfe dominated in the middle to each score more than 100. Barlow in particular loves playing the Eagles, averaging 103 in his three appearances against them, including a Ross Glendinning Medal in his Carlton Mid Derby debut in 2010.

West Coast: Beau Waters has a good record against Freo, averaging 102 over his past three.


Freo will be happy if: they again destroy the Eagles in the contested ball. The round 19, 2012 Carlton Mid Derby destruction was built on a clinical midfield display that choked the life out of West Coast's ability to generate play from the midfield. The addition of Danyle Pearce just adds another classy finisher who can dine on the hard work of Mundy, Fyfe, Barlow and co.

West Coast will be happy if: Matthew Pavlich doesn't get the opportunities to kick eight goals again. It starts in the middle, so the onus is on the West Coast midfielders to limit the quantity and quality of ball Pavlich sees. Freo small forwards Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters also fed off Pavlich's dominance to kick five between them last time.

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