Elimination Final - Fremantle v Geelong

When and Where - Saturday 8 September, 5.45pm (WST) bounce down, MCG

Perth Broadcast information

TV: Live from 5.30pm on Fox Footy and Channel 7

Radio: Live from 5.30pm on 720 ABC and 882 6PR

For the full AFL national broadcast schedule, click here

Game day coverage

Club website: www.fremantlefc.com.au

Social Media: Twitter and Facebook - For gameday photos, score updates, statistics and analysis

Form-line

Freo: Won 14 Lost 8 (7th) - W L W W L W W L L L W L L W W W W W L W W W
Geelong: Won 15 Lost 7 (6th) - L W L W W W L L W W W L W W L W W W L W W W

The selection table

Freo - The main question mark is who will replace Luke McPharlin in the heart of defence? Alex Silvagni appears to be the leading candidate after training with the AFL squad at training during the week. But Antoni Grover is battle-hardened and won’t be leaving anything out on the field after recently announcing his retirement. Dylan Roberton is another option in defence. He’s a brilliant runner and deceptively tall at 191cm, which is similar to both Silvagni and Grover. He isn’t as strong in the upper body, however. Matt de Boer will also return to the side after a week’s rest, with Tom Sheridan likely to make way after his debut last week.

Geelong - The Cats have been rocked by the suspension of their brilliant playmaker Steve Johnson, who will miss the game after copping a one-match ban for rough conduct. His spot in the team will likely go to Billie Smedts or Travis Varcoe. Dual premiership player Varcoe is the obvious replacement, but he has only played one game this season in round 22, when he came off the ground injured. He will be given until the end of the week to prove his fitness.

Who’s hot

Freo - Aaron Sandilands: The champion ruckman has been simply dominant since returning to the side in round 21. He’s taking contested marks, kicking goals, winning the hitouts and giving his midfielders first look at the ball at almost every stoppage. He worked well in tandem with Jon Griffin in round 23 and that could be the go for Freo’s finals campaign.

Geelong - James Kelly: In a midfield that contains names such as Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel and Steve Johnson, it’s easy to overlook a player like James Kelly. But Kelly is a superstar in his own right and deserves as much attention as anyone. In blistering form, the 28-year-old has been averaging 25 disposals a game this season. He laid a remarkable 16 tackles against the Sydney Swans last week and gives the Cats a hard edge in the midfield.

X-Factor

At opposite ends of the ground on Saturday night will be the two best forwards in the AFL over the second half of the season. Matthew Pavlich and Tom Hawkins have been match-winners for their respective teams.

Freo - Matthew Pavlich: Pavlich embarked on a stunning run of form that saw him kick 54 goals since round 10. He’s been managing some injury niggles towards the end the season, but on Saturday night, he’ll be absolutely vital to his club’s chances of knocking off the reigning premiers. Whether he kicks the goals or not, Pavlich’s mere presence will make life easier for Freo’s fleet-footed small forwards.

Geelong - Tom Hawkins: Like Pavlich, Hawkins has been in sensational form to close out the regular season. His six-goal effort, including the winner after the siren against premiership favourites Hawthorn, showed just how damaging ‘Tomahawk’ can be on his day. In Geelong’s three losses since round 11, Hawkins has only kicked one goal in each game. In the Cats’ nine wins, he has booted 37 goals.

Key match-ups

Ryan Crowley v Joel Selwood: Crowley went to Chapman the last time the teams met in round 1, but the Geelong champion has played mainly as a half-forward in recent weeks. Without Steve Johnson, Joel Selwood is probably the most damaging midfielder in Geelong’s arsenal on Saturday night. Fremantle will hope Crowley can continue on doing what he’s done so excellently this season and shut down yet another star.

Aaron Sandilands v Trent West: West has only played 40 games in his career, but that includes a premiership win last year. He’s battled manfully as Geelong’s lead ruckman this season, and on Saturday he will get the ultimate test for any big man in this league - Aaron Sandilands. Freo’s champion dominated when the teams met in round 1, winning 32 hitouts to West’s 14 and 19 disposals to eight.

Zac Dawson v Tom Hawkins: Minus Luke McPharlin, the onus of stopping the towering Cat will fall on Zac Dawson, with a bit of help from the rest of the defence. Whoever replaces McPharlin could also be called upon to play on Hawkins, but at this stage, the 195cm Dawson appears to be the best fit to stand the 197cm Cat.


Last time they met

Fremantle 16.9.105 def Geelong 15.11.101 at Patersons Stadium - round 1, 2012

FREMANTLE made a dream start to life under new coach Ross Lyon, holding on to beat reigning premiers Geelong by four points in a thrilling clash at Patersons Stadium.

In a spiteful match that went down to the wire, Freo captain Matthew Pavlich stood up to kick two crucial late goals, with the home team running out 16.9 (105) to 15.11 (101) winners.

The skipper had been well held all night by Andrew Mackie, but he swept on a loose ball deep into the last quarter and soccered the game sealer.

Fremantle looked every bit the disciplined, organised unit Lyon had promised after a ruthless pre-season, and the win was just Fremantle’s second in 11 clashes with the Cats since 2006.

Nat Fyfe continued his emergence as a genuine star, winning 30 disposals (15 contested) and kicking two goals to be a clear best on ground.

The classy ball-winner was up against premiership midfielders Joel Selwood, who was the Cats' best with 32 disposals (17 contested), and Kelly (26 and eight clearances), but he inspired a memorable win for Fremantle.

Star ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who was returning from a calf injury, drove a five-goal-to-nil start for the home team, controlling the ruck and taking contested marks at both ends of the ground.

Watch the highlights from Freo’s memorable round 1 victory