Match Preview – Fremantle v Melbourne –Patersons Stadium – Sunday 26 May – 2.40pm local time

LAST FIVE TIMES
Rd 23, 2012, Fremantle 14.17 (101) d Melbourne 5.10 (40) at Patersons Stadium
Rd 16, 2012, Fremantle 18.9 (117) d Melbourne 12.11 (83) at Etihad Stadium
Rd 13, 2011, Melbourne 22.17 (149) d Fremantle 8.12 (60) at the MCG
Rd 16, 2010, Fremantle 11.16 (82) d Melbourne 10.11 (71) at Patersons Stadium
Rd 20, 2009, Melbourne 20.7 (127) d Fremantle 9.10 (64) at the MCG


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 – Freo loses form forward Michael Walters, which could open the door for round 8 late withdrawal Hayden Crozier to return. Stephen Hill is expected to miss another week, while Matthew Pavlich is edging closer to a return but is still a week or two away. Peel Thunder’s Viv Michie and Matt Taberner have been in very good form in the WAFL and could come under consideration.

Melbourne – The Demons are expecting former number one draft pick Jack Watts to return in defence, but youngsters Jack Viney and Jimmy Toumpas will miss. Colin Sylvia is out through suspension.


Possible line-ups - Freo mentioned first in bold

F:M de BoerC MayneH Ballantyne
B:N JettaJ FrawleyD Terlich
HF: N SubanJ HannathH Crozier
HB:J WattsJ SellarC Garland
C:D PearceD MundyN Fyfe
C:A DaveyJ TrengoveJ McKenzie
HB:L SpurrM JohnsonG Ibbotson
HF:M EvansL DunnJ Howe
B:Z DawsonL McPharlinP Duffield
F:M GawnC DawesJ Magner
Ruck:Z ClarkeM BarlowR Crowley
Ruck:M JamarM JonesN Jones
INT from:C Pearce, T Mzungu, C Sutcliffe, T Smith, T Sheridan, A Silvagni  
INT from:J Strauss, R Bail, D Nicholson, D Kent  


X Factors

Fremantle – Danyle Pearce: Pearce played a solid second half in the draw against Sydney. He could be hitting his straps after two months in purple.

Melbourne – Aaron Davey: The explosive Melbourne midfielder hadn’t been in good form this season, but he recaptured some of his best against Richmond last week with 19 disposals and three goals. His brilliant foot skills and pace will be crucial on Patersons Stadium.


Key Match-ups

Ryan Crowley v Nathan Jones: Jones has been Melbourne’s best player during the past two seasons and he usually gets the hard tag from the opposition. Crowley will be smarting after having his colours lowered by Sydney’s Daniel Hannebery last week. It’s not often ‘Crowls’ is beaten, so he’ll be eager to bounce back.

Luke McPharlin v Chris Dawes: Without Mitch Clark, Dawes is the focal point of Melbourne’s attack. He has been building steadily since returning to action two weeks ago, but he runs into one of the AFL’s best defenders on Sunday.

Nat Fyfe v Jordie McKenzie: The Demon tagger has performed well considering the amount of ball the Demons have afforded to their opponents this season. He could be the one Mark Neeld sends to quell the influence of Nat Fyfe.

Zac Clarke v Mark Jamar: Clarke was impressive in his first match of the season, while Jamar is experienced and won 44 hitouts against Richmond last week.


Dream Team

Fremantle: Michael Barlow has averaged 95 over his past three three against Melbourne and he’s in good form, with three hundreds in his past four matches this season.

Melbourne: Jeremy Howe: The marking machine may enjoy the wide-open spaces of Patersons Stadium and should tally a number of grabs on the wings.


Keys to victory

Freo will be happy if: It plays the Demons as it would any other side in the league. Ladder positions aren’t important to Ross Lyon. He demands effort, regardless of who the opposition is. Complacency cannot be allowed to creep into Freo’s minds.

Melbourne will be happy if: It brings the same effort that challenged Richmond last round. Defensively, the Demons were very resilient against the Tigers and the midfield and forward line capitalised on the opportunities they received. Mark Neeld will be trying to channel that same energy in Perth.

Last time they met

SATURDAY 14 JULY 2012, ETIHAD STADIUM

FREMANTLE 3.2 6.5 11.6 18.9 (117)
MELBOURNE 6.4 8.6 12.7 12.11 (83)

GOALS FREMANTLE: Pavlich 4, Walters 3, Ballantyne 2, Barlow 2, Hill 2, Pearce 2, Mzungu, Bradley, Mayne
GOALS MELBOURNE: Green 3, Martin 2, Bail 2, Bennell, Blease, Bate, Green, Sylvia

SUB: Cameron Sutcliffe replaced Greg Broughton in the third quarter REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Dalgleish, Wenn, Bannister
OFFICIAL CROWD: 13,284

Without doubt, the story of the day was the return of Michael Walters, who had been banished to his WAFL club in January for failing to meet the standard required to play AFL footy. At Etihad Stadium in round 16, 2012, Walters played AFL footy, and play it well he did. If he wasn’t kicking goals (three of them), he was setting up teammates with his sublime skills. A struggling star also burst back to life with a best-on- ground display. David Mundy had self-admittedly been well below his best in 2012, thanks largely to a compromised pre-season. In round 16, he reminded the competition just how damaging his skills and ball-winning ability could be with 27 classy disposals and six tackles. Importantly, Freo kicked the last nine goals of the game to pick up the four points, despite a spirited effort from lowly Melbourne.

FREO FACT: Freo had not beaten Melbourne in Victoria since round four, 2007.
ROSS LYON: “It is great because his football life ... was almost flat lining wasn’t it? We got him off life support and away he goes.” — on Michael Walters

BROWNLOW MEDAL VOTES
3 David Mundy
2 Nathan Jones
1 Stephen Hill

DOIG MEDAL VOTES
12 David Mundy
11 Stephen Hill
8 Matthew Pavlich, Luke McPharlin, Clancee Pearce, Hayden Ballantyne, Michael Walters
5 Chris Mayne
4 Ryan Crowley, Michael Barlow, Garrick Ibbotson, Lee Spurr, Kepler Bradley
2 Michael Johnson

THE SIX POINTS from afl.com.au

1. This will be the 30th clash between the sides and Fremantle holds the advantage, winning 16 games to 13.

2. The sides have met 12 times previously at Patersons Stadium with Fremantle winning nine, including the past seven.

3. Melbourne has lost its past 13 games at Patersons Stadium. The Demons' most recent win at the venue came in round 11, 2004.

4. Did you know that since 2007, Melbourne’s average losing margin at Patersons Stadium is 53 points?

5. Fremantle has the best defence so far in 2013 conceding an average of only 78 points per game. Melbourne is ranked 17th with 133 points conceded per game.

6. Melbourne has two players (Nathan Jones – ranked 65, Colin Sylvia – 73) currently ranked higher in the AFL Official Player ratings than Fremantle's highest ranked available player (Nathan Fyfe – 99).