Match Preview - Fremantle v Essendon
When and Where - Saturday 23 June, 5.40pm (WST) bounce down, Patersons Stadium
Perth Broadcast information
TV: Live from 5.30pm on Fox Footy/ Delayed from 6.30pm on 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 and statistics
Form-line
Freo - W L W W L W W L L L W
Essendon - W W W W L W W W W L L
The selection table
Freo - Fremantle must replace the injured Aaron Sandilands and suspended Hayden Ballantyne. Stephen Hill and Zac Dawson are also under an injury cloud. Zac Clarke could be the perfect replacement for Sandilands, while Paul Duffield and Nick Lower will come under strong consideration for a recall. If Dawson doesn’t line up, Alex Silvagni is the likely replacement in defence.
Essendon - The Bombers are without talented midfielder David Zaharakis, who is out with a quad injury. Alwyn Davey’s pace will also be missed after the forward was suspended for one game. Michael Hibberd and Kyle Reimers were in good touch in the VFL and loom as possible inclusions.
Who’s hot
Freo - Matthew Pavlich: The captain is coming off his best game of the season following a match-winning six goals against Richmond at the MCG. Pavlich has a history of lifting for major milestones and will be keen to help the club win in Luke McPharlin’s 200th AFL game.
Essendon - Jobe Watson: The Essendon skipper has been sensational this season and looms as a major Brownlow Medal chance. He has averaged well over 30 possessions a game and kicked seven goals in his past month of footy.
X-Factor
Freo - Luke McPharlin: Apart from doing his usual reliable job in defence, most likely on key Essendon forward Michael Hurley, McPharlin’s 200th AFL game should give Freo a big lift on Saturday night.
Essendon: Brent Stanton: It’s no coincidence that the tireless midfielder has been well down in his club’s three losses this season. During Essendon’s brilliant start to the season, there was no player in the competition performing better than Stanton.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FIVE TALKING POINTS AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S GAME
Key match-ups
Ryan Crowley v Jobe Watson: Watson is responsible for generating much of Essendon’s drive from the stoppages. Ryan Crowley should line up on the Bombers’ skipper and attempt to curb his influence.
Jonathon Griffin v Patrick Ryder: Griffin has proven on multiple occasions that he is a more-than-handy replacement for Aaron Sandilands. He’ll come face-to-face with one of the best ruckman in the competition this year in Patty Ryder. Ryder is an athletic big man who covers a lot of ground and can take big contested marks. Ross Lyon will ask for another big effort from Griffin this week.
Toyota AFL Dream Team
Freo - Matthew Pavlich: Sandilands and Ballantyne have been the two highest Freo Dream Team scorers in recent games between the clubs. They won’t be lining up on Saturday, which leaves Pavlich as the best performed Freo Docker over the past four games against Essendon. He’s averaged 89.8 in that period.
Essendon - Brent Stanton: Stanton has averaged 88 points per game in his past three games against Freo. The Bomber is averaging a staggering 123.5 this season and looks a safe bet to accumulate another big score on the wide spaces of Patersons Stadium.
Click here to see the match report from the last match between Fremantle and Essendon
