LAST TIME
R17, 2012, Fremantle 18.24 (132) d GWS Giants 5.7 (37) at Patersons Stadium
GOALS FREMANTLE: Pavlich 7, Walters 2, C Pearce 2, Hill 2, Crowley, Johnson, Ballantyne, Clarke, Bradley
GOALS GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY: Bruce, Frost, Hoskin-Elliot, Ugle, Treloar
SUB: Cameron Sutcliffe replaced David Mundy in the third quarter
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Fleer, Farmer, Ritchie
OFFICIAL CROWD: 28,767
The result was predictable. An inexperienced Greater Western Sydney side wasn’t given much hope against Freo’s bigger bodies at Patersons Stadium. Still, the job had to be completed, and Freo did that with a commanding performance. The final margin of 95 points could have been so much bigger had the side kicked a little straighter than 18.24. Freo couldn’t kick the ball into the ocean in the second term, registering a wayward 2.13. One man whose aim could not be questioned was Matthew Pavlich. Four goals in the opening term en route to seven for the match saw the Freo captain leapfrog into third place in the Coleman Medal race on 45 goals, just six behind leader Lance Franklin on 51. Luke McPharlin continued his fine season, dominating in defence to haul in 16 marks and 23 possessions. Clancee Pearce was another to shine, kicking two nice goals among 24 touches and 11 marks.
FREO FACT: The 2.13 kicked in the second term eclipsed the 2.9 Freo kicked against the Western Bulldogs in 2001 as the club’s most inaccurate quarter ever.
ROSS LYON: “The misses are irrelevant, I don’t execute people for skill errors. The crowd and the media do that.”
BROWNLOW MEDAL VOTES
3 Matthew Pavlich
2 Clancee Pearce
1 Stephen Hill
DOIG MEDAL VOTES
8 Matthew Pavlich, 8 Stephen Hill, 8 Clancee Pearce, 4 Ryan Crowley, 4 Michael Johnson, 4 Luke McPharlin, 4 David Mundy, 4 Matthew de Boer, 4 Michael Barlow, 4 Tendai Mzungu, 4 Paul Duffield, 4 Adam McPhee, 4 Michael Walters, 4 Jonathon Griffin, 4 Kepler Bradley, 4 Cameron Sutcliffe
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.
And make sure you follow the hash tags #AFLFreoGiants and #GoFreo
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 – Fremantle have the opportunity to make some changes this week against GWS but Ross Lyon won't be taking the Giants lightly. Matthew Pavlich will return from suspension. Garrick Ibbotson was a late withdrawal against Carlton with a tight Achilles but could return this week. Clancee Pearce will miss with a calf injury, but David Mundy is fine after rolling his ankle against the Blues. Hayden Crozier and Viv Michie are again pushing for selection after good form in the WAFL. - from afl.com.au
GWS – For the first time in 12 months, Greater Western Sydney is faced with the enjoyable challenge of deciding whether to make any changes to a winning team following the breakthrough win over Melbourne. But there is plenty of pressure coming from the reserves, who recorded a 191-point win over Sydney Uni on the weekend to lock up a NEAFL finals berth. Vastly improved young ruckman Tom Downie was again named among the best and must be close to his AFL debut. Dom Tyson was also excellent, while Jono O'Rourke, Nathan Wilson, Shaun Edwards and Matt Buntine all put their hands up for a return to the senior side this week. – from afl.com.au
Possible line-ups - Freo mentioned first in bold
| F: | M Walters | M Pavlich | H Ballantyne |
| B: | C Hampton | T Mohr | T Bugg |
| HF: | M de Boer | Z Clarke | C Mayne |
| HB: | T Greene | P Davis | Z Williams |
| C: | S Hill | D Mundy | N Fyfe |
| C: | T Scully | T Adams | L Whitfield |
| HB: | L Spurr | M Johnson | G Ibbotson |
| HF: | D Smith | A Tomlinson | S Coniglio |
| B: | N Suban | Z Dawson | P Duffield |
| F: | J Bruce | J Cameron | D Shiel |
| Ruck: | A Sandilands | M Barlow | R Crowley |
| Ruck: | J Giles | A Treloar | C Ward |
| INT from: | T Mzungu, C Sutcliffe, D Pearce, L Neale, A Silvagni, M Taberner | ||
| INT from: | D Brogan, N Haynes, A Kennedy, M Whiley |
X Factors
Fremantle – Lachie Neale: The young midfielder was the x-factor in the third term against Carlron with two consecutive goals. He’s picked up form since coming into the side and could go on with it against a young GWS team.
GWS – Jeremy Cameron: The brilliant young forward almost beat Collingwood off his own boot two weeks ago with a seven-goal master-class. GWS will need him to be at his very best on Sunday.
Key Match-ups
Ryan Crowley v Callan Ward: Ward has been sensational as co-captain of the young Giants. He had 31 disposals and four goals in a best-on-ground effort against Melbourne last week. Crowley is fresh off a comprehensive shutdown of Carlton captain Marc Murphy and could have another skipper in his sights on Sunday.
Zac Dawson v Jeremy Cameron: As previously mentioned, Cameron is a star and capable of keeping his side in the game, even with minimal opportunities. Dawson has been very solid in the absence of Luke McPharlin and appears set to match up with the young Giant.
Matt de Boer v Toby Greene: Greene has moved into a half-back role this season, an area where de Boer is often sent to help reduce the impact of attacking defenders.
Dream Team
Fremantle: There’s only one game to go on between these two teams, and Matthew Pavlich stood out with seven goals and 120 Dream Team points in 2012.
GWS: Adam Treloar scored 106 Dream Team points in the only meeting between the sides.
Keys to victory
Freo will be happy if: It goes hard for four quarters and doesn’t underestimate the one-win Giants.
GWS will be happy if: Its young but talented midfielders can get Jeremy Cameron enough of the ball and hope the forward has a big day.
From afl.com.au
SUMMARY
The Giants look headed for a reality check this week. After performing wonderfully against Collingwood and beating a hapless Melbourne for their first win of the year, the Giants head west to face a ruthless Fremantle outfit that is now gunning for a top-two finish following their dismissal of finals aspirant Carlton last Saturday night. Freo could take the opportunity to rest some players against the Giants but Ross Lyon will not allow any complacency amongst his group. Matthew Pavlich is set to return after serving a three-match suspension. He kicked seven goals in the only previous time these two teams have met.
THE SIX POINTS
1. Fremantle and GWS have met just once before in round 17, 2012 at Patersons Stadium, when Freo won by 95 points.
2. In Freo’s big win over the Giants, Matthew Pavlich kicked seven goals. The Giants kicked just five goals for the game.
3. Freo’s biggest score at Patersons Stadium is 28.12 (180) against Collingwood in 2005. Their biggest winning margin is 112 points in the same game.
4. Kevin Sheedy will coach against Fremantle for the 22nd time and his record is good, winning 15 times. But he has coached only three wins at Patersons Stadium against Freo.
5. Sheedy first coached against Fremantle in round two, 1995 at the WACA. That match was Fremantle's first in Perth.
6. Freo are 14 places higher than the Giants on the AFL ladder, yet Callan Ward (27) is ranked 34 places higher than the highest-ranked Docker, Stephen Hill (61), on the AFL's Official Player Ratings.
