Bragging rights
It’s the Carlton Draught Derby. Bragging rights are on the line and the intensity always rises when Fremantle comes up against West Coast. Freo is now just two wins shy of drawing level with the Eagles on the derby scorecard. West Coast has won 21 Carlton Draught derbies, while Freo has claimed 19. Freo has also won the past five match-ups and head into the game in red-hot form after an undefeated start to the season. West Coast will have the added advantage of a nine-day break and no travel, compared to Freo’s seven and a return flight from Melbourne.
Josh Kennedy
A 10-goal haul is an incredible feat and the man leading the race for the Coleman Medal will need to be shut down if Freo’s usually watertight defence is to stand up again. Kennedy booted the bag of 10 in West Coast’s 69-point defeat of Carlton last Friday. Luke McPharlin expects to get the job on Kennedy and he will need plenty of support from his teammates to help make the task easier.
The ruck battle
Freo’s four-time All Australian ruckman Aaron Sandilands will go head-to-head with Nic Naitanui in the 41st Carlton Draught Derby. Winning the ruck battle will go a long way to deciding the outcome of the match, with getting first use of the football a key in setting up each attack. Freo’s second ruckman Zac Clarke had an injury scare, but was named in the preliminary 25-man squad to take on the Eagles.
Former Eagles insider to help Freo win ruck battle
Engine room
Ross Lyon described West Coast’s midfield as ‘elite’ and underrated as the hype continues to build regarding Freo’s engine room. Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Stephen Hill have been getting all the headlines for Freo, while Lachie Neale has been going about his business with a minimum of fuss. If Freo can win the contested ball and dispose of it with the efficiency displayed against the Cats, it will be a key in gaining the edge.
No Ballas
Livewire forward Hayden Ballantyne will be missing from Freo’s line-up for the next two games due to suspension. With a vital cog in Freo’s forward structure missing, who will step up to fill the void? Senior coach Ross Lyon has a plethora of options to choose from with Max Duffy, Hayden Crozier, Jack Hannath and Tendai Mzungu all included in Freo’s preliminary 25-man squad.
