Questions to ponder ahead of Round 3: Can the Pies be re-heated, Are Port the real deal, Can Jezza's form last for the Cats?
Collingwood look far off the conquering team of 2023 and one aspect of real concern is their struggles in defence.
It’s Derby Day on the West Coast, as the West Coast Eagles take on the Fremantle Dockers in one of the biggest grudge matches in the AFL. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:40pm AEST.
The Eagles have made an interesting start to Season 2015, with a first up loss to the Bulldogs followed by a massive home win over the Blues. Josh Kennedy kicked 10 last weekend against Carlton, and he’ll need to have another huge game against Fremantle if the Eagles stand any chance at an upset.
The Dockers are looking like the class of the competition through two rounds, after wins over the Power and Cats. Nat Fyfe has started the season on a tear, being lifted into favouritism for the Brownlow with many bookmakers. If Fyfe and the rest of the Dockers midfield can continue their early season form, Fremantle will be hard to beat.
Only one forced change for the Eagles, with Simon Tunbridge set to miss some time with an ankle injury. West Coast have brought Sam Butler, Brant Colledge, Josh Hill and Fraser McInnes into the extended side.
The Dockers have also been forced into one change, as Hayden Ballantyne will miss this clash through suspension. The Dockers have named Hayden Crozier, Tendai Mzungu, Max Duffy and Jack Hannath in their extended squad of 25.
The Dockers have dominated this clash in recent times, winning the last five derby’s by an average of 29.4 points, although the Eagles have been chipping away at the margin in recent times, losing the last three derbies by 28, 19 and 7 respectively.
While the Eagles form at Domain Stadium has been patchy at best (10-15 since the start of 2013), the Dockers have been brilliant at home, winning 24 of 27 in the same time period.
Prediction
The Dockers should win this one, although it may be closer than some punters would like to think.
Dockers by 11