It’s not just bragging rights on the line in this massively important Western Derby XXVI as Fremantle take on West Coast Eagles at Patersons Stadium. We’ll have live scores from the game from 4.40pm AEST.
As a West Australian, there’s nothing better than a stoush between these two cross-town rivals.
West Coast – the proven credentials of premierships next to their name.
Fremantle – still searching for real success, but step up every single time they play the Eagles.
There were blowouts in the early years as Fremantle struggled to get near an experienced West Coast line up. But in the last six years, Freo has had a stranglehold on these matches.
While West Coast has won the last three, before that Fremantle had won nine of the previous ten matches.
Today has massive implications on the finals, which gives this Derby even more spice.
To make the finals, it’s pretty safe to say Fremantle need to get to thirteen wins. They sit on ten right now with five games to go.
After today they play Adelaide and North Melbourne on the road, as well as winnable home games against Richmond and Melbourne.
While they’ve won their last four games, they haven’t really beaten anyone (the Bulldogs, Melbourne, GWS and Port Adelaide all out of finals contention).
In fact, if you take away a strong first half performance against the Power last week, Fremantle were average.
Can they bring that sort of form into a Derby?
They bring back Zac Dawson into defence, something that will be met with some groans amongst Dockers fans, coming across with his coaching mate Ross Lyon and been below-par to date.
To make the top four, it’s very safe to say West Coast needs to win every game in the lead up to September.
After today they have a massive Friday night home game against Geelong, then Port Adelaide in Adelaide, Collingwood at home and Hawthorn on the road – that’s probably the toughest draw out of any club in the final four games.
Despite last week’s massive win at home to Brisbane, the Eagles has struggled in the last three or four weeks to not only cover injuries (which was inevitable), but also some key players getting suspensions.
It’s fair to say coach John Worsfold has stripped paint off the walls now they’ve lost key defender and captain Darren Glass for the Derby because of suspension.
The Eagles do have a better outfit when compared to Fremantle – better in the ruck with Naitanui/Cox vs. Griffin/Bradley, better in the midfield with Priddis/Gaff/Selwood/Kerr vs. Fyfe/de Boer/Crowley/Duffield.
But don’t be surprised if Matthew Pavlich causes havoc in the Fremantle forward line with the loss of Glass. Eric McKenzie would probably play on Pavlich anyway, but it’s the extra support of an All-Australian defender that he doesn’t have to lean back on.
Losing Matt Rosa is probably a bigger loss though. He was best on field in the last Derby with 43 possessions and has been one of the rapid improvers in the Eagles midfield in 2012.
While the Round 9 Western Derby was a bit of a let down, I can’t see edition thirty-six doing the same. Expect it to be physical and intense for most of the afternoon.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
I cannot even begin to describe how stomach-churningly unacceptable that was.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Fremantle 17.11 113 def. West Coast 6.12 48 Matthew Pavlich kicks 8.2 today... that's more than what West Coast dished up today. He wins the Ross Glendinning Medal for best on the ground. In fact, West Coast only had 36 inside 50's today. That ends our coverage of Western Derby XXXVI today. Have your say on the match below. There's more footy to come over the next 24 hours here at The Roar.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Fremantle 17.11 113 def. West Coast 6.12 48 Quarter by Quarter Fremantle 4.2 7.6 15.9 17.11 West Coast 1.5 1.10 5.11 6.12 Goalscorers Fre (6) – Matthew Pavlich 8, Hayden Ballantyne 3, Tendai Mzungu 2, Michael Walters 2, Clancee Pearce 1, David Mundy 1 WCE (5) – Jack Darling 2, Nic Naitanui 1, Quinten Lynch 1, Ashton Hams 1, Shannon Hurn 1 Player Stats Daniel Kerr (WCE) 15 kicks, 21 handballs, 21 contested possessions, 11 clearances Nat Fyfe (FRE) 21 kicks, 7 handballs, 22 contested possessions, 5 tackles, 8 clearances, 6 inside 50’s Michael Barlow (FRE) 19 kicks, 8 handballs, 10 contested possessions, 5 tackles, 5 clearances David Mundy (FRE) 21 kicks, 6 handballs, 12 contested possessions, 6 tackles, 7 clearances, 6 inside 50’s Matthew Pavlich (FRE) 15 kicks, 9 handballs, 15 contested possessions, 9 marks, 4 inside 50’s, 8 goals, 14 score involvements Team Stats Disposals: Fre 329-295; Contested Possessions: Fre 162-123; Disposal Efficiency: WCE 71%-69%; Tackles: Fre 72-62; Clearances: Fre 49-36; Inside 50’s: Fre 56-36; Time In Forward Half: Fre 48%, WCE 35%, In Dispute 17%; Tackles Inside 50: Fre 24-5
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Fremantle 17.11 113 def. West Coast 6.12 48 A bit of a lack-lustre final quarter, but it matters not. Fremantle reign supreme in Western Derby XXXVI. They were superb in the first half, keeping West Coast to just one goal. Then they ran away with it in a masterful third quarter performance. The defensive pressure around the ground was superb. The Eagles had no answers and no spark. Freo's chances of a top eight finish well and truly right up there!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 4:13 left | Fre 17.11 113 | WCE 6.12 48 Pavlich is off the ground! Oh come on Ross... give the man a chance! Ball in the forward pocket for the Dockers. Matt Priddis is wrapped up - holding the ball. Michael Barlow's got the free kick. He has a chance at his first today - stabs at it and hits the post.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 7:30 left | Fre 17.10 112 | WCE 6.12 48 The only thing left now is to see if Pavlich can get to double figures! There's not much else to play for in this one.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 8:06 left | Fre 17.10 112 | WCE 6.12 48 Ball in, forward pocket for West Coast... good ruck work from Cox. Palms it down to Shannon Hurn, snaps... goal!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 8:54 left | Fre 17.10 112 | WCE 5.12 42 Last 10 minutes has been very scrappy. The game's over, the result's already known. I reckon the players just want the siren to sound to finish this off. Especially West Coast - they've got Geelong on Friday night. 6 day turnaround to play a resurgent Cats! Now the Dockers come into the forward line and spot up David Mundy! Can he become their 6th goal kicker? YES SIR!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 11:30 left | Fre 16.10 106 | WCE 5.12 42 Last four for WCE - Geel (H), PA (A), Coll (H), Haw (A). 3 very tough games to finish with. Port Adelaide on the road's no massive gimme. In reality... they're still not even assured of a top eight spot!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 11:30 left | Fre 16.10 106 | WCE 5.12 42 While the game's in a bit of a lull... Last four games for Fremantle - Adel (A), Rich (H), NM (A), Melb (H). 2 of the home games are winnable, the two away games not so. But that would take them to 13 wins... then it's up to percentage!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 13:00 left | Fre 16.10 106 | WCE 5.12 42 Quinten Lynch the next Eagle to have an outside shot on goal. Never a chance. They're just kicking in hope now.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 15:53 left | Fre 16.10 106 | WCE 5.12 42 Dean Cox wins a free kick at half forward - chopping of the arms called by the umpire. Cox comes in from 45m out and misses... just sneaks in for a behind
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 16:59 left | Fre 16.10 106 | WCE 5.11 41 David Mundy has a ping on goal, but misses. Zac Dawson is out of the game, substituted out for Dylan Roberton. Earlier on, Brad Sheppard was subbed out for West Coast, Tom Swift's in the game
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 18:11 left | Fre 16.9 105 | WCE 5.11 41 For those wondering, Matthew Pavlich's best haul is 9 goals Round 16 2005 vs. Carlton at the MCG. He could be on course for double figures! He's taken a ripping mark to give himself a chance at number 8.... GOAL! Superstar performance this one!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 19:59 left | Fre 15.9 99 | WCE 5.11 41 Final quarter begins. Will Freo run the Eagles into the ground?
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
THREE QUARTER TIME | Fre 15.9 99 | WCE 5.11 41 Quarter by Quarter Fremantle 4.2 7.6 15.9 West Coast 1.5 1.10 5.11 Goalscorers Fre (5) – Matthew Pavlich 7, Hayden Ballantyne 3, Tendai Mzungu 2, Michael Walters 2, Clancee Pearce 1 WCE (4) – Jack Darling 2, Nic Naitanui 1, Quinten Lynch 1, Ashton Hams 1 Player Stats Daniel Kerr (WCE) 10 kicks, 18 handballs, 17 contested possessions, 8 clearances Michael Barlow (FRE) 14 kicks, 8 handballs, 9 contested possessions, 4 clearances Matthew Pavlich (FRE) 14 kicks, 7 handballs, 12 contested possessions, 8 marks, 4 clearances, 7 goals, 12 score involvements Nat Fyfe (FRE) 15 kicks, 4 handballs, 15 contested possessions, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50’s Team Stats Disposals: Fre 254-224; Contested Possessions: Fre 124-89; Disposal Efficiency: WCE 64%-72%; Tackles: Fre 54-48; Clearances: Fre 36-25; Inside 50’s: Fre 43-27; Time In Forward Half: Fre 47%, WCE 34%, In Dispute 19%; Tackles Inside 50: Fre 17-3
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
THREE QUARTER TIME | Fre 15.9 99 | WCE 5.11 41 West Coast did challenge in the first half of the quarter, but since the 15 minute mark, it was all Fremantle once again. It was if they needed to recharge their batteries. It's all purple at Patersons Stadium. This could end up being a fair old shellacking! Pav's got 7... it's the Dockers by 58pts!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q3 1:38 left | Fre 15.9 99 | WCE 5.11 41 Jon Griffin kicks in hope to the forward line... he's launched it! And Matthew Pavlich's lurking again... he's beaten everyone today... he's won this footy too. Skids it along the ground - GOAL! OH FREO! How good is this!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q3 2:20 left | Fre 14.9 93 | WCE 5.11 41 Matthew Pavlich sets up another shot on goal for Michael Walters, but misses the kick from 40m out. If the Dockers do end up making the finals, are they going to do much? Are there enough signs this week to suggest they could be dangerous?
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q3 4:18 left | Fre 14.8 92 | WCE 5.11 41 Ball turned over straight away at half forwad to Crowley. Kicks inside 50m... Hayden Ballantyne's the spark. Dodges, kicks - GOAL! There's no turning back now for Freo! This will be 5 in a row.