It’s the biggest rivalry out west and it helps kick off the 2013 AFL Season as Fremantle and the West Coast Eagles lock horns at Patersons Stadium. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 7.40pm AEDT.
While there has been plenty of debate from Victorian footy fans about the way the season is kicking off, for those in Western Australia this is the perfect start to the year.
The Western Derby has been the only thing talked about at the watercooler all week in Perth.
After strong performances in 2012, the two teams deserved a blockbuster in round one. Bragging rights are on the line tonight.
West Coast come into the 2013 as one of the favourites for the flag, but also has a troubling injury list.
Mark Nicoski is on the long term injury list with surgery on his hamstring, while Daniel Kerr, Matt Rosa, Nic Naitanui and new recruit Sharrod Wellingham won’t be part of the team this weekend.
What the Eagles do have is depth.
Mark LeCras makes his return to the line up after a full year off with injury, but his pre-season form has been encouraging. Teamed up with Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Josh Hill, they will form a tough forward line to stop.
We saw Dean Cox have one of his best seasons last year and that looks to continue, despite not having Naitanui next to him.
While their midfield brigade has been built up nicely in the last couple of seasons with the emergence of Scott Selwood as a serious future star, to join Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff and Chris Masten.
At Fremantle, a good pre-season and strong finish to 2012 has them firming as serious top four contenders.
It seemed like the win in the last Western Derby was the real catalyst for the Dockers to fly to the finals last year.
The good news coming into the first game of the year is their injuries are low. However, the two main injuries are to their talls – Aaron Sandilands and Zac Clarke.
This makes the job for Jon Griffin a very tough one in the opener and could give Jack Hannath a surprise debut.
Get ready for the hype to grow on Nat Fyfe this season.
The kid is a ball magnet and very classy. Despite only eight games in 2012, he managed to rack up 14 votes. His reconstructed left shoulder will be targeted early in the season though.
In fact, their midfield is all class. Adding Fyfe to David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Matt de Boer, along with Matthew Pavlich can be formidable.
It seemed by late last season the side were up to speed with Ross Lyon’s tactics. This should mean the side is well on pace from the start, especially in defence where Alex Silvagni, Nic Suban and Luke McPharlin looked solid in pre-season.
The Western Derby can at times be over-exaggerated. Tonight is not one of these cases.
Tonight’s match is a serious litmus test which could tell some very key signs in the early part of the season.
I feel the Dockers have a more stable line up, but the Eagles have enough depth to cover their injuries.
Either way, hold on tight – this will be worth the opening weekend billing!
bryan
Guest
I'm sorry Nathan but::--- Freeeohh!,Freeeooohhh!,Freeeoooohhh! I'm pumped,with both the Dockers & the Glory winning today--purple forever! At least you have a glass half full with the Glory win "in another place"! :)
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Remarkable when you can watch a season crash and burn in the space of three hours.
John Howard
Guest
yeah unlucky for the frenchman
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Sigh. We are cursed.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL SCORE - FRE 16.12 (108) def. WCE 11.14 (80) So Fremantle win Western Derby 37. West Coast could find themselves without Mark LeCras again for the season, while Fremantle could miss their captain for Round 2 on a charging report. The Eagles had plenty of chances in the first half, but wasted it. Fremantle well deserved the win. Well, the first two matches are out of the way. Melbourne, you're footy season kicks off Thursday night with Carlton and Richmond. 7 matches next weekend to wrap up Round 1. We'll catch you next weekend with more in Round 1 of the AFL! Twitter - @TheSportsFreak
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL SCORE - FRE 16.12 (108) def. WCE 11.14 (80) The Ross Glendinning Medal shared by David Mundy and Michael Barlow.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
I think you're looking very strong for 2013 Minz. That was a stellar third quarter. The signs were there late last season...
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL SCORE - FRE 16.12 (108) def. WCE 11.14 (80) QUARTER BY QUARTER FRE 2.0 5.4 11.10 16.12 (108) WCE 3.5 6.7 7.10 11.14 (80) GOALKICKERS FRE (9) – Michael Walters 3, Nick Suban 3, Danyle Pearce 2, Chris Mayne 2, Kepler Bradley 2, Ryan Crowley 1, Matt de Boer 1, Michael Barlow 1, Hayden Ballantyne 1 WCE (6) – Ashton Hams 2, Josh Kennedy 2, Mark LeCras 2, Jamie Cripps 2, Josh Hill 2, Chris Masten 1 TEAM STATS Disposals: FRE 334-288 | Contested Possessions: WCE 154-153 | Marks: FRE 87-58 | Contested Marks: WCE 17-10 | Clearances: WCE 42-37 | Inside 50’s: FRE 61-38 | Rebound 50’s: WCE 40-23 | Hitouts: FRE 47-35 PLAYER STATS Michael Barlow (FRE) 27 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 6 clearances, 9 tackles, 1 goal David Mundy (FRE) 27 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 4 marks, 6 clearances, 10 tackles, 6 inside 50’s Matt Priddis (WCE) 28 disposals, 17 contested possessions, 6 clearances, 7 tackles Beau Waters (WCE) 26 disposals, 10 contested possessions, 9 marks, 7 rebound 50’s, 6 one-percenters
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL SCORE - FRE 16.12 (108) def. WCE 11.14 (80) That's a much deserved win to the Dockers. They were a little slow out of the blocks in the first quarter. But their intensity lifted after quarter time. The third quarter blew the game away during the third quarter! They blitzed the Eagles 6 goals to 1, won a bevvy of clearances and turned on the power! Mark LeCras and Eric McKenzie were injured in the space of 3 minutes in the third quarter - LeCras the big story of the night with a suspected broken arm. West Coast did fight in the final quarter, but the Dockers reign supreme in the West by 28 points!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL SCORE - FRE 16.12 (108) def. WCE 11.14 (80) There's the final siren! Fremantle win the Derby by 28 points!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 0:40 left - FRE 16.12 (108) | WCE 11.14 (80) Andrew Embley with a last minute shot on goal from 50m out - a bit too far in distance for him. Rushed through for a behind
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 1:27 left - FRE 16.12 (108) | WCE 11.13 (79) Nick Suban joins in the party with another goal! That's his third of the night!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 2:23 left - FRE 15.12 (102) | WCE 11.13 (79) Lee Spurr takes a good mark at half forward. Centres it to Paul Duffield. Long ball to the pocket, but spoiled out of bounds. From the stoppage, a real clever kick along the ground, only 10m... but cleared the space from Stephen Hill to Kepler Bradley... GOAL! GAME OVER!!!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 4:47 left - FRE 14.12 (96) | WCE 11.13 (79) David Mundy wins a free kick in the middle for a high tackle. Long ball to Pavlich - can't mark... Barlow wins the crumbs - kicks on goal..... behind only.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 5:14 left - FRE 14.11 (95) | WCE 11.13 (79) WCE free kick to Adam Selwood at centre wing. To Ashton Hams at half forward, then kicks into the pocket and finds Josh Hill. 40m out - near the boundary... HUGE kick.... Walks in, kicks... A GOAL!!! West Coast back with 16 points... Still time.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 7:02 left - FRE 14.11 (95) | WCE 10.13 (73) Matt Priddis takes a mark at the top of 50m. Plays on straight away - ooooh! Could get run down... nope, goes off with a handball to the left, finds Chris Masten - kicks from 35m out - GOAL!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 7:35 left - FRE 14.11 (95) | WCE 9.13 (67) Will Schofield wins a free kick at half forward for WCE. Into the forward line from Beau Waters. Chris Masten tries to snap around the corner, but drifts out of boumds. Stoppage - free kick to Scott Selwood. Sprays the kick for goal - behind only. Meanwhile, Matthew Pavlich has split webbing inbetween a couple of fingers - nasty!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 9:09 left - FRE 14.11 (95) | WCE 9.12 (66) Josh Kennedy wins the footy at half forward, has nothing to kick to though... Jack Darling chases after it... but out of bounds. Masten kicks to the goal line, but rushed through for a behind Lower right leg injury for Ballantyne - he's been SUBSTITUTED for Fremantle. Cameron Sutcliffe comes on
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 10:10 left - FRE 14.11 (95) | WCE 9.11 (65) Fremantle won't be too far away from activating their sub - Cameron Sutcliffe hasn't seen any game time yet.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 10:49 left - FRE 14.11 (95) | WCE 9.11 (65) Hayden Ballantyne kicks from half forward. Chris Mayne almost takes a mark, spills to Mzungu, then Mayne again. Short to Michael Walters... dribbles it along the ground - GOAL! Has 3!