After last week’s draw in Sydney, Fremantle will be out to continue their march up the AFL ladder when they host 17th-placed Melbourne at Patersons Stadium this evening. We’ll have live scores from 4.40pm AEST.
Ross Lyon’s Dockers continue to see their injury list grow, yet they come into this game on a four-game unbeaten run, which bodes well for later in the season when they start to see a few of their stars back on the park.
Already without captain Matthew Pavlich, ruckman Aaron Sandilands and prime mover Stephen Hill, the Dockers also lost Michael Walters last weekend with an ankle injury.
Melbourne coach Mark Neeld will have been encouraged by Melbourne’s effort in their 44-point loss to Richmond after an abysmal effort the week earlier against the Suns.
The challenge for the Demons now is to replicate it on a consistent basis, and from there improved results could be a possibility.
Jack Watts will come back in from a hamstring injury while Shannon Byrnes has also been named, but the Dees will still be without Jack Viney due to a hot spot, while Jimmy Toumpas will also miss with an ankle problem.
These two sides met twice in 2012 with Fremantle taking the honours on both occasions, including a 61-point drubbing in Perth in the final round of the regular season.
Nothing Melbourne have shown this season would give any credence toward an upset at Patersons Stadium this afternoon and while they might keep it close – temporarily – it should be the home side collecting a routine four points here.
Will Fremantle roll on, or could Melbourne produce the unlikeliest of upsets here? Find out as we conclude Round 9 with live scores from 4.40pm AEST.
bryan
Guest
Very sad,even for a "one purple eyed" Freo supporter like myself! The Demons were almost "standing there watching the other mob play footy",in a manner uncannily like the Dockers themselves at various times in the past. Yes,we've been there----,but even at their worst,Freo usually managed a couple of quarters of effort,before "folding their tents & going home"! In the 3rd quarter,Melbourne showed a bit of fight,but it was too little,too late,& they slowed up again in the final quarter. I am not a Coach,nor have I even been a player,so I can't offer any suggestions,but something has to happen to stop the decline of a legendary football club.
lou Gambino
Guest
If players can't kick accurately to a team mate,if they can't hold marks,if they can't get loose then who is training them .when will they be told to kick up the centre some time every club knows that melbourne always. Kick to the boundary and why do they stuff up kicking out from full back so many times is not the coach aware of this and why don't the get some one like David. Swartz work with Jack watts until hos skills sink in because some other club will . If the coach is not responsible for this who is .
Troy Vayanos
Guest
Unfortunately for Demons supporters the same story again this week. Down by over 70 points just by half time. Will have to be some major changes at this club to turn things around.