A big task for St Kilda this afternoon as they travel west to Patersons Stadium to take on a fired up Fremantle outfit. Live scores and commentary kick off from 3.20pm AEST.
Fremantle’s bubble burst last week when they came up against one of the top teams, Geelong at their own stomping ground.
In what was a disappointing performance, especially in the third quarter where they were kept scoreless.
They were beaten at their own game by the Cats as they lost out on contested possessions and clearances, while being out-tackled for most of the game.
Let’s stop and think about how well the Dockers have played without two of their best stalwarts – Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands.
There are occasions that losing a big name can really hurt a team’s structures and can find them vulnerable, let alone having two big names out.
Fremantle has been the exact opposite.
Instead, it will be thoroughly interesting to see how Pav and Sandi assimilate back into the team.
While Dockers coach Ross Lyon will be thinking ‘one week at a time’, the fans will know the re-introduction of the likes of Pavlich, Sandilands, David Mundy and Michael Barlow is perfect with a contest against their cross-town rivals, the West Coast Eagles, the biggest thing on their minds.
This week is the perfect time to get these big names back into the line-up, because there is nothing the Freo fans want more than to have this team humming and inflicting more pain on their ‘older cousins’.
Defence will be the key for the Dockers again today – they boast the best defensive structure in the league, have conceded the least amount of points throughout the year and give up just 60 points per game at home.
It’s all about constant pressure and a crazed fanaticism at the ball, something the Saints know all about.
Besides, it was their strategy too when Lyon was coaching the Saints in their heyday.
Those moments of greatness have now passed, and what’s left are massive question marks over the careers of many of these players.
Current coach Scott Watters has been at pains to say that the club is indeed going through tough times and is in the process of rebuilding.
That’s a warning if any for those passengers that have been cruising inside the system for too long.
Today’s a perfect opportunity to show they belong.
Now it’s not to say they have to win to prove that.
But their recent record at Patersons Stadium suggests that the runners love this ground to bits and should thrive on the wide expanses.
Nick Riewoldt’s 2013 despite not getting the support and delivery from his team mates has still be one of his best.
He’ll be hoping his midfielders can do the right thing by him and give him a fighting chance this afternoon with some decent kicking into the forward line.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Fremantle 15.10 (100) def. St Kilda 11.4 (70) Well, that's it from Patersons Stadium this arvo. St Kilda played well today, but the class of Freo came to the fore. There's still a half of footy to come - Essendon leading Port Adelaide by 25 points at Etihad Stadium... Head there now with Dinny - http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/07/07/essendon-vs-port-adelaide-afl-live-scores-blog/
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Fremantle 15.10 (100) def. St Kilda 11.4 (70) Quarter by Quarter Fremantle 3.1 6.2 11.6 15.10 (100) St Kilda 2.2 7.3 9.3 11.4 (70) Goalscorers FRE (8) – Hayden Ballantyne 5, Matthew Pavlich 2, David Mundy 2, Chris Mayne 2, Tendai Mzungu 1, Matt de Boer 1, Michael Walters 1, Danyle Pearce 1 STK (7) – Tom Lee 3, Trent Dennis-Lane 2, Ahmed Saad 2, Josh Saunders 1, Ben McEvoy 1, Nick Dal Santo 1, Clinton Jones 1 Team Stats Disposals: FRE 438-330; Disposal Efficiency: FRE 79%-68%; Kicking Efficiency: FRE 71%-57%; Contested Possessions: FRE 141-135; Uncontested Possessions: FRE 306-188; Marks: FRE 126-68; Marks Inside 50: FRE 15-8; Clearances: FRE 40-31; Tackles: STK 77-45; Inside 50’s: FRE 56-40; Hitouts: FRE 38-26 Player Stats Nathan Fyfe (FRE) 35 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 7 clearances, 3 inside 50’s Michael Barlow (FRE) 32 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 6 marks, 6 clearances, 3 tackles, 5 inside 50’s, 1 goal assist Leigh Montagna (STK) 31 disposals, 7 contested possessions, 3 clearances, 7 tackles, 5 inside 50’s, 1 goal assist Tendai Mzungu (FRE) 29 disposals, 8 contested possessions, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 6 inside 50’s, 1 goal, 3 goal assists Michael Johnson (FRE) 29 disposals, 7 contested possessions, 12 marks, 4 inside 50’s
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Fremantle 15.10 (100) def. St Kilda 11.4 (70) There's the final siren. A really gallant performance from St Kilda today - a lot of nerve shown by them against one of the best defence's. But Fremantle showed their class and had the legs to run it out. A good hit out for them before next weekend's Western Derby. Fremantle by 30 points
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 1:26 left | FRE 15.10 (100) | STK 11.4 (70) The game petering out towards the end. The juice well and truly out of it now. Garrick Ibbotson with a long ball to 50m... Hayden Ballantyne squeezes the ball from the bounday 35m out - GOAL!!! Great kick for his 5th. Now, he's limping off. Hopefully just cramp
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 2:22 left | FRE 14.10 (94) | STK 11.4 (70) Not much has happened in the last 3-4 minutes. A lot of free kicks, but a fair bit of pinball action. Nat Fyfe goes short from half forward to Pavlich just inside 50. Lines up for his 3rd... 50m out... missed it
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 7:02 left | FRE 14.9 (93) | STK 11.4 (70) Michael Johnson intercepts at half forward... lopes to the 50m arc... then shanks a kick to the pocket - ball in. Fyfe from the ball in is wrapped up in a tackle, ball up. Hill with a quick snap... misses.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 8:36 left | FRE 14.8 (92) | STK 11.4 (70) Johnson kicks out to Mzungu, then in the middle is Ballantyne. Passes off over the top to Chris Mayne in the forward line... HE'S AWAY!!! Mayne runs into an open GOAL!!! Freo home now
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 9:56 left | FRE 13.8 (86) | STK 11.4 (70) MacEvoy kicks to half forward to Lenny Hayes, then short to Ahmed Saad. At 55m out... short inboard to Saunders... then to Gwilt. Now loads up... to the goal line... Spurr almost marks... there's about 6 players on the goal line, eventually forced over for a behind
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 9:48 left | FRE 13.8 (86) | STK 11.3 (69) Saints need a quick goal to keep their chances alive... But Freo with the centre clearance. Hill and de Boer combine... Hill kicks inside 50 - Murdoch wrapped up by Ballantyne. St Kilda eventually clear to the wing...
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 10:32 left | FRE 13.8 (86) | STK 11.3 (69) Lee Spurr put under a lot of pressure deep in defence... but calms the situation. Helps to clear the ball. Now, Chris Mayne has nothing to kick to... finally Mundy leads and takes it. Long kick towards Pavlich, spoiled away. St Kilda now on the wing... Fyfe with a turnover but dangerous kick... into the middle - just found a team mate. Now at half forward with de Boer... Short to the teeth of the goals... Pavlich's arms almost chopped... ball up. 30m out - Ballantyne stopped, Danyle Pearce with a high snap... GOAL!!! That could be one nail in the coffin.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 12:46 left | FRE 12.8 (80) | STK 11.3 (69) Danyle Pearce side-stepped about three opponents deep in the forward line for Freo... finally fishes a handball away. David Mundy at the end of it, runs in from 35m out - GOAL!! Quick reply!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 13:10 left | FRE 11.8 (74) | STK 11.3 (69) Jack Steven's kick is poor... turned over. Now Matt de Boer kicks long to half forward, again, finds the boundary line at the 50m arc. Then a kick forward from Mzungu, but Dempster marks. Gets off to David Armitage... takes 4 bounces... kicks it in front of Ahmed Saad. 30m out... snaps - GOAL!!!! Saints within a kick!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 14:25 left | FRE 11.8 (74) | STK 10.3 (63) Lee Spurr intercepts at the wing, but the resultant kick is back with the Saints. They get it to the half back boundary line. Ball in - Barlow, quick kick, goes to the boundary... now 30m out from goal. Fyfe, tackled by Steven... holding the ball!!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 15:12 left | FRE 11.8 (74) | STK 10.3 (63) Danyle Pearce from half back, kicks long to Fyfe - great contested mark... then plays on and finds Pavlich on the lead!!! Ripping kick from this kid - he's an absolute gun! Pavlich for his 3rd in the second half - Missed it.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 16:30 left | FRE 11.7 (73) | STK 10.3 (63) Fyfe out of the middle for the Dockers, but only as far as Farren Ray. Then Milera spears to the top of 50 to Tom Lee. He's right on the boundary, rounds around to the goal square - SAAD... nope, a push in the back. Free kick to Spurr for Freo.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 17:18 left | FRE 11.7 (73) | STK 10.3 (63) Great chain of handballs releases de Boer... but his bounce goes the wrong way, and into the lap of the Saints. Inside 50 for the Saints, Clint Jones gathers 20m out... snaps - GOAL!!! Still alive the Sainters!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 17:59 left | FRE 11.7 (73) | STK 9.3 (57) Terry Milera's just come on, and he drives the ball into the forward pocket... towards Saad... can't mark, spoiled to the boundary. Ball in - David Armitage tries to swing it back, but goes out on the full.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 18:40 left | FRE 11.7 (73) | STK 9.3 (57) Ball locked in 30m out from Fremantle's goal... Barlow handballs to Ballantyne... Snaps for his 5th... missed it, behind only.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 19:30 left | FRE 11.6 (72) | STK 9.3 (57) SUBSTITUTION STK - Terry Milera ON, Nathan Wright OFF (Cramp)
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 19:59 left | FRE 11.6 (72) | STK 9.3 (57) Final quarter underway...