The Derby heats up for the 38th instalment as the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers go head to head in what should be one of the best Derbies in recent years. Join our live scores and blog right here from 4.40pm AEST.
Form suggests this should be one tight battle even if the ladder doesn’t look that way.
West Coast has gone through a resurgence of form in the last three weeks after strong performances against front-runners Hawthorn and Essendon whilst beating a strong Crows outfit.
Fremantle meanwhile has been pottering along quite nicely under Ross Lyons reign in charge.
With the additions of Pavlich and Sandilands from last week, the Dockers play could rise to a whole new level.
You can’t look into this game without thinking of the elite ruck battle. Cox, Natanui vs Sandilands and Clarke.
If the Freo pair can stem the influence of the Eagles big men it should go a big way in winning the game.
The Derby is often known for huge clashes be it old school players like Jakovich or new blood like Pavlich.
This is huge for the whole state of Western Australia. You can bet not one ticket will be available come game time for this epic encounter.
A big thing that stands out in this game is the first ranked Fremantle defense which is going up against perhaps the most potent forward line in the AFL (when they kick straight!!).
With key cog Luke McPharlin out the Dockers defense will be put to the test against Coleman hopeful Josh Kennedy and his crew of Darling, LeCras, Cox and Hill.
One thing that I’m sure bugs all West Coasts fans is the Eagles inability to kick an effective ball inside 50.
This year it seems they are just throwing kicks on the boot anywhere inside 50 which doesn’t give their forwards a chance.
Turnovers today will kill West Coast against the top defense. Effective disposal is the key.
Even with Luke McPharlin out I believe Freo can get enough turnovers to destroy the West Coast attack. Freo by 24 for mine.
Brodie
Roar Guru
FULL TIME WCE: 14.9.93 FRE: 18.6.121 The Dockers have won the battle of the West thanks to a huge last quarter. The Eagles fought really hard all of the day but the Dockers proves superior as they march towards September. My votes for best on ground would have to go to: 3: Chris Mayne 2: Stephen Hill 1: Jack Darling Thanks for joining us for round 16 we look forward to the run home. Until next time folks! Twitter - @BrodieChivers
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q4 - 2' Remaining Josh Kennedy helps his Coleman chances with a GOAL from 55m out with a huge bomb. WCE: 14.9.93 FRE: 18.6.115
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q4 - 4' Remaining Jack Darling hasn't given up! He has five after a nice mark down forward and GOAL! WCE: 13.9.87 FRE: 18.6.115
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q4 - 7' Remaining Freo has all but wrapped things up! Barlow wins a holding the ball deicision inside 50 and GOALS! Looks all done and dusted! From the next clearance they're at it again! Stephen Hill this time charging into the square GOALS after a Chris Mayne tackle. WCE: 12.9.81 FRE: 18.6.115
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q4 - 9' Remaining Some more precis kicking from Fremantle proves to be a winner yet again as Nat Fyfe finds the ball for a mark 40m out from goal. Fyfe, who has been quiet today GOALS! WCE: 12.8.80 FRE: 16.6.102
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q4 - 12' Remaining Zac Clarke on the forward flank goes deep to the square and PAVLICH! All alone in a contest he marks and GOALS! WCE: 12.8.80 FRE: 15.6.96
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q4 - 13' Remaining A Massive blunder by the Eagles! Pavlich goes to a running Walters who is all alone 60 out! Walters kicks to Sheridan in the square who is also all alone and he GOALS! WCE: 12.8.80 FRE: 14.6.90
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q4 - 15' Remaining A stoppage inside 50 goes through for a rushed behind for Freo. Here go West Coast on the rebound. It goes coast to coast as Josh Hill on the boundry handballs to Cripps to snaps and GOAL! WCE: 12.8.80 FRE: 13.6.84
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q4 - 16' Remaining Here's a game changer! Freo goes inside 50 and Sandi roves goes to Crowly who snaps as Mayne contests the ball in the square and he wins a free kick thanks to Brown. Mayne GOALS! WCE: 11.8.74 FRE: 13.6.84
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q4 - 17' Remaining Pavlich marks in the middle of the ground and goes wide to Ibbotson. Ibbotson goes to Sutcliffe in the pocket who will have a tough, tough shot. After looking to give it off Sutcliffe goes for goal and ................... GOALS! WCE: 11.8.74 FRE: 12.6.78
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q4 - 20' Remaining Here we go folks the final quarter. Perhaps the biggest of the Eagles season Who you got? WCE: 11.8.74 FRE: 11.6.72
Brodie
Roar Guru
THREE QUARTER TIME WCE: 11.8.74 FRE: 11.6.72 Matthew Pavlich looks to be spending a few weeks on the sidelines with a high bump on Mitch Brown which looked bad. It's anybody's game this last quarter with both teams looking dangerous. Game on! GOALS WCE: Darling 4, LeCras 2, Schofield 2, Embley 1, Cripps 1, Kennedy 1 FRE: Walters 3, Mayne 2, Crowley 1, Barlow 1, Hill 1, Mzungu 1, Pearce 1, Pavlich 1 TOP DISPOSALS WCE: Masten 22, Embley 21, Priddis 21, Hutchings 16 FRE: Crowley 21, Barlow 21, Mundy 21, Fyfe 20, Mayne 16, Hill 16
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q3 – 1′ Remaining Freo wins the clerance and Mundy finds Walters who will kick for his fourth. To put the Dockers in front..... Behind. WCE: 11.8.74 FRE: 11.6.72
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q3 – 1′ Remaining Will Schofield goes hard for the ball inside 50 and wins a free kick! Big moment for Schofield but he doesn't feel it. It's a GOAL! Eagles in front! WCE: 11.8.74 FRE: 11.5.71
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q3 – 3′ Remaining SUBSTITUTE ALERT - EAGLES OFF: Matt Rosa ON: Cale Morton WCE: 10.8.68 FRE: 11.5.71
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q3 – 3′ Remaining Josh Hill wins a free kick in the center square and Masten takes the advantage and goes long to the square and LeCras!!!! LeCras from the pocket GOALS! This is setting up beautifully. WCE: 10.8.68 FRE: 11.5.71
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q3 – 4′ Remaining Once again Mayne finds the ball on his lonesome on the wing and runs into the open space and hits Walters streaming forward who runs into goal and MISSES! But it's a push in the back for a free kick and Walters, second time around GOALS! WCE: 9.8.62 FRE: 11.5.71
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q3 – 7′ Remaining Hayden Ballyntine intercepts an Eagle kick and quickly goes to a running Daniel Pearce who runs on and GOALS! The Eagles waste no time with a reply as Darling wins a free kick straight from the Eagles clearance. He walks in and NAILS IT, GOAL! WCE: 9.8.62 FRE: 10.5.65
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q3 – 10′ Remaining BIg Jack Darling marks on the 50m and will take the pressure of a set shot. He trots in and misses. WCE: 8.8.56 FRE: 9.5.59
Brodie
Roar Guru
Q3 – 12′ Remaining From the center clearance Embley hits Pearce and knocks him out cold with what could be described as a dirty bump. Embley runs on and takes the mark inside 50. Embley then goes to LeCras who has a closer shot on goal. LeCras walks in and............ GOAL! WCE: 8.7.55 FRE: 9.5.59