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Saturday night will see Geelong will take on last year’s grand finalists Fremantle on their home turf at Paterson’s Stadium. It is the match of the round during one of the dreaded and uninspiring series of bye weeks.
Dockers stalwart and captain Matthew Pavlich will notch up his 300th game and become the first West Australian-based player to accomplish the feat.
He’ll also be only the 68th person throughout the history of the AFL/VFL to do so.
If this wasn’t already enough motivation for Ross Lyon’s side then their recent history against the Cats will surely see them lifting for this grudge match.
Fremantle has had the upper hand over Geelong the last couple of seasons, with finals in particular being their time to shine after recording victories in the 2012 elimination final and last year’s qualifying final.
In last year’s match at Simonds Stadium, the scoring shots for both sides sat equal but Fremantle’s customary tackling pressure and ruck dominance provided the decisive factor.
The Cats will be eagerly awaiting this contest as last year’s finals loss will burn deep in their stomachs and they are a very proud bunch.
A rivalry has quickly brewed between the Dockers and Cats with serial pests Hayden Ballantyne and Ryan Crowley being key instigators in recent clashes.
No one can forget the left hook Matthew Scarlett delivered – one every non-Dockers player wanted to give – to the chin of Ballantyne three seasons ago, or the fiery post-match handshake between Steve Johnson and Crowley last season.
In six of the past 14 matches against Geelong at Patersons Stadium, the Dockers have not come away with the victory. Though the Cats have only won one of its last three in Western Australia.
Recent form would dictate that the Cats should hop on a plane and grab the four points from a clearly under performing Fremantle team, but the Dockers will be playing ferociously for their milestone man and captain.
Currently possessing a 4-4 record, Fremantle is coming off a disappointing outing against a surging Port Adelaide, playing three quarters of hard-nosed football before being overrun in the final term by 18 points.
Their start to the year has certainly caught the experts off guard after most predicted them to continue their form from last season and rise further to win the premiership.
Senior coach Ross Lyon offered a very candid assessment of his team after the loss to the Power, saying there is much improvement needed.
“The players and myself aren’t thrilled. We’re a mediocre team at the moment,” he said.
“We acknowledge it, we’re certainly not great. The overall perspective is that we’re not one of the best teams in the competition.”
On the flip side Geelong have had a terrific season in 2014, sitting at 6-1 so far with only one blemish to their name – a 40-point loss to ladder leaders Port Adelaide in Round 6.
Both teams have made two changes for the game, with Fremantle dropping Clancee Pearce and Hayden Crozier and bringing in Zac Dawson and Tommy Sheridan. Ballantyne keeps his spot in the side and will play despite having jaw surgery during the week.
Geelong loses Matthew Stokes due to suspension and George Burbury to a groin injury as they welcome back Andrew Mackie from a hamstring strain and youngster Jed Bews, who will make his AFL debut.
This game really is a coin flip as to who will come away triumphant as Fremantle desperately need a top-four scalp and Geelong will be seeking revenge.
For the sake of sentimentality the final verdict is Fremantle by four points with the big ‘Pavlova’ kicking four.
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