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A one-sided contest looms as top of the table Fremantle head to Metricon Stadium to take on the injury decimated Gold Coast Suns. A home ground advantage won’t offer much solace for the Suns as they sit at 1 win, 9 losses while the ledger reads 9 wins, 1 loss for Fremantle in 2015.
Join The Roar for live scores of the action from 1:40pm AEST.
Fremantle lost their first game of the season last Friday after a stunning burst by Richmond had them on the back foot, but it’s difficult to see Gold Coast managing to pull off such a feat with their midfield spread so thin.
They do have some welcome faces returning to face the Dockers though, with Charlie Dixon back from a club imposed suspension for drinking, Nick Malceski seemingly back to full fitness after a week in the reserves and young tall Jack Leslie coming in to help bolster the defence. Steven May (groin), Keegan Brooksby (calf) and experienced Greg Broughton (Achilles) all miss through injury.
Fremantle have four changes to their losing line-up – two forced and two unforced. Michael Johnson will miss with the hamstring injury suffered last Friday and it’ll be interesting to see how the Dockers cope losing such an important cog. They’ll have to settle on a replacement as Johnson is set to miss up to two months of football.
Alex Pearce will be the tall to get the first crack at the role as he comes into the side. Also coming in is Jack Hannath who will likely play the ruck/forward in place of the omitted Zac Clarke. Tendai Mzungu comes in and Lee Spurr also returns from injury to cover Paul Duffield (who has been dropped) and Chris Mayne, who misses with an illness.
For the Suns it’ll be a good opportunity to tweak the line-up and see if some of their young players are up to it. Adam Saad, Touk Miller, Jesse Lonergan, Clay Cameron, Henry Schade and Luke Russell have all shown signs in their opportunities this season and the Suns will be hoping that getting games into them now offers a silver lining.
Pick number 8 in last year’s draft Peter Wright will play his second game after a debut where he showed glimpses and his size could help exploit Fremantle’s issues in defence with fellow talls Dixon and Lynch.
As has been the case for much of the season Michael Rischitelli and Mitch Hallahan will have to do most of the down and dirty work but having some experience in Andrew Raines alongside them to help with contested ball and nullify an opposition midfielder will hopefully offer some much needed breathing room.
Michael Barlow plays his 100th game for a Fremantle team that will be desperate to atone for suffering their first loss and their midfield class will be extremely difficult to cover. Nat Fyfe has been in unbelievable form and Lachie Neale has really stepped up to the plate this season. With Sandilands in the ruck and the likes of Stephen Hill and Danyle Pearce offering outside drive they should easily be able to break through whatever the Suns throw at them. Even with Michael Johnson out the Dockers have had the second best defence in the AFL this season while Gold Coast have had the most trouble scoring – expect the Ross Lyon strangle to be in full effect.
Expect a spirited effort for a couple of quarters from the Suns but don’t expect much of a contest. Fremantle usually fire until comfortable and then take their foot off the pedal but may really put Gold Coast to the sword if allowed after a poor loss. Tune in to see Nat Fyfe and Fremantle’s manic brand of football rather than hoping for a tight game on the scoreboard.
Join The Roar at 1:40pm for live coverage of the match.
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