Fremantle coach Ross Lyon knows the Collingwood forward line, led by in-form spearhead Travis Cloke will provide a huge test for his under-manned Dockers’ defence this week.
Fremantle threw everything at recruiting Cloke before he re-signed with the Magpies in 2012, and now the Dockers are focused on trying to shut him down this Thursday night.
The Dockers are without key defenders Michael Johnson (hamstring), Alex Silvagni (hamstring) and Zac Dawson (hand) meaning Luke McPharlin will get first crack at Cloke with fourth-gamer Alex Pearce the next option.
Both teams come into the contest fresh after a week off, with Fremantle sitting atop the AFL ladder with a 10-1 record, while Collingwood is fourth at 8-3.
Fremantle have pulled a surprise at selection dropping creative half-back Tendai Mzungu after just his second game of 2015 along with struggling forward Matt Taberner. Matt de Boer returns after strong WAFL form with Peel Thunder and Chris Mayne returns from illness.
Collingwood have made just the one change with small forward Jarryd Blair returning to replace Ben Kennedy, with Jarrod Witts left to contest the ruck against Aaron Sandilands, in the absence of Brodie Grundy.
Lyon is not taking for granted that the Dockers will return to their best, particularly with Cloke in a forward-line that also features Jamie Elliott and Jesse White.
“They’re obviously consistent with their effort, they put good pressure on the opposition and I think they’ve got a really strong blend,” Lyon said.
They’ve got tall forwards, Cloke’s a power forward and the world wanted him, didn’t they, and you can see why. He’s a great player really,” Lyon said.
“And then (Dane) Swan and (Scott) Pendlebury have been proven over a long period of time to be two of the best mids in the competition and they’ve got a lot of bounce.
“We strike them confident in form and with a lot of belief. So it’s a big challenge.”
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is looking forward to finding out if his team can challenge the top teams in the AFL this season on Thursday.
The Dockers won their opening nine matches before a hiccup at home to Richmond and then beat Gold Coast prior to their bye. The Magpies are looking good but they have only beaten one team inside the top eight, GWS.
“It’s a great challenge for us and for anyone when they come up against Freo, especially travelling over that way,” Buckley said.
“We’re refreshed from the bye, so are they and we feel like we are playing some pretty good footy ourselves,” Buckley said.
“We’re looking forward to that next opportunity against the next opponent, it just happens to be Fremantle away and I reckon you do find out a little bit about your footy and how it stacks up when you play the best teams. We get a test this week.”
Don Freo
Guest
I think McPharlin's physical strength is undersold but still, he is too smart to let the contest be played to the only advantage Cloke might have. McPharlin is possibly the best and most reliable mark in the AFL and, one on one, he would be the comfortable winner because of his elite positioning. The other point, that Collingwood would isolate them, implies that The Pies will be able to call the tactical tune. That is unlikely.
Tom
Guest
While i agree with most of your points Don. I can see Collingwood trying to isolate Mcpharlin body on body with Cloke. I can see Mcpharlin getting out muscled easily, but by playing Cloke deep will allow Freo's team defence to come over the top, and i cant see Jesse White having any influence and be able to draw the ball
Don Freo
Guest
The only thing I can think of here is that Ross is getting resilience into Sheridan and Sutcliffe. Mzungu is definitely playing better than both of them.
Don Freo
Guest
Interesting observation that, "...Luke McPharlin will get first crack at Cloke with fourth-gamer Alex Pearce the next option. This season...and the past decade...has demonstrated that there is no need for a "next option". McPharlin has never been beaten. He is way too fast for Cloke and if Cloke gets the ball, it will be that far out that he won't have a shot on goal (the same way he has the wood on Buddy). It's useful to look for a Collingwood edge but this won't be it. The only other forward hope is Jamie Elliott but he will experience, first hand, why Lee Spurr is a genuine contender for AA back pocket. Spurr might not jump as high as Elliott but he is every bit as strong in the air. Now, let's look at how Witts is going to get the ball into Pendlebury's hands.
Balthazar
Guest
Good question. He is a better, more rounded player than any of Suban, de Boer, Sheridan and Sutcliffe . And can kick goals too. Probably better than Duffield (who has also been dropped) as well. Bit tough to drop him after one game - nobody played well against GCS.
ozzie in wales
Guest
What has ross got against mzungu?