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The Fremantle Dockers will be looking to bounce back from a horrendous Round 1 effort when they host the Essendon Bombers in their first ever match at Optus Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match on Saturday night, starting from 8:10pm AEDT.
The Dockers’ AFLW side played a match here not that long ago but tonight will be the first time that their mens’ team has taken to field at the brand new and beautiful Optus Stadium.
The West Coast Eagles impressed here last week but ultimately fell short against a strong Sydney side, so the opportunity to be the first WA team to get an AFL win on the ground here is still open.
To do so though Fremantle will need to reverse what was some truly atrocious form in their first appearance for the year against a side who seriously impressed in Round 1, the Essendon Bombers.
The less said about the Dockers’ Round 1 “effort” against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, the better. They made Jack Watts look like a bloody superstar. Enough said.
As for Essendon on the other hand, they had a tight match with the Adelaide Crows that was great watching, but finished the final quarter in really strong form and got the win over last year’s minor premiers and grand finalists – a serious scalp!
Devon Smith of their new additions in particular performed well, but Adam Saad and Jake Stringer were both only so-so. If they can both improve as the year goes on then Essendon will have plenty of upside.
They re-signed coach John Worsfold till the end of 2020 during the week and would probably be dreaming at this stage of a top-four finish. It’s not at all unrealistic but this is the kind of match they must get the win if they’re going to push for that.
Prediction
With homeground advantage and the sense of a big occasion you do feel like there’s a chance Fremantle could score an upset here – but on last week’s form, there’s no tipping against the Bombers.
Essendon Bombers by 24.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match on Saturday night, starting from 8:10pm AEDT.