The Fremantle Dockers will look to continue their solid run of form and move closer to the top eight when they return home for a clash against the struggling Brisbane Lions. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:40pm (AEST).
Despite sitting well and truly in the bottom half of the table, Fremantle have been strong in Perth this year, losing just two of six at Optus Stadium – and one of those was to the West Coast Eagles.
After winning just four of their first nine games, the Dockers have finally run into some form, with their season slowly starting to turn after a pair of victories.
While the second of those was to be expected in a 57-point mauling of the Carlton Blues away from home, the first wasn’t necessarily, as they came away with a tough home upset win over the Adelaide Crows.
Their only loss to an out of Perth team at home was against the North Melbourne Kangaroos some weeks ago, and it just goes to show it’s hard to think anything else might happen out west.
Nat Fyfe is undoubtedly the key man for the Dockers and if they are to continue their push up the table – where they now sit 13th – it’s going to come on the back of his work.
While finals hopes are still alive for the Dockers, they were over weeks ago for the Lions, who have won just one of 13 games this season.
It’s a dismal record, and one that leaves them only ahead of Carlton at the bottom of the table.
While they haven’t copped quite as much as Carlton, they have suffered some thumping losses since their shock victory over the Hawthorn Hawks a month ago. The worst of those came in the form of a 54-point beatdown at the hands of the ‘Roos.
There is little positivity in sight for the Lions who play Adelaide, Hawthorn, Geelong and North Melbourne again in the coming weeks, with all of those games having the potential to get ugly.
On paper, this may be one of their better chances if they can control Fyfe, but that’s a big if before you even consider that it’s out west.
Prediction
Both of the Western Australian sides are hard to beat at home, and it certainly won’t be a battling Lions outfit causing the upset at the new stadium.
Dockers by 24.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 4:40pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Is that it? Hahaha. Just double down on the fantasy? Integrity? Pretender. Hahaha. Richmond hasn't played 10 u50's all season, they had 9, Geelong, on the other hand, had 11, it's all relative you amateur, try as you might to hide behind that caveat. That's why single rounds are such a charade with what you're trying to say. In terms of season averages, Geelong are over one standard deviations from Freo, while Richmond clear the two SD's comfortably. That indicates there are some significant differences in their stages of development on this score (like I say it hides a bit).
anon
Roar Pro
Shows what a great job Geelong is doing in a rebuild. They're competitive. Fremantle are uncompetitive. Richmond played 10 players under 50 games against Geelong the other week and had a good win (against another inexperienced team. Richmond are doing extraordinarily well in a rebuilding phase of the club. Certainly better than Fremantle.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
That's the thing with young and/or inexperienced teams, they're up and down. But your ridiculous contention was that having more than 7 u50 game players was somehow rebuilding. Again for your reference here's the list of average numbers each team has played of u50 game players this year: Fremantle >>>>>>>>>>>>>> 11.38 Western Bulldogs >>>>>>>> 10.38 Carlton >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 9.92 Geelong >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 9.77 Melbourne >>>>>>>>>>>>>> 9.23 St Kilda >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 8.31 Gold Coast >>>>>>>>>>>>>> 8.23 Brisbane >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 8.08 Collingwood >>>>>>>>>>>>> 7.69 Richmond >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 7.64 Adelaide >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 7.62 Greater Western Sydney >>>> 7.62 Essendon >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 7.54 North Melbourne >>>>>>>>>> 7.54 Hawthorn >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 6.38 Port Adelaide >>>>>>>>>>>>> 6.23 Sydney >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 6.14 West Coast >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 6.00 As you can see 80% of teams have averaged over 7 u50 gamers. Geelong has been exceptional in handling their numbers week in week out, but I'm sure they'd prefer not to and won't be having such a high number if they get players back from injury. But they play a fairlyRichmond had 9 players u50 not 10. Both side however, play fairly mature sides regarding age, with age being a much more relevant stat than a fuzzier, hide a lot more detail, u50 games. But let's not let that distract us from your shonkiness. :D
anon
Roar Pro
Look, the Bulldogs had as many players under 50 games (11) and a younger side than Fremantle on the weekend yet they gave it a red hot go against a top 8 team. Geelong had 9 players under 50 games. Last round when Geelong played Richmond, Geelong had 11 under 50 games and the reigning premier had 10 under 50 games. So as you can see, having players under 50 games doesn't determine competitiveness other factors do like coaching or team culture.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
You do have to laugh. And you're as good a source for laughing as any. The 7+ players u50 games was your stat de jour just before the weekend, of course your going to hear plenty about it. Forget the "throughout the week" you specifically will probably be hearing about it until the end of the year and how incompetently/dishonestly you were trying to wedge it in the conversation.
anon
Roar Pro
You just have to laugh don't you? I'm sure I'll hear a lot about x number of players under 50 games, coming back from the bye, etc throughout the week.
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
Not a good game!
Downsey
Roar Pro
I don't think my first comment worked. At no point in the game did Freo have their heads or hearts in it. At the start of the match they strolled onto the oval herding a bunch of kids like doting dads. They weren't a team ready for an elite level game of AFL.
Downsey
Roar Pro
Word.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
?
Downsey
Guest
I bloody hope it does because no amount of supporter dissatisfaction can seem to shake the Board's commitment to him.
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
That was just awful. We showed absolutely no determination whatsoever. Well done to Brisbane. They showed up with intent and deservedly made us pay.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I am certain it will be. They are already screaming for Ross Lyons head
Paul D
Roar Guru
Won’t quibble about the win but it would be nice to beat someone other than Freo suns or Carlton
Macca
Guest
Will be interesting to see if all the flak the blues copped after losing to Freo by 9 goals will de directed Freo's way after a 9 goal loss today?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this weekend and all of our bloggers over the course of the weekend for The Roar's live coverage of the 2018 AFL Season. Hopefully you have enjoyed it. Josh Elliott will have his hot takes up in a couple of minutes for you all. Bye for now.
Joe B
Guest
Hard to believe this struggling Brisbane team equalled the biggest winning margin by a Brisbane team in Perth. Well done!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME GOAL LIONS, ERIC HIPWOOD The Lions win the ruck in the centre for what feels like the millionth time today. They will finish this one with yet another goal, the ball booted forward with Eric Hipwood held going for the mark. He turns around and slots the set shot on the siren. That's the end of that. Fremantle have just been belted at home by the Lions. A really bad day for the home side, but full credit to the Lions who grab their second win of the season. Dockers 9.10 (64) Lions 18.11 (119)
User
Roar Rookie
Hipwood nadal has been awesome