Collingwood have secured a top-four berth after overcoming a major scare to beat Fremantle by nine points at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
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Final score
Fremantle Dockers 9.13.67
Collingwood Magpies 11.10.76
The Collingwood Magpies travel west this Saturday afternoon to tackle the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 4:35pm (AEST).
It was a shocking day out in Geelong last Saturday for the Dockers, who were dished a 133-point thumping by the Cats.
Things were not pretty after quarter time for Fremantle, they kicked five behinds to Geelong’s 23 goals in the final three terms.
Meanwhile, at the MCG, Collingwood improved their top four hopes, and crushed Port Adelaide’s finals chances, with a convincing 51-point victory.
A seven-goal run to start the final term set up the easy win for the Magpies.
At team selection, Fremantle have made four changes to their side following their dismal effort against Geelong.
The Dockers have omitted Bailey Banfield, Ryan Nyhuis and Stefan Giro, while Michael Walters will miss with a hamstring injury.
Joel Hamling, Darcy Tucker, Stephen Hill and Sam Switkowski will return from injury to take on Collingwood in the final game of the home-and-away season.
Collingwood have named the same side as last weekend, a nice change from the selection challenges faced by the Magpies this year through injuries.
While plenty still rides on this game, Nathan Buckley has shown confidence in a number of inexperienced players to get the job done in Perth.
It was an easy 10-goal win for the Magpies in Round 11, the most recent outing between these two teams.
Docker Michael Johnson has called time on his career, running out for the final time on Saturday and finishing on 244 AFL games played.
Prediction
Fremantle’s players simply need to improve their effort, if they want to show their appreciation in Member Thank You Round.
The Magpies will be too strong and classy for the Dockers though, and run out big winners, heading into September on a high.
Collingwood by 53 points
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 4:35pm AEST.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
In 2016 the Bulldogs came over in the last round and struggled against Freo, they then had to return in the first week of the finals to play the WC who had just come off a five-goal away win.
bryan
Guest
The 'Pies were supposed to come over to Perth,& win by 9 goals. Unfortunately, Freo threw away the script, & took it right down to the wire. I don't know why nobody seemed to expect this, as it happens quite often when teams come off a bad loss. I'm really underwhelmed by Collingwood. I predict that they will lose their game against WCE by a similar margin to their winning margin in yesterday's game,-----IF they are lucky!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Optus might become the house of pain for Freo next year.
Chris
Guest
Freo will go up the ladder next year. Perhaps 18 months away from being a really competitive outfit.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
McCarthy directly created 5 goals with passes, handballs or knock ons. He has chased and blocked brilliantly. He won't impress the stat sheet but he has impressed me today.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
But you were wrong Matti hey?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Langdon wants to join his brother at the Pies.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
My summary is well as much as I’d love to gloat it was a lucky win. Freo basically kept us in it by making repeated turnovers straight to our defence in the last qtr and that McCarthy helped keep us in it with pretty much continuous mistakes. I hate bagging individual players but that fellow perhaps needs a season in the twos. It was one of those days for the Pies and we will now play WCE in either Perth or Melbourne. Go Brisbane!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Sorry Macca but as I predicted to your amusement last December we have made top 4.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
McCarthy kept us in the game AD. He is not to AFL level.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Realist is worried and rightly so, Tigers nearly beaten by a bottom side on the MCG.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Richmond are out of form Chris. Shaky these Tigers.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
You tipped it again Rick well done. Will follow your tips in finals Rick you have a good footy brain .
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Great call Sarah Thanks
Andy
Guest
Yes come on the Pies great result and now bring on West Coast
Kangas
Roar Rookie
All the optimism about Fremantle at the start of the season was rubbish . They are pushing closer to Carlton next season .
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Disagree mate , freo have just been terrible
Sachit Dassanayake
Roar Rookie
Mate I reckon you're being a tad tough. Sure, they didn't win as many games as they should've, but found some real good youngsters, particularly impressed by Cerra and Brawshaw (well, before he got stitched up). Also, considering the softness of the Kangaroos draw, I reckon not making finals from where you were placed is pretty embarrassing
User
Roar Rookie
Got the game on hard drive so when I rewatch I accept the challenge.
Downsey
Roar Pro
Should have heard him on the Purple Reign podcast; he ain't going anywhere. Add that one to your list if you want to listen to a Fremantle-specific one.