Last time they met - Round 13, 2012 – Patersons Stadium
Fremantle Dockers’ legend Luke McPharlin played his 200th AFL game, however it was Essendon that ultimately celebrated a victory on the night. Freo had led by 17 points late in the third quarter, but as had been the case on a number of occasions in 2012, when the whips were cracking, the opposition finished too well in the straight. Ross Lyon couldn’t question his players’ effort, and the midfield had functioned well for three quarters, winning the overall clearances (38-31) despite missing Aaron Sandilands, but the Freo coach lamented the quality of his side’s entry inside 50. Chris Mayne continued his excellent season up forward, booting four goals, while Matthew Pavlich had 22 touches, 11 marks and three goals to be Freo’s best.
BROWNLOW MEDAL VOTES
3 JobeWatson; 2 Michael Hurley; 1 Matthew Pavlich
DOIG MEDAL VOTES
12 Chris Mayne ; 11 Matthew de Boer 11 Michael Barlow; 8 Matthew Pavlich 8 Garrick Ibbotson 8; Nick Lower 4 Clancee Pearce 4 Adam McPhee 4 Zac Clarke 4 Jonathon Griffin 4; Greg Broughton
FREO FACT: Essendon had not defeated Freo in Perth since round 14, 2008.
ROSS LYON: “It really is about our midfield supplying enough quality entries to make our forwards look dangerous... you could put Wayne Carey down there and he wouldn’t have looked too good in the last quarter.”
Social Media
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The selection table
Fremantle – Zac Clarke has been ruled out, but Michael Johnson and Chris Mayne, who both sustained knocks in the Bulldogs’ game, should be ok. Hayden Ballantyne will return from suspension, which will likely force the selectors to make a tough call on leaving out either Cam Sutcliffe or Hayden Crozier, who both performed well in round 2.
Essendon – The major doubt for Essendon is Stewart Crameri, who booted six goals in three quarters against Melbourne. The solidly built forward limped from the field in the last quarter with a knee injury, although the club has cleared him of any damage. Talented forward Jason Winderlich kicked eight in three quarters in the VFL and could be considered for a return, but the Bombers are settled right now so don’t expect too many changes.
Possible line-ups – Freo mentioned first in bold
| F | Walters | Bradley | Mayne |
| B | Hibberd | Hooker | Fletcher |
| HF | Ballantyne | Pavlich | de Boer |
| HB | Dempsey | Carlisle | Goddard |
| C | Hill | Barlow | Fyfe |
| C | Stanton | Howlett | Heppell |
| HB | M Johnson | McPharlin | D Pearce |
| HF | Myers | Hurley | Zaharakis |
| B | Spurr | Dawson | Duffield |
| F | Crameri | Bellchambers | Davey |
| Ruck | Griffin | Mundy | Crowley |
| Ruck | Ryder | Hocking | Watson |
| INT from | Mzungu, Suban, C Pearce | Sutcliffe, Crozier | |
| INT from | Merrett, Baguley, Kommer | Melksham, Winderlich |
X-Factors
Fremantle – Hayden Ballantyne: There is no one more competitive in the AFL than Hayden Ballantyne. Given how disappointed he would have been to miss round 2 through suspension, Ballantyne will be desperate to make amends with a big game on Friday night.
Essendon – David Zaharakis: The speedy midfielder has been eased into the season, starting as the sub in round 1 and then being subbed out in round 2. He’s looked very sharp and could be ready to play a full game against Freo.
Key Match-ups
Ryan Crowley v Jobe Watson: Watson has been superb in 2013, collecting 72 disposals and 16 clearances in his first two games. Crowley has shut out Luke Shuey and Ryan Griffen in his two matches. Both are strong-bodied and possess excellent endurance, so an intriguing match-up could await.
Matthew Pavlich v Jake Carlilse: Carlisle has been excellent in 2013, shutting down the opposition’s key forwards. At 198cm and with good agility, he is a tough opponent but very similar to Western Bulldog Jordan Roughead, who manned Pavlich in round 2.
Jon Griffin/Kepler Bradley v Patrick Ryder/Tom Bellchambers: Griffin and Bradley have another big task ahead of them to limit the stoppage effectiveness of the high leaping Ryder and Bellchambers, who is strong and agile. The Bombers’ pair share the ruck load more than Griffin and Bradley do, so ‘Griff’ is in for another big effort.
Matt de Boer v Brendon Goddard/Courtenay Dempsey: De Boer is likely to play as a defensive forward on one of Essendon’s half-back play-makers. The sublimely talented Goddard is a general anywhere on the field, while Dempsey’s blistering pace and carry can be very influential.
Nat Fyfe/David Mundy v Heath Hocking: Essendon’s tagger has been superb this season, with a total shutdown of Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield in round 1 a highlight. Fyfe and Mundy are usually the players targeted by opposition coaches, so one of them can expect the Hocking tag, although Stephen Hill is also a possibility.
Luke McPharlin v Michael Hurley: Hurley has been one of the most targeted players in the AFL for inside 50 entries in 2013. He kicked six against the champion Freo defender in round 13 last year, on one of the few occasions McPharlin was beaten during his All Australian season. That was Luke Mac’s 200th AFL game and Friday night is his 200th Freo game, so he will be keen to make amends and help his side take home the four points.
Dream Team
Fremantle: Freo has not been prolific in fantasy circles this season with its game styled not attuned to high possession football. Michael Barlow is the only player to average more than 100 (108). Mundy and Fyfe are averaging in the 90s, while Pavlich has a good record against the Bombers with a 96 average over his past four against them.
Essendon: Brent Stanton can fly under the radar and pick up possessions all over the ground. He’s averaged 104 over his past three against Freo, and with scores of 115 and 142 in 2013, it’s hard to look past him. Jobe Watson cannot be ignored either. He’s scored 143 and 113 in two games, but the possibility of a Crowley tag should also be kept in mind. Dyson Heppell scored 147 against Melbourne last week, but he had more space than an astronaut in that game. Don’t expect Freo to afford him that luxury.
Freo will be happy if: Jon Griffin contests well in the ruck and the Bomber midfielders are not allowed to have the ball on a string and pump it forward to their favourite target, Michael Hurley.
Essendon will be happy if: Their attacking game is not overwhelmed by Freo’s defensive pressure. Winning the ball at the stoppages and moving it quickly and precisely to their forward line will be paramount.
2013 STARLIGHT PURPLE HAZE GAME: Friday 12 April v Essendon at Patersons Stadium, 6.40pm bounce down. Dress in purple to WIN! Proudly supported by Fremantle Ports. Click here for more information.
