While the statistics may not show it because a shoulder injury slowed his season, Nat Fyfe is a contested ball monster and could be the difference come 2.40pm.
The young Freo Docker collected 30 contested possessions in the first two games of the season before the injury.
In his return against Port Adelaide last Sunday he was awesome in the first half before slowing in the second to finish with 9 contested ball wins.
Michael Barlow has also been solid at the midfield coalface with a season average of 11 contested possessions, while Stephen Hill has considerably improved his ability to win his own ball this year with nine per game.
Hill only had five contested possessions in the round 9 Carlton Mid Derby loss however.
The interesting player is Matt de Boer. After moving into the midfield on a permanent basis in round 10, the hard-nut averaged 14 contested possessions per game in his first four games on the ball.
But de Boer has averaged just over seven per game in the past month of competition.
De Boer and his midfield teammates will need to be at their uncompromising best to give Freo the contested possession advantage today.
Do that, and the club’s resilient defence, led by Luke McPharlin and Michael Johnson, along with a forward line comprising an in-form Matthew Pavlich and the deadly accurate Chris Mayne, will do the rest.
More stories:
Where Freo can win the Carlton Mid Derby - part 1
Chris Mayne on target for record accuracy
Hill set for Scott Selwood
WAFL Watch featuring Zac Clarke and Jack Anthony
Training report: 2 August
From the Eagles: Shuey doubt
De Boer happy to have Fyfe back in a team "going places"
