When and Where - Saturday 14 April, 2.40pm (WST) bounce down, Patersons Stadium
Perth Broadcast information
TV: Live from 2.30pm on Fox Footy; Delayed telecast from 3.00pm on Channel 7
Radio: Live 2.30pm 720 ABC and 882 6PR
For the AFL national broadcast schedule, click here
Form-line
Freo - Rd 1 - W, Rd 2 - L
Bris - Rd 1 - W, Rd 2 - L
The medical room
Freo - The return of David Mundy signals the healthiest Fremantle’s injury list has looked in a long time. Paul Duffield and Josh Mellington both recovered from knocks last week and will take their place in the team.
Brisbane - The Lions regain influential skipper Jonathon Brown from a facial injury but lose the brilliant Simon Black to a hand injury in the midfield. Josh Drummond, a key member of Brisbane’s defence and one of the best kicks in the team, also returns after an off-season hip injury.
Who’s hot
Freo - Chris Mayne: Four goals against Sydney last week was an excellent return for Mayne. He pressured defenders well and capitalised on his opportunities. A similar output this week will go a long way to helping Freo win the four points.
Brisbane - Daniel Rich: Rich was Brisbane’s best in its big loss to Carlton last week. His kicking skills are first rate, which means the Lions will be doing everything they can to get the ball in his hands.
X-Factor
Freo - Michael Barlow: After two appearances as a sub, Freo looks set to unleash Michael Barlow for a full game. With his midfield partner David Mundy back, too, expect a big game from the ball-magnet.
Brisbane - Jonathon Brown: When isn’t a returning star forward of Jonathon Brown’s quality an x-factor? He is one of the finest leaders in the game and his presence will make every Brisbane player walk a bit taller on Saturday.
Key match-up
Ryan Crowley v Jack Redden/Tom Rockliff - Crowley normally gets the run-with role on Simon Black, but in the Brownlow Medallist’s absence, Freo’s main tagger will be given the job on one of Brisbane’s star youngsters. Crowley will be asked to put the squeeze on and limit his opponent’s output, whoever that may be.
Luke McPharlin v Jonathon Brown - After McPharlin had his colours slightly lowered by Swans’ forward Sam Reid last week, Freo’s best defender will be desperate to atone. His opponent on Saturday will be the returning Brisbane skipper Jonathon Brown, who is a match-winner. When Brown plays well, so do the Lions, so McPharlin’s task will be a crucial one.
Stats that matter
- Fremantle leads the AFL in contested possessions with 328. Brisbane is in 10th with 287.
- Fremantle has the least uncontested marks in the league with 112. The Lions have had 142 in the first two rounds.
- Freo also leads the AFL in clearances with 88. Brisbane is in fourth spot with 83.
- Matthew Pavlich is only eight goals shy of 500 in his career. Jonathon Brown just needs a couple to reach the same mark.
When they last met
Saturday 25 June 2011, Patersons Stadium
Fremantle 2.5 5.6 10.8 12.16 (88)
Brisbane Lions 4.1 7.5 10.5 10.5 (65)
Goals: Pavlich 5; Hinkley, Broughton 2; Crowley, Johnson, Lower
Attendance: 30,330
Brownlow Medal votes: 3- Broughton, 2- Pavlich, 1- Black (Brisbane)
With Mick Barlow out through soreness and Tendai Mzungu a late withdrawal, an encounter against the lowly Brisbane Lions turned into a desperate struggle under lights at Patersons Stadium. It took the inspirational efforts of captain Matthew Pavlich (29 possessions and five goals) to help Freo finally shake off the persistent Lions. The warning sirens were ringing loudly early in the third quarter for the home side in Josh Mellington’s debut and Roger Hayden’s first game of the season. The returning Aaron Sandilands was rendered inactive just after half-time after re-injuring his troublesome toe, while in-form key defender Luke McPharlin had already been subbed out of the match by half-time with a groin injury. Up stepped Greg Broughton to the plate. The half-back flanker was swung into the midfield and caught fire for a 20-possession, two-goal half. Alex Silvagni was also brilliant in his first game of the season, doing the job on Brisbane’s star forward and captain Jonathon Brown after McPharlin had left the game.
Toyota AFL Dream Team
Freo - Greg Broughton: Broughton had 32 possessions and 139 DT points when these teams last met. He played in the midfield that game but has had a more defensive role in 2012, which has decreased his scoring.
Brisbane - Tom Rockliff: The Brisbane youngster is a possession machine but he had a quiet game last week against Carlton scoring only 61 points. He has a good average against Fremantle and you can be sure he’ll be looking to bounce back this week.
Where Freo can win it
Both teams possess star ruckmen and strong midfields and are consequently in the top four in the AFL for clearances. This game will be won from the midfield, which highlights the importance of David Mundy’s return to partner Michael Barlow, Nat Fyfe and co.
On the 2010 Doig Medallist’s inclusion, Fremantle senior coach Ross Lyon said:
“It certainly helps. Michael Barlow has really given us impetus and we know what David can do. At the end of the day it starts with 't' and ends with 't', you need a little bit of talent, don't you.”
Lyon also said that Jonathon Brown would have to be watched closely.
“Certainly he's important. He's been a great player, we all know that, and if you take off your parochial hat, it's great to see great players back playing the game.”
But Lyon said the job of stopping Brown doesn’t lay solely on the defence.
“He's going to kick goals, but I'm not going to judge just the defenders, I'm going to judge our forward line and our midfield on how much pressure they put on,” he said.
“Limit supply and hit the scoreboard. He's going to kick goals, we know that, but it's not about one player.”
