Given Fremantle and Sydney rank first and second respectively in the AFL for secondary stoppages, that area will be paramount on Saturday night.

There are not many that do stoppages better than the Swans.

Their game plan is predicated on a ferocious contested ball approach at stoppages.

They have won the most contested possessions and clearances in the AFL this season.

Sydney does not have a standout superstar midfielder that leads the way in these categories.

Rather, the Swans bank on an incredibly even spread of quality on-ballers who play for each other.

Josh Kennedy is as hard as any midfielder going, Kieren Jack, Dan Hannebery, Ryan O’Keefe and Jarrad McVeigh complete the premiership-winning on-ball division.

Freo will welcome the return of Nat Fyfe, who is one of the best contested ball players in the competition.

Get set for lots and lots of stoppages.