WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Sunday July 22, 2.40pm
LAST TIME: First meeting
It seems almost unfair to expect the Greater Western Sydney to take on one of the more daunting travel assessments in footy today and leave without being embarrassed on the field.
Unfortunately the Giants have begun to show signs of fatigue and their results have started to drop off in recent weeks. They were, for many, the highlight of the early months for season 2012, as their play exceeded all expectations. However, as the season has dragged on, their young bodies have tired, and with their first ever trip to Western Australia, it looks like things are set to become worse.
It does, however, present the Dockers with a wonderful opportunity for an all important percentage boost as the fight for the top eight intensifies. At the start of this round, Fremantle are even with St Kilda and North Melbourne for eight spot, with percentage the only factor separating the sides. As it is now, the Dockers is the worst of the lot.
A match against the Giants should provide the perfect tonic for their sick percentage, and as much as we know that the Giants will battle and play their hardest, it is looking like another one sided affair.
Final Say
Fremantle and Ross Lyon are known for stressing on getting the defensive structures right first, but this presents an opportunity for them to open up the forward half.
The Giants would be content in remaining relatively competitive, but with a finals spot on the line, Fremantle really should blow them away.
Dockers by 129
Fremantle
B: Lee Spurr, Luke McPharlin, Adam McPhee
HB: Garrick Ibbotson, Michael Johnson, David Mundy
C: Tendai Mzungu, Ryan Crowley, Dylan Roberton
HF: Michael Walters, Kepler Bradley, Stephen Hill
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Matthew Pavlich, Matthew de Boer
Foll: Jonathon Griffin, Michael Barlow, Clancee Pearce
I/C: Paul Duffield, Nick Suban, Zachary Clarke, Cameron Sutcliffe
Emg: Jay van Berlo, Jesse Crichton, Peter Faulks
In: Nick Suban, Zachary Clarke
Out: Christopher Mayne (Calf), Greg Broughton (Back)
GWS Giants
B: Luke Power, Phil Davis, Curtly Hampton
HB: Steve Clifton, Josh Bruce, Tomas Bugg
C: Tom Scully, Callan Ward, WIlliam Hoskin-Elliot
HF: Rhys Palmer, Nick Haynes, Sam Frost
F: Gerald Ugle, Israel Folau, Mark Whiley
Foll: Jonathan Giles, Adam Treloar, Toby Greene
I/C: Kurt Aylett, Anthony Miles, Jacob Townsend, Nathan Wilson
Emg: Sam Darley, Shaun Edwards, Andrew Phillips
In: Kurt Aylett, Josh Bruce, Tomas Bugg, Jonathan Giles, Anthony Miles, Jacob Townsend, Gerald Ugle, Mark Whiley, WIlliam Hoskin-Elliot, Sam Frost
Out: Jeremy Cameron (Back), Sam Darley, Shaun Edwards, Jonathon Patton, Stephen Coniglio (Back), Taylor Adams, Devon Smith, Dean Brogan (rested), Chad Cornes (rested), Adam Kennedy (Illness)
New: Kurt Aylett (Nth. Ballarat Rebels U18), Gerald Ugle (Perth (WA)), Sam Frost (Sandringham Dragons)