Fremantle take on Adelaide
Fremantle v Adelaide
Patersons Stadiums – 4:40PM – Saturday 2nd June
The embattled Fremantle Dockers will this week host the in form Adelaide Crows at Patersons Stadium this Saturday.
Following a scaving week where Ross Lyon’s ‘boring’ game style came under question, the Dockers will be looking to reignite excitement in the nations west, against what has proven to be one of this years revelations in Adelaide.
The Crows meanwhile are fresh off only their second defeat under the reign of Brenton Sanderson. Adelaide went down by the tune of 26 points to an inform Collingwood team last week in what was a hotly contested game.
Patersons Stadium will hold no fears for Adelaide, who have split the points with Fremantle in their past four meetings at the venue.
In particular, over the past 10 encounters at all venues both teams have won on five occasions each, indicating that today’s match up may be closer than pundits have been predicting.
While Fremantle may be able to stay in the game through general play, the fact of the matter is that if they are to have any chance of registering a win, they will need to impact the scoreboard.
Only GWS, Gold Coast and Melbourne have a lower points scored this season, with Fremantle averaging a mere 75 points per game compared to Adelaide who are averaging a healthy 100 points per game.
Pavlich will need to be a focal point for Fremantle, however the ability for Fremantle to hit the scoreboard will come through their midfield brigade.
The top teams in 2012 routinely feature a high spread of goal kickers spread through out the midfield.
It will be up to the likes of Hill and Barlow to push forward and take scoring opportunities when they present themselves.
Scoring for Adelaide this week will be further boosted by in form spearhead Taylor Walker, who returns from a two week suspension to provide further avenues to goal.
It goes with out saying that if Fremantle are going to struggle to kick a winning score, then defense is imperative in order to subdue the attacking nature of Adelaide.
Though containing Adelaide’s impressive forward line will be half the battle, Fremantle’s inability to kick a winning score could prove to be too much of a mountain to over come.
Prediction: Match Drawn
Fremantle
B: Paul Duffield, Zac Dawson, Greg Broughton
HB: Michael Johnson, Luke McPharlin, Stephen Hill
C: Michael Barlow, Ryan Crowley, Tendai Mzungu
HF: Matthew de Boer, Christopher Mayne, Clancee Pearce
F: Lachie Neale, Matthew Pavlich, Zachary Clarke
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Hayden Ballantyne
I/C: Garrick Ibbotson, Jesse Crichton, Jack Anthony, Hayden Crozier
Emg: Nick Suban, Jonathon Griffin, Jayden Pitt
In: Garrick Ibbotson, Jack Anthony, Hayden Crozier
Out: Jay van Berlo, Alex Silvagni, Jonathon Griffin
New: Hayden Crozier (Eastern Ranges)
Adelaide
B: Michael Doughty, Ben Rutten, Brodie Smith
HB: Matthew Jaensch, Daniel Talia, Brent Reilly
C: Nathan van Berlo, Patrick Dangerfield, Bernie Vince
HF: Jared Petrenko, Taylor Walker, Richard Douglas
F: Ian Callinan, Kurt Tippett, Jason Porplyzia
Foll: Sam Jacobs, Scott Thompson, Rory Sloane
I/C: Graham Johncock, Sam Shaw, Matthew Wright, Josh Jenkins
Emg: Chris Knights, Ricky Henderson, Tom Lynch
In: Taylor Walker, Sam Shaw
Out: David Mackay (Hamstring), Ricky Henderson
