AFL Round 23 Preview: Fremantle v Port Adelaide

Justin Westhoff

TV: Fox Footy, 7 mate (WA, SA)

Match notes

-Port looks to have prevailed over its mid-season slump and could trouble Fremantle with speed on the wide expanses of Subiaco. But the way Robbie Gray is going, he can expect a bit of attention from Dockers stopper Ryan Crowley.
-The Power might struggle containing the likes of Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters in attack.
-The Dockers have won four out of the five last games while Port last defeated Freo at Patersons Stadium in 2008.
-Fremantle is ranked eighth in the AFL for clearances. Port Adelaide is equal third.
- Without Nathan Fyfe and Michael Barlow, the Dockers could be somewhat vulnerable and they will be sweating on skipper Matthew Pavlich’s fitness after he was withdrawn from the side that beat Brisbane last week with a quad issue.

Last five games

Fremantle


L 58 St Kilda
W 5 Carlton
L 2 Geelong
W 19 Hawthorn
W 58 Brisbane

Port Adelaide

W 3 Melbourne
L 6 Collingwood
L 26 Sydney
W 9 Gold Coast
W 103 Carlton

Last five between teams

PA, Frem, Frem, Frem, Frem

Key injuries 

Fremantle


Michael Barlow Thumb One Week
Kepler Bradley Hamstring Retired
Brady Grey Back Season
Scott Gumbleton Hamstring Two Weeks
Luke McPharlin Calf Two Weeks
Tom Sheridan Hip One Week
Tanner Smith Shoulder Two Weeks
Colin Sylvia Hamstring One Week
Matthew Pavlich Quad Test

Port Adelaide
 

Sam Colquhoun Knee Season
Jarrad Redden Knee Season
Brent Renouf Knee Season
Matt White Hamstring Test
Jay Schulz Concussion Test

Final word

The stakes could not be higher for Fremantle and Port Adelaide. With a top-four spot on the line, both teams will be passionately trying to avoid being thrust into a sudden-death elimination final the following week. The Dockers’ chances rely heavily on whether Pavlich will play or not especially with Fyfe (suspended), Barlow (thumb) and Luke McPharlin (calf) all out of action. If Pavlich trains on Thursday he will play, otherwise he is out. The Power will go into Saturday's game full of buoyancy following last week's 103-point thrashing of Carlton. Their powerful attack was back to its best last week against the Blues and they will need to continue that against Freo, the second best defensive team in the competition. Fremantle by seven.

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