Fremantle Dockers host the West Coast Eagles on Sunday afternoon at Domain Stadium in Perth. Can West Coast get their season back on track or will Fremantle take another step towards September action?
First bounce is at 2:40 PM AWST (4:40 PM AEST) on Sunday afternoon and the action can be seen on Fox Footy. AFL Live Vision is also available to ALL CrownBet members. Every Match, wherever you are.
Match Preview
After a win on the road against the Western Bulldogs, West Coast Eagles let themselves down miserably last week when they were hammered by Port Adelaide at home.
This was West Coast's second straight loss on their home deck after going down to Melbourne Demons previously.
Whilst it is uncharacteristic for the Eagles to lose in Perth, I think it shows what a big loss Josh Kennedy has been to their side. They will be hoping he gets through and returns in style this week.
Fremantle are going along ok and sit in 12th place on the ladder, just one win behind their cross town rival. They were great last week against North Melbourne and found a new forward in Ryan Nyhuis, who booted four goals.
With so much at stake for both teams this game will be played at finals tempo and will be a great spectacle to any footy enthusiast.
Team News
Fremantle lose Tommy Sheridan to a hamstring injury and leave Brady Grey out, with David Mundy and Lee Spurr returning to the Dockers side.
Josh Kennedy is a big inclusion for West Coast, but the Eagles do lose Scott Lycett, Malcolm Karpany and Eric Mackenzie to injuries. Sharrod Wellingham is also omitted with Will Schofield, Jackson Nelson and Chris Masten coming in for the Eagles.
Stats
- West Coast have won 4 of the past five derby encounters
- Fremantle are ranked 17th for points scored. Second lowest in the competition
- Josh Kennedy has won the past two Ross Glendinning Medals
Prediction and Tips
Even if Kennedy returns in this one I can’t see it being enough to get an extremely disappointing West Coast side over the line.
I love the Dockers midfield with the likes of Fyfe, Walters, Neale and the Hill brothers, and this is where the Dockers will get the edge.