Round 19 Preview: The Derby to End All Derbies...Until Next Year

Or perhaps the finals? But I suppose that would entail Freo actually making the finals, a feat against their very essence. It would also, probably, mean that we would finish 5th or below something still avoidable especially if we receive some advantageous results this weekend (Go Cats! Saints! Blues! (ew) Bombers! (ew)).

But enough about things that probably won't happen and onto things that probably will. Such as us beating the Dockers. It's not a foregone conclusion, they are knocking on the door of the eight after beating such accomplished sides as GWS and the Power in recent weeks. We haven't been great of late, last week notwithstanding and we received further bad news on the injury/suspension front this week. But let's be honest. That weird, possibly satanic, hold the Dockers had on these clashes has faded to the murky past. It was a time when that annoying Connolly guy couldn't get Freo motivated for anything but derbies. It's okay if you don't remember him, they have had about 13 coaches in the last decade. Anyway, we broke that last year and into this in a big way.

The Glass suspension and the Rosa injury are notable. However, I don't see their absences as debilitating as the pre-Sydney omissions. As long as Cox and Kerr start as named, we will have a side more than capable of beating Lyon's team. I have faith in Brown as an excellent replacement for the Captain, whilst (all jokes about his hair aside, even though it is ATROCIOUS) Swift needs to step up. He's had ample chances this season to demonstrate improvement and I haven't seen any. Folically or otherwise (sorry).

Fremantle
B: Lee Spurr, Luke McPharlin, Adam McPhee
HB: Garrick Ibbotson, Michael Johnson, David Mundy
C: Paul Duffield, Ryan Crowley, Tendai Mzungu
HF: Michael Walters, Kepler Bradley, Stephen Hill
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Matthew Pavlich, Christopher Mayne
Foll: Jonathon Griffin, Nathan Fyfe, Matthew de Boer
I/C: Clancee Pearce, Dylan Roberton, Michael Barlow, Zac Dawson
Emg: Zachary Clarke, Josh Mellington, Cameron Sutcliffe
In: Zac Dawson
Out: Cameron Sutcliffe

West Coast Eagles
B: Beau Waters, Mitch Brown, Eric Mackenzie
HB: Shannon Hurn, Will Schofield, Adam Selwood
C: Brad Sheppard, Matthew Priddis, Andrew Gaff
HF: Josh Hill, Jack Darling, Chris Masten
F: Luke Shuey, Quinten Lynch, Dean Cox
Foll: Nic Naitanui, Scott Selwood, Daniel Kerr
I/C: Sam Butler, Thomas Swift, Patrick McGinnity, Ashton Hams
Emg: Bradd Dalziell, Andrew Strijk, Jacob Brennan
In: Mitch Brown, Thomas Swift
Out: Darren Glass (Suspension), Matthew Rosa (Jaw)


Fyfe's return for the Dockers does give their midfield some real class. He may have plastic shoulders, who always seems one awkward fall away from injury, but he's a star. Pavlich has also had a very good season, despite not getting many plaudits because of his team's irrelevance. But I believe we can cover their better players. Even with key cogs missing the machine must and will continue to function at a good enough level.

And we really should have no reason not to match or exceed the Dockers' intensity. They may be fighting for 8th, but we're fighting for top 4 and a shot at a premiership. A loss here, which is probably going to be true the rest of the season, would mean 4th may vanish.

So let's win and stick it up them...figuratively speaking.