Saturday’s only AFL Finals Week 2 match is between Fremantle Dockers and Port Adelaide Power. The opening bounce is set to commence at 19:45pm local time with the game to be played at Patersons Stadium. The home team Fremantle Dockers are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Fremantle Dockers and Port Adelaide Power.
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Round: Finals Week 2, Saturday September 13, 19:45pm
Stadium: Patersons Stadium
Weather: 23° Possible shower.
Featured Bookmakers:
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Preview:
WHEN these teams played off for fourth place in the last round of the home and away season it was thought the stakes could not be higher. Think again. The Dockers and Port Adelaide now meet at the same venue just two weeks later and the stakes have been raised. A preliminary final date with Hawthorn at the MCG next Saturday awaits the winner and the loser’s season is over. Fremantle won the round 23 clash by eight points. The differences this time are Port Adelaide travels off a six-day break as opposed to the Dockers’ seven-day rest.
THIS YEAR
R23, 2014, Fremantle 16.9 (105) d Port Adelaide 14.13 (97) at Patersons Stadium
The Dockers trailed by 11 points at the six-minute mark of the third term before piling on nine unanswered goals to establish an unassailable 38-point lead in the last quarter. Port Adelaide never gave up, kicking the last five goals of the match to give the Dockers a fright.
R8, 2014, Port Adelaide 13.16 (94) d Fremantle 11.10 (76) at Adelaide Oval
It was a see-sawing battle for most of the afternoon with the Dockers leading by five points at three-quarter time. Port Adelaide’s superior running power demolished them in the last quarter. The home side kicked five goals to two in the final term. Chad Wingard was the star with five goals.
PREVIOUS FIVE ENCOUNTERS
R23, 2014, Fremantle 16.9 (105) d Port Adelaide 14.13 (97) at Patersons Stadium
R8, 2014, Port Adelaide 13.16 (94) d Fremantle 11.10 (76) at Adelaide Oval
R22, 2013, Fremantle 21.8 (134) d Port Adelaide 9.6 (60) at Patersons Stadium
R18, 2012, Fremantle 11.9 (75) d Port Adelaide 6.12 (48) at AAMI Stadium
R7, 2012, Fremantle 12.15 (87) d Port Adelaide 7.5 (47) at Patersons Stadium
KEY MATCH-UPS
Ryan Crowley v Travis Boak
Crowley tagged Boak in the round 23 clash with great success. The Port skipper gathered 22 touches but only had five kicks and did not kick a goal. In the elimination final against Richmond Boak had 34 possessions and kicked a goal. Crowley was beaten by Dan Hannebery last week and will be keen to atone.
Matthew Pavlich v Alipate Carlile
The Fremantle skipper kicked four goals last week from limited opportunities to keep the Dockers in the match. Pavlich gathered 18 touches, took four marks and kicked two goals in round 23 against Carlile but his fellow forwards kicked 11 goals between them.
MEDICAL ROOM
Fremantle The Dockers have several key players under injury clouds. Hayden Ballantyne had surgery on a fractured jaw early this week and is very unlikely to play. Michael Barlow was on crutches post-match due to a foot issue but the club said it was precautionary. Luke McPharlin will try his best to return from a calf problem than has kept him out since round 20.
Port Adelaide Matt White broke his jaw laying a strong tackle on Sunday. It is only a small crack that doesn’t require surgery and he is still in the frame to play this week.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY WIN? The winner will travel to the MCG to play a preliminary final against Hawthorn next Saturday night.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY LOSE? It’s season over.
THE SIX POINTS
1. Fremantle has won seven of its past eight games against Port Adelaide, including the past five meetings at Patersons Stadium.
2. The Dockers have won three of their four finals at Patersons Stadium. Port Adelaide has lost six of its nine finals interstate.
3. Port Adelaide is second in clearances this season, averaging 40.3 a game. Fremantle is eighth, averaging 39.1 a game.
4. Fremantle has the edge in finals experience with a combined total of 199 games compared with Port Adelaide’s 105.
5. Ross Lyon has coached St Kilda and Fremantle to finals in every season except for his first in 2007. This will be his 18th final. He has eight wins and has coached teams past the second week of finals four times.
6. Port Adelaide has kicked an average of 14.5 goals a game this season (second only to Hawthorn). Fremantle’s average of 13.3 goals is equal sixth.
Teams:
Fremantle Dockers:
B Lee Spurr, Zac Dawson, Paul Duffield
HB Garrick Ibbotson, Alex Silvagni, Tendai Mzungu
C Cameron Sutcliffe, Ryan Crowley, Stephen Hill
HF Matt Taberner, Chris Mayne, Michael Barlow
F Michael Walters, Matthew Pavlich, Zac Clarke
FOL Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Nat Fyfe
I/C Lachie Neale, Hayden Crozier, Danyle Pearce, Nick Suban
EMG Matt de Boer, Jonathon Griffin, Clancee Pearce
IN Nick Suban
OUT Hayden Ballantyne (Jaw)
Port Adelaide Power:
B Jackson Trengove, Alipate Carlile, Tom Jonas
HB Matthew Broadbent, Jack Hombsch, Jasper Pittard
C Kane Cornes, Ollie Wines, Hamish Hartlett
HF Robbie Gray, Justin Westhoff, Angus Monfries
F Jake Neade, Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard
FOL Matthew Lobbe, Travis Boak, Brad Ebert
I/C Matt White, Jared Polec, Andrew Moore, Cam O’Shea
EMG Jarman Impey, Kane Mitchell, Aaron Young
No Change
