The third game on Sunday for AFL Round 16 is between West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers. The match is to be played at Patersons Stadium with the opening bounce set to commence at 2:40pm local time with away team Fremantle Dockers currently holding favouritism in the market. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers.
WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Sunday 14 July, 2:40pm
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Opening odds comparison:
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| West Coast Eagles | 2.40 | 2.60 | 2.60 | 2.60 | 2.40 | 2.45 |
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Fremantle Dockers
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1.55 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.55 | 1.57 |
Preview:
The last game of the round is between the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle, kicking off on Sunday at 4.40pm at Patersons Stadium. This local derby is always an
interesting match-up, with pride on the line just as much as competition points. Fremantle will be expected to win here, but by no means is it a foregone conclusion. The
Eagles had a great six point win over the Crows last round, and at ninth on the ladder, they have everything to play for. Saying that, however, Fremantle will be just as
keen to secure a top four position, in what looks like a close contest and one of the matches of the round.
Teams:
West Coast Eagles:
B: Will Schofield, Darren Glass, Mitchell Brown
HB: Jacob Brennan, Eric Mackenzie, Ashley Smith
C: Andrew Gaff, Matt Priddis, Matt Rosa
HF: Mark Hutchings, Josh Kennedy, Josh Hill
F: Mark LeCras, Dean Cox, Jack Darling
Foll: Nic Naitanui, Chris Masten, Bradd Dalziell
Int (from): Blayne Wilson, Cale Morton, Brad Sheppard, Andrew Embley, Jamie Cripps, Scott Lycett, Adam Carter
In: A.Smith, C.Morton, S.Lycett, B.Wilson, A.Carter
Out: B.Waters (knee), P.McGinnity
Fremantle Dockers:
B: Alex Silvagni, Zac Dawson, Garrick Ibbotson
HB: Lee Spurr, Michael Johnson, David Mundy
C: Tendai Mzungu, Ryan Crowley, Stephen Hill
HF: Nathan Fyfe, Chris Mayne, Clancee Pearce
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands
Foll: Zac Clarke, Matt de Boer, Nick Suban
Int (from): Lachie Neale, Cameron Sutcliffe, Michael Walters, Matthew Taberner, Michael Barlow, Danyle Pearce, Tom Sheridan
In: A.Silvagni, C.Sutcliffe, L.Neale, M.Taberner
Out: L.McPharlin (calf)
Worsfold hopeful of AFL derby final
West Coast coach John Worsfold is embracing the prospect of a western derby AFL final, but concedes the Eagles have some work to do to make it happen.
The Eagles currently sit a game outside the top eight, while Fremantle are just percentage adrift of fourth spot.
Should West Coast beat Fremantle in Sunday’s western derby, it would significantly boost the chances of the two teams meeting again in September.
However, a Dockers win would make it hard for West Coast to reach the finals.
A derby final would be bad news for Fremantle, who are almost certain to finish higher than the Eagles and would therefore lose their home ground advantage if they were to confront their arch-rivals in September.
Worsfold is yet to make a call on his coaching future, but is hopeful Sunday’s derby won’t be his last.
“It would be wonderful to be involved in the first final derby,” Worsfold said while sitting alongside Dockers coach Ross Lyon on Wednesday.
“I’m hopeful we can play well enough to finish in the eight. That’s our aim.
“I think Freo are going to be in the eight. If that eventuates, then there is the possibility of a match-up.”
The Dockers are on track to make back-to-back finals series for the first time in their history.
Their best ever year was in 2006, when they reached the preliminary final.
Worsfold believes Fremantle have the potential to surpass that mark this year, saying the Dockers are performing an elite level consistently.
The Eagles are confident ruckman Nic Naitanui will be fit to play in Sunday’s derby, but Daniel Kerr (ribs) and Sharrod Wellingham are no guarantees to return.
Naitanui, who missed the opening five rounds due to off-season groin surgery, has been carrying soreness in recent weeks.
But Worsfold said the 2012 All-Australian should be fit to take on the Dockers, with gun midfielder Luke Shuey also expected to play after missing two games with a hamstring injury.
Former Pie Wellingham is pushing for senior selection after making a successful return from an ankle injury in the WAFL reserves last week.
West Coast will be without vice-captain Beau Waters (knee) and tagger Patrick McGinnity (suspended), but Sam Butler (back) and Adam Selwood (back) are other players in line to return.
Fremantle are expected to recall Alex Silvagni in place of All-Australian defender Luke McPharlin, who will miss five weeks with a calf injury.
“We acknowledge it’s a loss but you cant get stuck on that. We have to move on quickly,” Lyon said.
The Dockers must also find a replacement for Paul Duffield (calf).