Fremantle vs Melbourne Round 22

[Barra13]

DETERMINED AND DASHING DEES WILL BE TOO HOT FOR DIVING DOCKERS AT DOMAIN by Positive Peter from Perth

The writing is on the wall for the Dockers. After plunging to defeat against North Melbourne last Sunday at Etihad Stadium, they are odds on (in my book anyway) to suffer another loss to the plucky Demons who will cross the Nullarbor with every reason to feel confident about their prospects knowing that thousands of their own long-suffering negative supporters have been left behind whining and moaning in Melbourne.

With very few supporters in Perth, the Dees will be able to lift the "veil of negativity" and play the style of free-flowing running football that the modern game requires without the worrisome and pessimistic vibes of supporters in the stands who have stunted the team's performances since coach Paul Roos took over the coaching reins almost two years ago.

The hard working Melbourne board and its coaching panel are entitled to expect positivity to course through and through the veins of every player who runs out onto the hallowed turf of Domain Stadium unburdened by the pressure of thousands of critical pairs of eyes of the fans left behind in Victoria.

Max Gawn will cut Aaron Sandilands down to size in the ruck duels and his dominance there and around the ground should lead the way for the Demon midfield to destroy those hesitant worry warts in the Docker on ball division which will be quaking in their collective boots knowing that their star player and Brownlow favourite Nat Fyfe has been ruled out of this game because of a "leg injury".

Leg injury, my foot. The bloke's supposed to have inflammation in his fibula in his left leg, a condition known as periostitis but my spies tell me he took one look at the vision of Melbourne's midfield in full flight against Carlton at the MCG last Sunday and quickly bailed out knowing that there was absolutely no chance that he could possibly poll any votes against that lot. After all, he's no Patrick Cripps is he?

The Demons should be first to the ball at every contest. There will be no fumbling and no turnovers. Jack Watts will barge his way through packs to win the footy, Chris Dawes will mark everything in sight and every inside fifty pass will hit Jess Hogan on the tit as he gives Fred Fanning's long standing goal kicking record a fair shake. By about 7.00pm AEST the commentators on the Fox Footy Channel will be delving into the record books to ascertain whether they have just witnessed the biggest upset in the history of the game.

And don't think Sunday's inevitable victory of Fremantle will be the end of the matter for the dazzling Dees. They will go on to bigger and brighter things to wrap up the season by finally winning successive AFL home and away games for the first time since Methuselah was a boy and simultaneously break their Etihad Stadium hoodoo by teaching the GWS Giants a lesson on how to play football under a roof in front of a non existent crowd because, like their counterparts from Sydney's western suburbs, those negative nellies are unlikely to turn up to the game either.

After that, I fully expect them to go further onwards and upwards with a 2016 season that will make the Western Bulldogs' turnaround of this year look like small pickings because I'm one of those people who (like the Doggies' coach and former Demon player, Luke Beveridge) doesn't place modest objectives on my team. I have loftier ideals.

And I'm positive about that!

THE GAME

Fremantle v Melbourne at Domain Stadium Sunday 30th August, 2015 at 4.40pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall: Fremantle 20 wins Melbourne 13 wins

At Domain Stadium: Fremantle 10 wins Melbourne 3 wins

Last Five meetings: Fremantle 5 wins Melbourne 0 wins

The Coaches: Lyon 2 wins Roos 0 wins

MEDIA

TV - Fox Footy Channel, live at 4.30pm (AEST)

Radio - SEN, ABC, ABC Grandstand

THE BETTING Fremantle $1.07 to win Melbourne $8.50 to win

LAST TIME THEY MET

Fremantle 18.10.118 defeated Melbourne 6.14.50 at the MCG, Round 5, 2015

The Dockers toyed with the Demons and never really gave them a look in. Nat Fyfe picked up his inevitable three Brownlow votes with consumate ease and Chris Mayne booted four against the hapless Dees who only had one player, Daniel Cross (21) who could manage more than twenty touches.

Melbourne team: round 22
B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Jeremy Howe
HB: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Christian Salem
C: Matt Jones, Bernie Vince, Daniel Cross
HF: Viv Michie, Jesse Hogan, Alex Neal-Bullen
F: Jeff Garlett, Jake Spencer, Oscar McDonald
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
I/C: Jack Watts, Billy Stretch, Ben Newton, Jack Grimes

New: Oscar McDonald
Milestone: Nathan Jones (200 games)

[Barra13]

Updated.

[Purple 77]

OMac!

Kinda surprised he's ahead of Mitch White...

Also, why rest Brayshaw when there is only 2 games left? He should have been rested a good 6 weeks ago.

[Purple 77]

And of course, our magnificent captain brings up the 200!

Will always love you Jonesy. Always proud to hang your poster on my wall no matter how bad it gets

[Big Mac]

And of course, our magnificent captain brings up the 200!

Will always love you Jonesy. Always proud to hang your poster on my wall no matter how bad it gets

I don't usually post on Demonland but I had to when I saw multiple posters suggesting he should be put on the trade table because of his past few weeks

[Big Mac]

Congrats O Mac, hopefully the first game is a good one  :)

[Jukes]

Possibly going with a mate to the open training tomorrow, will post pics :P

[Big Mac]

Possibly going with a mate to the open training tomorrow, will post pics :P

Pics of Jesse pls

For reasons

[Jukes]

Possibly going with a mate to the open training tomorrow, will post pics :P

Pics of Jesse pls

For reasons

Would love to pick up a selfie with him #lifegoals

Viney, McDonald, Vince, Dunn, and/or Watts would also be nice

[Barra13]

Casey Scorpions

B: Munro Hutchins Pattison
HB: White Grimes Terlich
C: Stretch Gent Newton
HF: Kent Watts Kennedy-Harris
F: Harmes Smith Page
FOLL: Jamar Bail Riley
I/C (from) Anderson Corrigan Cox* Keilty King Morris Muir Rennie Rutherford Scott Toumpas Walmsley K Wilson

[Barra13]

Bench is;

Jack Watts, Billy Stretch, Ben Newton, Jack Grimes

I'm pretty happy that Bail didn't make it, I prefer Matt Jones over Bail even though they are both in that same group. I hope they put Stretch as the sub. Looking to be a wet game over here in the West.

[Big Mac]

Bench is;

Jack Watts, Billy Stretch, Ben Newton, Jack Grimes

I'm pretty happy that Bail didn't make it, I prefer Matt Jones over Bail even though they are both in that same group. I hope they put Stretch as the sub. Looking to be a wet game over here in the West.

The wet is probably good for us

Might only lose by 15 goals  :P

[Big Mac]

Purps we're gonna need you to jump on the bandwagon this week

You can switch back to Hoges on Monday  :P

[Purple 77]

Purps we're gonna need you to jump on the bandwagon this week

You can switch back to Hoges on Monday  :P

I think this is a worthy rare occasion for the switch!

Gonna try and find the one I had last year...

[Big Mac]

haha I love it  ;D