Rd 18 - Essendon vs Fremantle - Sat 21/07 4:35pm Etihad Stadium

[Trindacut]

Somewhat amazingly both of these sides remain in finals contention after results went their way last round. But whoever loses this game can almost rule themselves out of reaching the top eight, making the Etihad Stadium meeting important in the context of their season. Essendon claimed its sixth win of its past eight games with a comfortable, if not scratchy, 44-point win over Gold Coast last week. It was a hard-fought victory but was the Bombers' fourth straight win on the road and they had a strong spread of goalkickers. Andrew McGrath and Kyle Langford both gathered 25 disposals as Essendon's midfield for the future takes shape. The Dockers kept their very, very faint finals hopes alive last week with a surprise win over top-four fancies Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium. The gritty victory will see the Dockers head to Melbourne with confidence as they hope to back up their last Etihad Stadium performance when they beat Carlton by 57 points in round 13.

[GoLions]

No late changes to either side

[GoLions]

No late changes to either side

Nvm, fairly late change, MJ in for Darcy (groin)