Freo are Dangerous

[Cicjose]

http://www.bigpondsport.com/solo-cloke-shuts-the-dawes/tabid/91/newsid/94779/default.aspx

The new-look Dockers are dangerous  8)

From being labelled unwatchable two months ago, Ross Lyon's Fremantle is now verging on unbeatable after racking up a seventh straight win on Saturday. Yes, it was only against Melbourne but winning form is good for, and there are few sides that would relish a clash against the hard-nosed Dockers in an elimination final.

Stephen Hill has added some grunt to his silky outside game, Aaron Sandilands and Jon Griffin are the second-best ruck combo in the game and Ryan Crowley can shut anyone down.

With Matthew Pavlich fit enough to pose a threat, the only question mark over Fremantle hangs over their defence in the possible absence of Luke McPharlin.

If he misses against Geelong, expect Tom Hawkins, James Podsiadly and Nathan Vardy to exploit Zac Dawson and his mates.

[Hawka]

Please beat the cats!!

[valkorum]

Please beat the cats!!

+1

[Cicjose]

http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7009/newsid/146642/default.aspx

Form in Victoria (EXCELLENT!!!)

Freo will be buoyed by having won four from five in Melbourne this season. That included the club’s first victory in a while at the MCG, where Saturday’s game will be played. The Cats are 2-2 at the ‘G’ in 2012, but both wins have been over premiership favourites Hawthorn.

Who does Crowley tag?  (Bartel IMO)

Crowley played on Paul Chapman in round 1, but the classy Cat has not been spending much time in the midfield lately. Joel Selwood is an obvious option, but the Cats have a wide array of midfield talent who are all very dangerous if not given the proper attention.

[valkorum]

I think Crowley should go to Corey.  Selwood is an inside mid and difficult to tag so put Mundy on Selwood and let them go head to head.  Fyfe v Bartel is a good matchup

[bunyip]

You seem to be doing what everyone does and just dismissing James Kelly. He's the one who will do the damage. I think Freo will be our hardest game untill the Gf if we make it. They are the form side along with Hawthorn.
Personally I would have preferred to play North Melbourne.
With Stevie J not playing the word is that Varcoe will be selected, I think they will go for Smedts myself. This should be a terrific game, there are no excuses for the Cats. It's a home final and we are in the best form all season.
Who are you guys going to play on Tommahawk, Jpod and Vardy? Vardy is our X factor. He might not get a kick, or he'll do some real damage up forward. Freo will have to bring their best game to beat us I think.

[Cicjose]

i would have been more inclined to pick Fremantle if McPharlin was fit

not saying they can't win but the experience lost and although grover or silvagni are the next in line it doesnt mean that Johnson will be the loose man again or that Mcphee and Dawson will get the matchups they want either

Mcpharlin would have gone to Hawkins Dawson to JPod Mcphee to Vardy and Johnson to whoever takes Stevie J's place

[Ricochet]

i think we have a real chance this week
in terms of crowley.. i think he has to go to jelwood
but its our backline that scares me. Zac isn't big enough/strong enough to go to Hawkins and not sure if Grover is up for it either

[JBs-Hawks]

You have every hawk supporter cheering you on ;)

Go Freo !!!

[valkorum]

In this game with 3 talls Johnson will never play the loose man.  Its been that way all year - he either takes the 3rd tall (if they have one) or he plays loose.

McPhee wont line up on Vardy

@bunyip - I thought about Kelly as both are quality players but I think Corey wil be the one that Crowley goes to. 

@Cic - Crowley hasnt gone to an inside mid all year, its a lot harder to tag an inside mid. 

[bunyip]

I'm sure you'll put a hard tag on Selwood none the less.  8) I wouldn't mind betting that Taylor Hunt gets Stephen Hill. I reckon he's one of you're most important players. and if I were coach I'd be trying to stop him.
Where you are going to kill us is in the ruck.  :( We'll have to rove to Sandilands instead of West. We won't be able to stop him, so West will have to wear him like a glove and not give him any easy possessions. His influence will be compromised if we can knock the ball to the ground when it's near him.

[Shihan7]

Please beat the cats!!

+1

[Cicjose]

http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7009/newsid/147106/default.aspx

Fremantle, over the past 6 weeks, leads the league in forward-half pressure acts. It’s this pressure that will be called upon to ensure the Cats don’t receive an easy passage from defence into attack.

Geelong has been incredible lately at moving the ball from a full-back kick-in into its attacking 50, doing this at a 40 per cent success rate over the past month.

Freo, however, is the best in the AFL at stopping that from occurring. Ross Lyon’s men have allowed only 13 per cent of opposition full-back kick-ins to enter attacking 50.

Once Geelong enters its attacking 50, it is the best in the league at taking marks. In-form Tom Hawkins accounts for around 25 per cent of Cats' marks inside attacking 50.

But Freo concede the fewest opposition marks inside 50, with only 15 per cent of opposition entries ending up in a mark this season. What impact the loss of Luke McPharlin has on this statistic remains to be seen.

http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7009/newsid/147083/default.aspx

[bunyip]

Well done Freo. I just got home from Q'land and had a look at the score. I knew the Cats were behind so I was not surprised. I didn't get to see any of the game so well done and good luck next week.

[valkorum]

Well done Freo. I just got home from Q'land and had a look at the score. I knew the Cats were behind so I was not surprised. I didn't get to see any of the game so well done and good luck next week.

Much respect Bunyip.  Freo set it up in the 1st half and was able to hold on from there.  Looking forward to next week against the Crows