AFL Premiership Round 20, 2010
SWANS Vs DOCKERS
Subiaco, Saturday 14 August, 3.10pm (AEST)
WEATHER
4c-19c Early morning showers, then sunny.
TEAMS (No late changes to either side)
Sydney Swans
B: Paul Bevan, Ted Richards, Rhyce Shaw
HB: Nick Malceski, Heath Grundy, Tadhg Kennelly
C: Lewis Jetta, Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ben McGlynn, Ryan O'Keefe, Josh Kennedy
F: Mike Pyke, Adam Goodes, Jarred Moore
Foll: Shane Mumford, Jude Bolton, Kieren Jack
I/C: Trent Dennis-Lane, Daniel Hannebery, Martin Mattner, Jesse White
Emg: Brett Meredith, Sam Reid, Gary Rohan
No Change
Fremantle Dockers
B: Dylan Roberton, Antoni Grover, Greg Broughton
HB: Stephen Hill, Luke McPharlin, Roger Hayden
C: Garrick Ibbotson, David Mundy, Nat Fyfe
HF: Byron Schammer, Matthew Pavlich, Michael Walters
F: Adam McPhee, Michael Johnson, Matthew de Boer
Foll: Kepler Bradley, Nick Suban, Paul Duffield
I/C: Paul Hasleby, Anthony Morabito, Jessie Crichton, Zac Clarke
Emg: Justin Bollenhagen, Clancee Pearce, Jay van Berlo
In: Zac Clarke, Michael Walters, Byron Schammer
Out: Jay van Berlo, Rhys Palmer, Justin Bollenhagen
TV & RADIO
Check the AFL Broadcast Guide
BETTING
SportsBet Odds: Fremantle V Sydney $1.58 V $2.38
FORM & HISTORY
Fremantle 10 wins, Sydney Swans 12 wins, no draws
Last time: Sydney Swans 9.9 (63) lost to Fremantle 14.16 (100), round 9, 2010 at the SCG
Fremantle Dockers: LWLWL
Sydney Swans: WWLLW
STATS
SYDNEY SWANS PLAYER STATS - 2010 Averages up to Round 19
AFL LADDER
Check out the Bailey AFL Ladder Predictor for the latest info
PREVIEW
Subiaco Oval will play host to an intriguing clash this Saturday with the stumbling Dockers taking on a Sydney side that bounced back to form last week in tremendous fashion.
Fremantle fell to arguably their worst loss of the season last week when the Kangaroos tore them apart at Etihad Stadium.
With Aaron Sandilands absent, Kepler Bradley was forced to perform the lion?s share of the ruckwork against McIntosh and Goldstein.
Fremantle's attacking flair has been a feature of their season, but the rise up the ladder can be attributed to an improvement in pressure skills and contested ball. The Dockers lack of defensive running and presence around the stoppages must be of great concern to the Dockers brains trust in the lead up to the finals.
If they can finish 5th or 6th they will in all likelihood draw Carlton or Sydney at home in the first week, possibly the Hawks, Dees or Kangaroos and it is important that they win that final, move into a second week and get a crack at a semi final at the MCG.
Stephen Hill needs to bounce back after a stinker last week where he was totally eclipsed by Brady Rawlings.
Matthew Pavlich played his worst game for the year, and Rhys Palmer needs to deliver more around the stoppages.
They are a talented side who had a huge win at their last start at Subiaco, and they should enjoy the wider spaces at home against a Sydney side who struggle to win on the bigger grounds.
Last week was a pleasing return to what the Swans do best. They took control of the tempo early, established control at the stoppages and strangled the life out of their opponents.
They benefited from being back on the smaller ground at the SCG but it was an important win given they had experienced the worst fortnight in Paul Roos's reign as coach.
The fact the two losses were at the MCG and ANZ Stadium, two of the competitions larger grounds might hold concerns for Subiaco, given they were sliced up in wide open spaces by two sides that spread well from contests.
Fremantle are a side that does that as well, but Sydney should encounter an under strength midfield lacking in confidence and hence will fair a lot better.
They also have some excellent users of the ball running off half back and these players are super important when playing on Subiaco as guys who can drive the ball long and precisely through the lines can be so damaging.
Malceski, Shaw and Kennelly do it so well and Fremantle will need to put some pressure on them if they are to win.
Without Mayne and Ballantyne in attack, Sydney will be confident of restricting the Dockers forwards.
Grundy will probably get Pavlich, with Richards as the second option.
He will probably get Bradley first up provided Sandilands returns.
Hasleby and Fyfe should get some close attention as well.
Brett Kirk will probably go to Hill who is finding life tough without Barlow. Mundy might get taken by Moore or perhaps run head to head with Bolton.
At the other end, McPharlin lacks the mobility to go with Goodes and a smokey for mine is Roger Hayden who is a player underrated by many in Victoria.
Grover is another option, but he might get emerging youngster Trent Dennis Lane.
Ben McGlynn might get DeBoer or perhaps Ibbotson for company.
Sydney this year have been more inconsistent then normal, and when sides have created space they have lacked the leg speed and class to beat them, but Fremantle just aren't getting enough quality ball out of the middle and some youngsters are carrying more burden then they have for much of the season and as a result they have slipped back to the pack.
Home ground advantage will be a factor, but with O'Keefe, Goodes, Bolton and Kirk back in form, Sydney have too many big bodies playing well and will wear Fremantle down at the stoppages and produce a win that should seal their place in September one last time under Paul Roos.
Sydney by 14 points
Thanks to Darren Parkin of Dashersport for the preview. Be sure to check out his Facebook page for previews on other AFL games being played this round.
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