AFL 2019 Round 1, Fremantle v North Melbourne, 320pm AWST OS

[Gralin]

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Where and when: Optus Stadium, Sunday March 24, 3.20pm (AWST)

Perth Forecast

Sunny. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the morning then becoming south to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the afternoon. Winds tending east to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h in the evening.

Last time they met: Optus Stadium, round 10, 2018: Fremantle 8.10 (58) lost to North Melbourne 12.14 (86)
North Melbourne became the first interstate side to leave a clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium with the four points after overcoming some woeful early inaccuracy. Tagger Ben Jacobs (29 disposals, one goal) kept red-hot Dockers superstar Nat Fyfe (31, eight clearances) under control and was best afield, while Jarrad Waite booted three goals.

What it means for Fremantle: Fyfe described Freo's favourable start to the season as "juicy" at captains day and with Gold Coast (away) and St Kilda (home) to come, the Dockers could set themselves up if they can overcome North.

What it means for North Melbourne: The Roos missed out on finals by one victory last year and this is the sort of 50-50 game they need to win to finish inside the top eight at season's end.

How Fremantle wins: The Dockers' forward stocks have been decimated, so it could take something special from midfield guns Nat Fyfe, Michael Walters and David Mundy to give the attack enough supply to kick a winning score.

How North Melbourne wins: The Roos bolstered their engine room during the off-season and if they get on top on Optus Stadium's expanses and protect an understrength backline it will go a long way to victory.

The stat: Nat Fyfe tallied 31 disposals, 24 contested possessions, eight clearances and a goal last time the teams met but it still wasn't enough to lead Freo to a win, with the Roos dominating contested ball (163-146) and inside 50s (60-46).

The match-up: Ben Brown v Joel Hamling
Hamling is Freo's best shutdown defender and did a solid job on Brown last season, keeping the then Coleman Medal leader to two goals, albeit in wintry conditions. If Brown gets off the leash the Roos' scoring power might be too much for the Dockers.

It's a big week for: Rory Lobb
The bombshell news that Jesse Hogan wouldn't be available for round one has heaped pressure on Lobb to stand up in attack in his first game for Fremantle. The Dockers were seemingly blessed with tall targets but injuries to Brennan Cox (hamstring) and Matt Taberner (calf) mean Lobb and previously out-of-favour ex-Giants teammate Cam McCarthy will need to lead the forward line.

With Jesse Hogan absent, a lot will fall on Rory Lobb's shoulders. Picture: AFL Photos

Big call: Michael Walters to be the difference, picking up 25 touches and booting three goals in a mid-forward role.

Prediction: Fremantle by five points

Source: AFL Website

 

[Demonic Ascent]

Graveyard game in the graveyard slot. I had North even before Hogan got his club suspension. North will win this, they will be pushing for finals again this year. Some handy offseason pickups, Freo are still a rabble.

 

[BG__]

Congrats Freo, celebrating 25 years of mediocrity today

 

[TheKanga]

Strangely confident today.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

It's about whether our midfield clicks today, we embrace long-kicking (instead of short overpossessing) and the pressure is up at an acceptable level. Freo will hold us accountable if we don't do those things.

 

[Power Raid]

Freo by 4 goals in a see-sawing match

 

[megatiger]

Hopefully freo, think they’re being a bit under rated and north over rated

 

[Pykie]

Game of the round.

 

[Cool Kangas]

Game of the round.

 

[rippersnipper]

It's north in round 1. Freo should win this by about 10 goals

 

[StevenwellerHFC]

North by 40 points.

 

[WestCoast05]

It's north in round 1. Freo should win this by about 10 goals

Yeah, but freo

 

[WWSD]

I know Hogan isn't playing, but I like the look of Fremantle's young key position stocks; Pearce (23), Hamling (25), Lobb (25), Hogan (23), McCarthy (23), Darcy (20), Cox (20) and Logue (20).

What Fremantle is lacking on their list is a quality small defender and maybe another inside midfielder to support Fyfe. Other then that I think they have a talented list.

 

[Gavin Excell]

It's north in round 1. Freo should win this by about 10 goals

Is north’s record r1 poor?

 

[Rod Stroker]

Watch us let a hack like Conca or Colyer or Ballantyne off the chain and do a number on us.

 

[schmuttt]

North by 25

 

[richcogs]

Little stat for everybody. Both teams need to score between them 168 points so to avoid the lowest scoring round of AFL EVER!!!

 

[Tas]

If this was mid season I would be fairly confident, however, we have a shocking round 1 record, we just don't prep to hit the ground running.

 

[Rod Stroker]

Little stat for everybody. Both teams need to score between them 168 points so to avoid the lowest scoring round of AFL EVER!!!

You're expecting Ross Lyon to contribute to a high scoring game?

 

[Cuzz09]

Little stat for everybody. Both teams need to score between them 168 points so to avoid the lowest scoring round of AFL EVER!!!

Ross likes this

On SM-G925I using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[TheKanga]

Is north’s record r1 poor?

Generally.

Last year we had to play in a hurricane though.

 

[Cool Kangas]

Go Roos

 

[Power Raid]

Comn Freo!

 

[juss]

North by 9 points in a stinker of a match.

 

[kaiserchief13]

Freo 10.12.72 def by North 14.13.97