AFL 2019 Round 5: Greater Western Sydney v Fremantle, 1:45pm AEST UNSWCO

[Gralin]

Stream the match LIVE​

Where and when: UNSW Canberra Oval, Saturday April 20, 1.45pm AEST

Canberra Forecast

Areas of fog in the early morning. Mostly sunny day. Light winds.

Last time they met: UNSW Canberra Oval, round four, 2018: GWS 11.16 (82) defeated Fremantle 7.9 (51)
The Dockers got the start they wanted and led at the first change, but the Giants kicked 10 goals to four after quarter-time to win a scrappy affair in Canberra. Fallen co-captain Callan Ward grabbed the three Brownlow votes for his 34 possessions, while Nick Haynes dominated across half-back with 15 marks and 29 touches.

What it means for GWS: After last week's outstanding win at Geelong, a first for the club, the home side must maintain their momentum by beating the Dockers. If they're really flag contenders, they'll win big.

What it means for Fremantle: The wasteful Dockers had their chances against West Coast last week and a similar effort will see them head back to Perth with the same result. At 2-2 Fremantle must take a big scalp.

How GWS wins: Even without the injured Ward the Giants midfield is stacked with talent and runs too deep for the Dockers to stop. Jeremy Cameron and Jeremy Finlayson are in a rich vein of form and they'll get plenty of opportunities.

THINGS WE LEARNED Tigers still have the AFL's best backman

How Fremantle wins: He's had an inconsistent year so far, but if Michael Walters can break free his impact on the game will be immense. Time to throw him into the midfield and let the skilful left-footer have an influence.

Nat Fyfe is expected back to face a Giants outfit in great form, among them Lachie Whitfield. Picture: AFL Photos

The stat: The Dockers had a 33.3 per cent conversion rate against the Eagles last week and had 1.9 on the scoreboard at half-time, which makes it extremely tough to win games. They must clean that up to get reward for effort.

The match-up: Shane Mumford v Rory Lobb
The master and his former apprentice will lock horns for the first time since Lobb walked out on the Giants last year to head home to Perth. Lobb – ranked 131st in the Schick AFL Player Ratings - hasn't coped well against physical ruckman in the past so it will be a massive challenge, but he has the athleticism to hurt Mumford (323rd) around the ground and forward.

It’s a big week for: Matt de Boer
The former Docker learnt his tagging craft at Fremantle and is likely to get another job this week. The returning Nat Fyfe will attract de Boer's attention in Canberra and the Giant will know the captain's game well after playing on him in match simulation at training for years.

Big call: In blistering form already, tough midfielder Jacob Hopper will elevate his game even more with Ward gone for the year and register 40 possessions in a game for the first time in his career.

Prediction: GWS by 46 points

Source: AFL Website

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

The scheduling cops a lot if flack but an early game in Canberra in late April is perfect. Inland you get big temperature swings as the sun sets in Autumn and this'll be played in gorgeous sunshine.

We've won our last 9 games at Manuka and I hope that continues today. Apart from a pretty raucous crowd on our side it's kinda hard to know why. It's a very traditional big oval, similar to many suburban grounds with more grandstands and ringed by temporary seating.

Looking forward to seeing Fyfe play and how Mummy and Lobb get along when they oppose each other in the ruck.

Much is being made if debutant Jackson Hately's being born in Canberra, but so was Phil Davis so we've got two locals out there.

 

[Giant Pete]

My worry with this game is Lobb’s running capacity vs Mummy’s. Mummy will need support around the ground.

 

[Giant Pete]

Michael Walters is clearly a talented player. But for him to stay in a midfield he needs to improve his contested game... perhaps not go to ground so easily trying to milk frees.

 

[Bulldogsconvert]

The Giants midfield and running game will be too much. Taranto and Whitfield set for big games.

 

[Silent Alarm]

This was definitely not written by someone who actually watches or knows how Freo best play.

Sonny Walters has had a very good season – as always – considering we've had no forward line, our tall forwards have been playing up the ground, and it's him and Bradley Hill having to take two-on-ones or run onto ugly kicks in the 50. If he actually had a key forward giving some shape and structure, he'd bob up and kick three goals a game.

Also he isn't a midfielder. He's decent in there but I don't think I'd take another small forward in the comp over him. He's a little champ down there. Putting him as a rover is so *in dumb.

 

[juss]

You would think Giants by 30+ surely. The way this season has gone though, Freo will somehow get up by 26.

 

[Power Raid]

GWS the better side but Freo in an upset

Freo by 7

 

[Buzzasto DaSilva]

Super warm here at the ground. 25 degrees but it feels a lot warmer. Perfect day for football.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Wierd the way Freo's song sounds ok on loudspeakers at the ground, but absolute s**t if you listen to a recording.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

The history between us is competitive games. I cant recall a blowout except in their favour in our early few years.

 

[BIGBOYmcevoy]

GWS will either win by 50+ or Freo will win by 5 points. Who knows with Freo

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

We need to clean up the finishing.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Finally

 

[Quokka]

Finally

 

[SSwans2011]

The AFL app is a useless piece of s**t.

 

[Dez!]

Good Hoges.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

We are in this

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

80 metre penalty wtf

 

[Ichabod Noodle]

Now that is what you call a Hit-Out To Advantage

 

[The Joker]

So much for penalizing time wasters. That had to be 50!

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Good to see Heater got his traditional kick out to the left out on full sorted in the first QTR.

 

[Quokka]

Needed that, a bit of reward for a good period by Freo

 

[The Joker]

On the goal line twit

 

[Dez!]

Coniglio has gone to another level this year.