eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Observations
Fremantle: Had a tough opening round against a strong Port Adelaide side, going down by 50 points, in what seemed like a lacklustre effort throughout. Lachie Neale was impressive in the middle, collecting 38 touches whilst Aaron Sandilands dominated the taps with 52, although the second half he was against Westhoff and Dixon.
Essendon: An amazing come from behind win against last year's grand finalists Adelaide, trailing by 20 at Three Quarter Time, the Dons hit back and scored a 6 goal to one final quarter. Captain Dyson Heppell and David Zaharakis starred with 35 touches apiece whilst Cale Hooker and James Stewart kicked 3 goals each.
Head to Head (last 5)
Fremantle 4-1 Essendon
Form Guide
Fremantle: 0W 1L
Essendon: 1W 0L
Sportsbet odds
Fremantle: $2.12
Essendon: $1.73
Line: 4.5 ($1.92)
Possible sides
Fremantle vs Essendon
B: Brown- Hartley - Dea
F: Taberner - McCarthy - Matera
HB: McKenna - Hurley - Saad
HF: Langdon - Kersten - Ballantyne
C: Parish - Stringer - Z Merrett
C: Walters - Neale - B Hill
HF: McDonald-Tipungwuti - Daniher - Langford
HB: Wilson- A Pearce - Tucker
F: Stewart - Hooker - Green
B: Johnson - Hamling - Ryan
R: Bellchambers - Goddard - Heppell
R: Sandilands - Fyfe - Mundy
I: McGrath - Myers - D Smith - Zaharakis
I: Blakely - Sutcliffe - Brayshaw - Banfield
Fremantle defence vs Essendon forward line
Essendon's forward line was the highlight of the 2017 season, finishing 3rd in terms of overall goals/inside 50 ratio behind the two teams in Adelaide, with an efficiency rating of 28%. Fremantle's defence was extremely loose as well, their opponents kicking a goal 28% of the time it entered defensive 50 as well. The return of Alex Pearce is a promising one, the man is uniquely suited to playing on Joe Daniher being an athletic 2 metre player, but after spending a significant amount of time off the field it will be a tough assignment for him. Joel Hamling will likely be opposed to Cale Hooker, a tough match up after Hooker kicked 40+ goals last season as a secondary forward. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Orazio Fantasia will be hoping to get on top of the impressive Luke Ryan and Darcy Tucker as the leading small defenders.
Midfield/rucks battle
Given the stats last year at either end, this is where Fremantle really need to assert its authority over Essendon. Fremantle were superior to Essendon in terms of clearance differential, last year, but Essendon were ahead in contested possession differential, showing that outside of a stoppage situation that Essendon were stronger. Fremantle's starting 5 midfielders of Nathan Fyfe, David Mundy, Lachie Neale, Brad Hill and Michael Walters is as good as any going around but right now their depth isn't there, but Essendon's outside game is one of the best in the league with the likes of Zach Merrett, David Zaharakis, Brendan Goddard, Devon Smith and Darcy Parish running through the middle. If Essendon is able to break even on the inside they should be able to get over the top of Fremantle. In terms of the ruck battle, Aaron Sandilands is still dominating at the stoppage but Tom Bellchambers seems to be getting back to his best around the ground. Will be an interesting one to watch.
Fremantle forward line vs Essendon defence
Essendon's defence had an enjoyable 2017 for the most part despite being under extreme pressure most weeks, they had a very high defensive efficiency rating of 23% in the last season. Fremantle were on the opposite end of the scale with their forward line, being second last in forward efficiency, averaging a goal only 22% of the time it entered forward 50. Freo's big hope inside 50 will be Cameron McCarthy, who will have a tough challenge against Michael Hurley, and Matt Taberner will look to get on top of Michael Hartley again after lowering the Bomber's colours the last time the two sides met. Brandon Matera and Hayden Ballantyne are the main smalls for the Dockers, and will need to be at their best against a likely match up against Ben McNiece, who impressed in pre-season, and Adam Saad.
X-Factor Player
Brandon Matera is the shiny new play thing for the Dockers, adding some speed to the Dockers forward line. The former Sun will likely get the #2 defender from the dons, which may well be his former team mate Adam Saad.
Key stat
Fremantle: Clearances. Absolutely must win if they're to get enough ball inside 50 to put enough pressure on the Essendon defence.
Essendon: Forward efficiency. If the midfield breaks even there's a big chance of punishing an underwhelming Docker defence.
Tip
Essendon should win this, but that's not the Essendon we know (and somewhat love). Still, I think they're better than Freo and should have a comfortable 33 point win
Fremantle: Had a tough opening round against a strong Port Adelaide side, going down by 50 points, in what seemed like a lacklustre effort throughout. Lachie Neale was impressive in the middle, collecting 38 touches whilst Aaron Sandilands dominated the taps with 52, although the second half he was against Westhoff and Dixon.
Essendon: An amazing come from behind win against last year's grand finalists Adelaide, trailing by 20 at Three Quarter Time, the Dons hit back and scored a 6 goal to one final quarter. Captain Dyson Heppell and David Zaharakis starred with 35 touches apiece whilst Cale Hooker and James Stewart kicked 3 goals each.
Head to Head (last 5)
Fremantle 4-1 Essendon
Form Guide
Fremantle: 0W 1L
Essendon: 1W 0L
Sportsbet odds
Fremantle: $2.12
Essendon: $1.73
Line: 4.5 ($1.92)
Possible sides
Fremantle vs Essendon
B: Brown- Hartley - Dea
F: Taberner - McCarthy - Matera
HB: McKenna - Hurley - Saad
HF: Langdon - Kersten - Ballantyne
C: Parish - Stringer - Z Merrett
C: Walters - Neale - B Hill
HF: McDonald-Tipungwuti - Daniher - Langford
HB: Wilson- A Pearce - Tucker
F: Stewart - Hooker - Green
B: Johnson - Hamling - Ryan
R: Bellchambers - Goddard - Heppell
R: Sandilands - Fyfe - Mundy
I: McGrath - Myers - D Smith - Zaharakis
I: Blakely - Sutcliffe - Brayshaw - Banfield
Fremantle defence vs Essendon forward line
Essendon's forward line was the highlight of the 2017 season, finishing 3rd in terms of overall goals/inside 50 ratio behind the two teams in Adelaide, with an efficiency rating of 28%. Fremantle's defence was extremely loose as well, their opponents kicking a goal 28% of the time it entered defensive 50 as well. The return of Alex Pearce is a promising one, the man is uniquely suited to playing on Joe Daniher being an athletic 2 metre player, but after spending a significant amount of time off the field it will be a tough assignment for him. Joel Hamling will likely be opposed to Cale Hooker, a tough match up after Hooker kicked 40+ goals last season as a secondary forward. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Orazio Fantasia will be hoping to get on top of the impressive Luke Ryan and Darcy Tucker as the leading small defenders.
Midfield/rucks battle
Given the stats last year at either end, this is where Fremantle really need to assert its authority over Essendon. Fremantle were superior to Essendon in terms of clearance differential, last year, but Essendon were ahead in contested possession differential, showing that outside of a stoppage situation that Essendon were stronger. Fremantle's starting 5 midfielders of Nathan Fyfe, David Mundy, Lachie Neale, Brad Hill and Michael Walters is as good as any going around but right now their depth isn't there, but Essendon's outside game is one of the best in the league with the likes of Zach Merrett, David Zaharakis, Brendan Goddard, Devon Smith and Darcy Parish running through the middle. If Essendon is able to break even on the inside they should be able to get over the top of Fremantle. In terms of the ruck battle, Aaron Sandilands is still dominating at the stoppage but Tom Bellchambers seems to be getting back to his best around the ground. Will be an interesting one to watch.
Fremantle forward line vs Essendon defence
Essendon's defence had an enjoyable 2017 for the most part despite being under extreme pressure most weeks, they had a very high defensive efficiency rating of 23% in the last season. Fremantle were on the opposite end of the scale with their forward line, being second last in forward efficiency, averaging a goal only 22% of the time it entered forward 50. Freo's big hope inside 50 will be Cameron McCarthy, who will have a tough challenge against Michael Hurley, and Matt Taberner will look to get on top of Michael Hartley again after lowering the Bomber's colours the last time the two sides met. Brandon Matera and Hayden Ballantyne are the main smalls for the Dockers, and will need to be at their best against a likely match up against Ben McNiece, who impressed in pre-season, and Adam Saad.
X-Factor Player
Brandon Matera is the shiny new play thing for the Dockers, adding some speed to the Dockers forward line. The former Sun will likely get the #2 defender from the dons, which may well be his former team mate Adam Saad.
Key stat
Fremantle: Clearances. Absolutely must win if they're to get enough ball inside 50 to put enough pressure on the Essendon defence.
Essendon: Forward efficiency. If the midfield breaks even there's a big chance of punishing an underwhelming Docker defence.
Tip
Essendon should win this, but that's not the Essendon we know (and somewhat love). Still, I think they're better than Freo and should have a comfortable 33 point win
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