Match preview: Fremantle v Richmondafl.com.au
14 August 2017
SUMMARYThis will be the Dockers' final game at Domain Stadium before moving to new digs at Perth Stadium and they will surely get themselves up for a vastly-improved effort following last round's horrible 104-point loss to Sydney. Freo was shockingly uncompetitive in the opening quarter and Ross Lyon suffered his biggest defeat as senior coach. The Dockers have lost nine of their past 11 and are limping home, but the long-awaited debut of injury-plagued star Harley Bennell could give them a lift. The Tigers were disappointing at Geelong last Saturday and could need to win their final two games to hold the rampant Swans or Port Adelaide from snatching their top-four spot. Richmond has a strong record in Perth recently, and will be searching for a fifth win from six visits. If it transpires, the midfield battle between raging Brownlow Medal favourite Dustin Martin and 2015 winner Nat Fyfe could be worth the price of admission alone.
WHERE AND WHEN: Domain Stadium, Sunday, August 20, 2.40pm AWST
LAST FIVE TIMES
R8, 2017, Fremantle 10.12 (72) d Richmond 10.10 (70) at the MCG
R9, 2016, Richmond 11.17 (83) d Fremantle 6.9 (45) at Domain Stadium
R17, 2015, Fremantle 12.10 (82) d Richmond 10.18 (78) at the MCG
R10, 2015, Richmond 15.7 (97) d Fremantle 10.10 (70) at Domain Stadium
R13, 2014, Fremantle 16.9 (105) d Richmond 12.13 (85) at the MCG
THE SIX POINTS1. This will be Fremantle's final game at Domain Stadium, where the club has notched 152 wins and 112 losses. Richmond has played at the venue 34 times for 11 wins, including four of their last five.
2. The Tigers will want revenge for a heartbreaking loss in round eight. The Dockers led by 30 points at three-quarter time in round eight at the MCG before Richmond hit the front, but David Mundy's goal after the final siren got Freo home.
3. Fremantle and Richmond meet for the 35th time, and the Tigers hold a narrow advantage winning 18 games to 16. Since 2013 it's four wins to three in the Dockers' favour.
4. The Dockers' 104-point loss to Sydney was Ross Lyon's heaviest defeat in 260 games as a senior coach. Since round 10, Freo has lost nine of 11 matches, averaging only 67 points per game.
5. Richmond's defence has stood tall this season and averages only 77 points against per game (AFL No.2). The Tigers have allowed 100 points in a game only twice.
6. The midfield battle should be a cracker. Richmond stars Dustin Martin (second overall in the Schick AFL Player Ratings) and Trent Cotchin (15th) going head-to-head with Lachie Neale (11th) and Nat Fyfe (67th) could be pivotal to the outcome.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Ross Lyon
The Dockers coach has been in the news after forcefully denying he approached Collingwood about taking over from Nathan Buckley. His focus now will be on getting a significant lift out of his young group to send off Domain Stadium in style.
PREDICTION: Richmond by 23 pointshttp://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-14/match-preview-fremantle-v-richmond
