WHERE & WHEN:TIO Stadium, Darwin,Saturday June 16, 7:10 pm CST.
MEDIA COVERAGE: FoxSports, SEN, ABC, 6PR.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Played– 15. Western Bulldogs – 8, Fremantle – 7.
LAST TIME: Round11 2006, Western Bulldogs 15.10 (100) d Fremantle 12.14 (86) at Telstra Dome.
TAB Sportsbet:Western Bulldogs - $1.91, Fremantle - $1.91.
MILESTONES:Fremantle: James Walker – 150 games.
INJURIES: WesternBulldogs: Ryan Griffen (knee), Daniel Cross (knee). Fremantle: Andrew Browne (hamstring), Ryley Dunne (knee), JeffFarmer (club suspension), Justin Longmuir (knee).
RECENT HEAD TO HEADHISTORY: Last year’s 14-point win snapped a run of four losses toFremantle.
RECENT FORM: Afterlosses to Sydney and Carlton,the Dogs returned to the winners’ list last week with a 23-point away win over Brisbane.
RED HOT PLAYERS: BrianHarris’ job on Brisbane power forward Jonathan Brown led coach Rodney Eade todeclare him the form full-back of the competition. Harris had 28 possessionsand took an AFL record 24 marks while keeping Brown to two goals. LindsayGilbee also took it up a notch against the Lions with 28 disposals and 11marks.
THE X-FACTOR: Howsuccessfully can the Dogs cover the loss of Daniel Cross and Ryan Griffen?Jordan McMahon will be chomping at the bit after a week in the VFL and comes infor Griffen, but the absence of an onballer of Cross’ class would leave a hugehole in any midfield in the AFL.
Rodney Eade flagged the possibility of handing eitherAndrejs Everitt or Malcolm Lynch their AFL debuts in his place, so it wouldappear the task of picking up Cross’ production will be divided among the restof the Dogs’ onball brigade.
QUIRKY STAT: Eadewill happy that Port Adelaide isn’t making the trip north this season. Of thethree times the Bulldogs have played in Darwin,the Power have been their opponents twice and came away with the win bothtimes. The Dogs had a resounding win over Carltonin the other match.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “They’vegot some talent up [forward], there’s no doubt about that, but I think we’vecoped pretty well with other forward set-ups, so I’ve got confidence that theplayers we’ve got will be able to do some jobs.
“It’s pretty much a logjam all the way down to at least 10thand probably even 11th or 12th, so I think teams will still be in it right upto the end.
“I don’t know about season-defining, but certainlyit’s a big game for both sides.”WHAT THE FANS SAYS: Phew, I'm a bit spentemotionally after my nostalgic love-in with the Dogs in my fan preview lastweek. And, a bit like the ubiquitously-mentioned Aker, I'm kind of glad it'sover.
Not before time, either.Because, just glancing through the card set down for decision over the next fewweeks, there'll be little time for cuddles or sentiment. Mind you, there'll bemore tears and nose blowing than an old OTC "Phone the folks in Europe" TV ad if the Dogs blow the upcomingmonth or so.
And believe me, Rocket willknow there's plenty of not-so-well-camouflaged banana skins in wait. Fremantlethis week, followed by North, Port, Essendon and then capping off July with two"easy" ones against Geelong and West Coast.
At the end of that,although he may not publically say so, I reckon Rodney will have a fair ideaas to whether its top four, just make up the September numbers ormothballs for 2007.
I know we can do it. So doeshe. And so do you. Hopefully the players do, too.
I'll belynched if I keep talking five weeks ahead, so it's about time this preview gotback on the one-game-at-a-time straight-and-narrow.
It's Fremantle this week.I'd rather be at home than in Darwin. No disrespect to theNever-Never, but the heat chamber of the Top End just adds to thataforementioned slip-up factor.
So, first choiceon the six-course menu is clear enough, Dogs. Devour that first banana onSaturday night and dispose of the skin thoughtfully.
JohnSkaro
BulldogMember 2007
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
