#AFLSunsFreo Preview: Fremantle Dockers V Gold Coast Suns

#AFLSunsFreo Preview: Fremantle Dockers V Gold Coast Suns

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I feel like there is a Fremantle Docker hating witchdoctor somewhere, sticking pins in a voodoo doll, and each pin is taking out a player with injury…

As ridiculous as that sounds, it would certainly explain their unbelievable bad luck in the injury department this year! Fremantle Dockers fought hard against Geelong last week however, not only did they lose the game, they lost another two senior players to injury. Michael Barlow, having just returned from a finger injury, badly damaged his shoulder which will see him out for the rest of the season. Hayden Ballantyne copped a fractured cheekbone, yet he played out the entirety of the game like a legend. The injury required surgery and will see him sidelined for at least 4 week, I would assume. He nearly got his ear drum blown out by the umpire as well, when the ump blew the whistle right in Ballantynes ear!

18 ballasFremantle Dockers take on Gold Coast Suns this week, both teams coming into this weekend off a loss. The Suns were put to the sword by the Bulldogs last week, losing by 48 points. It was the first game without Gary Ablett, who will be out for the remainder of the season after injuring his shoulder again against the Lions the week before. The Dockers gave it a good crack against the Cats last week and there were definitely some positives to take away from the game, despite the injuries.

18 pavGold Coast won their first game at Domain Stadium earlier this year against the Dockers, since then it has been one big name after another going down to injury, for both clubs. Dockers royalty Matt Pavlich will be rested this week against the Suns and will return next weekend for his 350th game against the Swans in front of a home crowd. With Pav and Ballantyne out, it looks like a lot of the scoring pressure will be loaded on to the shoulders of Michael Walters. He can be very dangerous in the forward line and Freo will need him to have a good game in front of goal.

18 collinsI was again impressed with Dockers defender Sam Collins last week, he is showing great promise and will no doubt become an important part of Fremantle’s back line. He knows when to go for the punch, he knows when to go for the mark, and he knows how to position himself around the ground. He is a big boy and Fremantle are desperately in need of big, strong bodies.

Fremantle were competitive last week and I think that if they can keep hold of that energy coming into this week, they could give the Suns a run for their money.

I am tipping Fremantle Dockers to beat Gold Coast by 10 points!

Let us know your #AFLSunsFreo predictions @TweetPerth @EmmaLianaPayne