I can hardly contain my excitement! I have been waiting patiently for the return of footy for MONTHS and it’s finally back! #FistPump
The Fremantle Dockers have jumped on a plane and travelled to Etihad Stadium to meet the Western Bulldogs for their round 1 clash. Etihad is known to be a fairly hard surface to play on. Freo legend Matt Pavlich is still a question mark for the game as he finished with hamstring tightness after the NAB Cup, and Etihad conditions would not help his situation.
New recruit Harley Bennell has also been ruled out with a calf injury so it is quite likely that Freo could be playing game 1 without two of their main forwards. Brownlow Medalist and all-round legend Nat Fyfe has also been on light training duties, joining defender Michael Johnson who was recovering from a brutal sling tackle in the Dockers third NAB Cup game against Geelong.
The Bulldogs are very good at fast ball movement around the ground and the Dockers have been working on the same style of play, hoping to beat the Bulldogs at their own game. Fremantle have a midfield envied by many and I have no doubt that they will be able to overrun the Bulldogs.
Freo’s new skipper David “Barra” Mundy has mentioned that he thinks he and speedster Stephen Hill will be spending more time at half-back this season, while Fyfe and Michael Barlow will be appearing up forward more often.
Fyfe is going to have a bit of a rough season I think with opposition teams tagging and targeting him. He has been unlucky with injuries so I can only hope that his body cooperates with him. Who am I kidding?! It’s Nat Fyfe! He’s basically a cooler version of superman… with longer hair. Let’s not forget that he played a game with a broken leg. Never forget.
I think this will be a tough first game for Fremantle coming in under a slight injury cloud. However, I have a feeling we will see Michael Walters fire up in the forward line and Lachie Neale and Nat Fyfe will cause havoc through the midfield.
I am predicting a very close game and tipping Fremantle to beat the Bulldogs by 8 points.
Tweet us your #AFLDogsFreo predictions at @TweetPerth @EmmaLianaPayne
