The injury cloud continues to loom over WA ahead of the derby as Fremantle Dockers take on West Coast Eagles on Sunday at Domain Stadium, bounce down at 2.40pm.
It’s that all-important time of the season again. A time where WCE and Dockers supporters would literally fight to the death to convince the other about which team is better. It’s the old classic rivalry that turns complete strangers of Perth against each other and friends into enemies (for the day… or maybe a few days). #BraggingRights
I feel a tad sorry for those people who don’t follow sports but are thrown into the ring if they just happen to be wearing a purple cardigan, or a blue and yellow outfit combo. Actually, I don’t feel sorry for them at all. THEY PICKED THEIR SIDE!!
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This is the 42nd WESTERN DERBY and a win from the Dockers on Sunday would make it 21 derby wins each! It would also be Freo’s 7th derby win in a row.
Dockers and West Coast will both have some big changes in their line-ups this week.
West Coast lose defender Jeremy McGovern due to a hamstring injury, which will see him out for at least the two weeks. Mark Lecras will be absent after copping a one-match suspension for his hit on James Frawley in the Hawks clash last week. Nic Naitanui will also be unavailable for the game after the recent and tragic passing of his mum.
The Dockers also have some question marks hanging over big names such as David Mundy, Luke McPharlin and skipper Matty Pavlich. Mundy received scans on his ankle on Monday, while Pav had scans on an Achilles tendon injury. Both players have been listed as ‘tests’ but coach Ross Lyon has said that they will not play unless they get through Fridays training sessions. McPharlin was subbed out of last week’s game with a calf problem and if there are any risks regarding his injury he won’t play either.
There is some good news for the Dockers though, with the return of Brownlow Medal favourite Nat Fyfe after missing the last two weeks with a groin injury. Defender Michael Johnson is also set to be welcomed back after missing the majority of the season recovering from a hamstring injury.
Injuries left, right and centre!! Fingers crossed for no more this weekend.
West Coast are a huge goal scoring team, average 103 points per game. With the likes of Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy in the forward line there is a potential risk of the game becoming the ‘Darling and Kennedy Show’ if the Dockers don’t play tight defence in the back line.
Fremantle have one of the best midfields in the competition and are sitting first on the list for hit-outs per game. If the Dockers can move the ball smoothly and effectively into their forward line, they should be able to make an impact on the scoreboard. They showed promising signs with their goal kicking last week against the Saints and will be looking to continue that accuracy.
This Carlton Draught Derby is a hotly anticipated one and it may not be the last derby of the season. Freo and WCE currently sit in the top two positions on the ladder (high five WA!) so a final between these two teams is very much on the cards.
#AFLFreoEagles Prediction:
I am tipping Fremantle to win by 19 points to level the derby win tally!
Did you know Nat Fyfe has never won the Ross Glendinning Medal? Crazy I know! Because of this and after 2 weeks on the sideline, my pick for Ross Glendinning Medal in Western Derby 42 is Nat Fyfe.
Let us know your #AFLFreoEagles derby predictions: @TweetPerth @Emmalianapayne
