Dear Dockers supporters, it’s a new week! Let’s push last week’s performance/result out of our minds and think happy thoughts…

P.S. Derby time is my new LEAST FAVOURITE time of the season. The Fremantle Dockers come into this round off a 30-point loss to cross-town rivals West Coast Eagles last week in the Western Derby. The Dockers were incredibly inaccurate in front of goal, which ended up costing them the game. They finished up kicking just five goals and 14 behinds and Freo’s basic skills appeared to take a turn for the worst. Michael Walters kicking two goals and Lachie Neale, Connor Blakely and Nat Fyfe finishing on 30+ disposals were the only real positives.

The Fremantle supporters weren’t the only ones wanting to drown their sorrows after the game last week… Youngsters Brennan Cox and Luke Ryan have been dropped from the side for not meeting team standards. They broke the players‘ alcohol policy by consuming alcohol Sunday night after the game. Cam McCarthy and Josh Deluca come into the 25-man squad to face the Hawks this week, McCarthy returns from suspension and Deluca has recovered from an ankle injury. Cam Sutcliffe, Sam Collins and Matt Taberner have been named as emergencies.

The Fremantle Dockers face Hawthorn in their second home game in a row this round, and they will be looking to bounce back in front of the purple army and redeem themselves after last weekend. The Hawks have made two changes to their squad after suffering a 3-point loss to the Cats last round. Conor Glass and Brendan Whitecross come into the squad for an omitted Kurt Heatherly and Kade Stewart. At this point in the season it will be tricky for either team to make finals, if they want to keep their top-eight chances alive, a win this week will be vital.

Some exciting news to come out of the Fremantle Dockers camp this week is the HUGE contract extension signed by skipper and Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe. There has been speculation for months about whether or not Fyfe would stay at the Dockers or go elsewhere. He had never indicated that he was looking to move to another club however, finally having the signature on the dotted line would see players, coaches and supporters all breath a big sigh of relief. FYFE FOR LIFE!

Fyfe signed a six-year contract extension (worth an estimated 1.3 million dollars per season), which is the longest contract extension in the clubs history. Hopefully with contract talks finally done and dusted, Fyfe will fire up this week against the Hawks, as he continues on his way back to his Brownlow-winning form.

I’m tipping the Fremantle Dockers to beat Hawthorn by 15 points!

Let us know your #AFLFreoHawks predictions at @TweetPerth @EmmaPaynes