Click Here to Watch Live - Fremantle Dockers v Carlton Blues AFL Premiership
WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Friday April 27, 6.45pm
LAST TIME: Fremantle 12.13 (85) lost to Carlton 16.19 (115), round 21, 2011 at Patersons Stadium
TV, RADIO AND BETTING: Click here for broadcast guide and odds
Carlton entered its round four clash with Essendon undefeated and carrying the ever-shifting 'premiership favourite' tag, but a 30-point loss prompted some sober analysis. Fremantle, meanwhile, gained credibility with a rare Melbourne win, showcasing the harder edge Ross Lyon is working to install. It sets up an intriguing match-up at Patersons Stadium that will shed more light on what these teams can achieve this season.
THE FOUR POINTS
FREMANTLE
1. Capitalising on the ruck dominance of Aaron Sandilands has been a long-running issue for Fremantle, and it came to a head against St Kilda. Despite a 54-28 advantage in hit-outs, Fremantle lost the clearances 30-43, with Lenny Hayes repeatedly sharking Sandilands's taps. Sandilands is in doubt with a calf injury, but if he plays, can Fremantle get the ledger in its favour against leading clearance players Chris Judd and Marc Murphy?
2. Lyon highlighted the need for Fremantle's middle tier to lift pre-season, and so far he has seen results. Michael Johnson has produced consistently across half-back, Ryan Crowley is adding a defensive edge to the midfield and Paul Duffield has enjoyed a strong fortnight. When Fremantle has played well there has been a longer list of contributors, which has eased the burden on the club's stars.
3. Adam McPhee and Ryan Crowley were superb against the Saints, playing shutdown roles on Stephen Milne and Nick Dal Santo respectively, so who will Lyon assign his stoppers to on Friday night? Crowley is certain to get either Judd or Murphy, but there may be more headaches for Fremantle in a Carlton forward line that contains dangerous pair Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett as well as the returning Andrew Walker.
4. Lyon has stated this week that he is confident Nat Fyfe will be fit to play on Friday night, but nothing can be taken for granted after the young star was a late withdrawal against the Saints. The midfielder played through a similar shoulder injury last season and finished second in the club's best and fairest, suggesting he could have a big impact if he pushes.
CARLTON
1. There's something wrong if the Blues come out anything less than absolutely ferocious at the contest at Patersons Stadium. Brett Ratten's men were worried out of it by the Bombers' attack on the footy in last week's upset result and you can bet the coach has laid out a few home truths in the aftermath.
2. Carlton will benefit from the return of Andrew Walker from a quadriceps tendon injury that has kept him out of the line-up since the second round of the NAB Cup. Ratten was clearly relieved to welcome back the dynamic forward when he spoke to the press mid-week and he'll add a much-needed spark inside attacking 50.
3. Matthew Kreuzer and Shaun Hampson have won plenty of praise for their start to the season, but the young Blues ruckmen were comprehensively outpointed by Tom Bellchambers and Paddy Ryder. Their task doesn't get any easier this week against man mountain Aaron Sandilands and the athletic Zac Clarke.
4. Ratten has enough on his plate trying to plot a win against Fremantle, but he's also expecting his third child the day after the big clash in Perth. The expectant father will board the red-eye flight from Perth to Melbourne to arrive
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