Milestone men
Lions midfielder Simon Black will headline three significant milestones this Saturday at Patersons Stadium. Black will become Brisbane’s games record-holder when he lines up for his 319th senior game, while teammate Joel Patfull will play his 150th match. Fremantle’s Ryan Crowley, who is probably the premier tagger in the competition, will also play his 150th game.
Lions to reacquaint with ‘the wall’
When the teams last met in round 3, 2012, the Lions gained an AFL record it’d rather be without. Freo allowed the Lions just 20 entries inside 50 – the lowest total ever recorded by Champion Data. Michael Voss must have felt like his team was kicking into a giant purple wall erected around the 50m arc. Scary to think that was only Ross Lyon’s third game in charge of Freo and that the side has improved its ability to shut down the opposition since then.
No bookends for Brisbane
The Lions face the huge challenge of playing without its bookends on Saturday because full forward Jonathon Brown and full back Daniel Merrett have both been rubbed out by the AFL tribunal. Voss will have to make do without the inspirational presence of his captain, Brown, although the unavailability of Matthew Pavlich in Freo’s attack somewhat offsets Merrett’s absence.
Coming off the bye
Since the bye came into effect in 2011, Fremantle and the Lions have yet to win the week after the rest. Freo lost to Richmond at the MCG in 2011, and were defeated by Essendon at Patersons Stadium last year. Brisbane went down to St Kilda at the Gabba following its 2011 bye and was thumped by Hawthorn at the MCG in 2012. Barring a draw on Saturday, one team will emerge victorious post bye week.
Freo’s big man advantage
For most rounds this season, Freo has faced a big ruck challenge minus Aaron Sandilands and Jon Griffin. But a thumb injury to Matthew Leuenberger means the Lions could be left shorthanded in the big man department. Leuenberger is considered an outside chance to play, but if he doesn’t get up, Fremantle’s Zac Clarke will be looking to wield his experience at stoppages opposed to young Lion Billy Longer.
Content courtesy of fremantlefc.com.au
Five talking points
Both Fremantle and the Lions are yet to win the week after the Bye round