SUMMARY
What promised to be one of the more exciting matches when the season's fixture came out, looks like being anything but, as both teams have been smashed by injury all season. Gold Coast won an entertaining round two encounter at Domain Stadium, but since then it's been one big name after another going down for both clubs. No Ablett, no Fyfe, no Prestia, no Sandilands, the list goes on. Fremantle had a mid-season surge to win three straight games, while the Suns recently won two in succession to show signs of life. With pride and the exposure of young talent the most each team has to play for, the home ground advantage might be enough for Gold Coast to sneak home.
The Suns beat the Dockers for the first time in club history earlier this season. Picture: AFL Media
WHERE AND WHEN: Metricon Stadium, Saturday July 23, 2.10pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for the broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R2, 2016, Gold Coast 19.12 (126) d Fremantle 14.16 (100) at Domain Stadium
R11, 2015, Fremantle 6.17 (53) d Gold Coast 7.4 (46) at Metricon Stadium
R2, 2014, Fremantle 12.15 (97) d Gold Coast 5.9 (39) at Domain Stadium
R6, 2013, Fremantle 15.9 (99) d Gold Coast 7.12 (54) at Metricon Stadium
R6, 2012, Fremantle 14.10 (94) d Gold Coast 14.3 (87) at Metricon Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Gold Coast's round two victory was its first over Fremantle in club history. Aaron Hall had 32 disposals, while Tom Lynch starred with five goals and Jack Martin kicked four.
2. The Suns are ranked last in the competition for clearances, averaging 33.3 a game – not a good sign for a team decimated by injuries to its midfield. Fremantle is only slightly better, ranked 11th with 36.4 a game.
3. Only Essendon and Carlton have scored less than Fremantle's 75 points a game this season. Gold Coast averages 84 points a games to rank 11th.
4. Fremantle has a 5-1 head-to-head advantage in this match-up. In the three matches at Metricon Stadium, Fremantle won one decisively, but two others have been decided by just seven points.
5. One thing both teams do well is tackle. Fremantle is ranked fourth with 73 a game, while the Suns sneak into eighth place with 69.8 a game.
6. Suns midfielder Aaron Hall has cracked the top 100 of the Schick AFL Player Ratings for the first time in his career. Hall's 29 disposals against the Western Bulldogs moved him to exactly 100th place overall.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Jarrod Harbrow
With Matthew Pavlich resting back in Perth and Hayden Ballantyne sporting a fractured cheekbone, much of Freo's scoring may have to come from the dangerous Michael Walters. Harbrow would appear a good match-up for Walters with his speed and discipline, but youngster Jesse Joyce or Kade Kolodjashnij could also come into the frame.
PREDICTION: Gold Coast by 12 points
