CARLTON has been somewhat of a bogey side for Fremantle in recent seasons, particularly at Patersons Stadium. The Blues have beaten the Dockers in three of their last four encounters in Perth, but the sides only met once in 2013 at Etihad Stadium where the Dockers won easily. The home side will be stung by its last performance before the bye, an insipid 58-point loss to St Kilda. The Blues will be buoyant after a good win over North Melbourne. Carlton hass some potency up forward with Jarrad Waite and Lachie Henderson bagging 10 goals between them against North Melbourne. However the Dockers have the number one defence not just because of their defensive structure but because of their midfield and forward pressure. Ross Lyon said that was what was missing against St Kilda and Carlton should be braced for strong response in front of a strong home crowd.





WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Thursday July 31, 6.10pm AWST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for the broadcast guide

LAST TWO TIMES
R19, 2013, Fremantle 17.14 (116) d Carlton 12.18 (80) at Etihad Stadium
R5, 2012, Carlton 10.5 (65) d Fremantle 7.15 (57) at Patersons Stadium
R21, 2011, Carlton 16.19 (115) d Fremantle 12.13 (85) at Patersons Stadium
R22, 2010, Fremantle 13.15 (93) d Carlton 13.9 (87) at Patersons Stadium
R13, 2010, Fremantle 14.12 (96) d Carlton 12.15 (87) at Etihad Stadium
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THE SIX POINTS
1. The Dockers are ranked fourth for contested possessions in 2014, averaging 145.3 per game. Conversely, the Blues have struggled, ranked 13th averaging 134.8.

2. This will be the 16th contest between Fremantle and Carlton at Patersons Stadium. The Dockers have won nine games to six but the Blues have won the past two and three of the last four.

3. Only one team in 2014 (Brisbane Lions) has had less total disposals than Carlton. The Blues are ranked 17th, averaging 345.5 per game. Fremantle is eighth with 368.1 per game.

4. Mick Malthouse leads the head-to-head coaching record against Ross Lyon winning eight games to four overall. There has been one famous draw, the 2010 Grand Final between Collingwood and St Kilda.

5. Patersons Stadium continues to be a fortress for Fremantle. The Dockers have eight wins from nine games in 2014, kicking an average score of 94 points compared to 56 from their opponents.

6. Matthew Pavlich has played 207 more games than Lachie Henderson, kicked 530 more goals, polled 116 more Brownlow votes, gained six more All Australians, won six more best and fairests, and has kicked seven more goals in 2014. Yet Henderson (119) is rated two places higher than Pavlich (121) in Official AFL Player Ratings.

Prediction: Fremantle by 20 points