SUMMARY
It's first against last and these two teams could not have had more contrasting seasons to date. Gold Coast has won just one game and is limping to the bye with a horrendous injury toll, but has shown plenty of fight in the past fortnight against Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans. Fremantle on the other hand has been the benchmark of the competition, winning its first nine matches with a combination of power and suffocating defensive pressure before a shock loss to Richmond. The Suns welcome back Charlie Dixon from a club-imposed suspension, but facing a Dockers team coming off their first defeat, you can expect a ruthless reaction from Ross Lyon's men. This looks about as one-sided a contest as you could get.
WHERE AND WHEN: Metricon Stadium, Saturday, June 13, 1.40pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FOUR TIMES
R2, 2014, Fremantle 12.15 (87) 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
R15, 2011, Fremantle 17.10 (112) d Gold Coast 9.8 (62) at Domain Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Fremantle dominated Gold Coast all over the ground in its one meeting in 2014, winning the disposals (357-312), marks (63-45), inside 50s (61-45) and hit-outs (69-19).
2. The Suns are the worst offensive team in 2015 averaging 69.7 points a game while the Dockers have the second best defence, conceding just 65.5 points a game.
3. In four clashes between the clubs, Fremantle has dominated, winning all four by an average of 37 points. They have kept the Suns to an average score of 60 points a game.
4. Last week Fremantle conceded its highest score of the season, 97, against Richmond. The Tigers' opening quarter of 8.1 (49) was the highest quarter against the Dockers since 8.5 (53) by Hawthorn in round 8, 2012.
5. The Dockers are ranked fourth for uncontested possessions with 238.3 a game, while the Suns are ranked last with 188.8 a game.
6. With his eight disposals, four marks and 47 hit-outs last week, Fremantle ruckman has Aaron Sandilands moved to a career-high 27th overall in the AFL Player Ratings. He is third among ruckmen behind Todd Goldstein and Sam Jacobs.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Charlie Dixon
After missing last week's loss to the Swans for failing the club's alcohol policy, Dixon returns and owes his teammates a big game. He has 17 goals from six matches this season and with the Dockers missing regular centre half-back Michael Johnson through injury, Dixon and Tom Lynch might have a chance to exploit a slightly weaker defensive unit if they get enough supply.
PREDICTION: Fremantle by 60 points.
