SUMMARY
After last week's heartbreaking loss at the hands of West Coast, Greater Western Sydney welcome Perth's other side to Spotless Stadium as they bid to keep their top four hopes alive against Fremantle. The Dockers face the Giants in Sydney for the first time and will need plenty to go right to cause an upset, but with the home side stung after the Eagles' last second heroics, they'll be tough to beat. The Giants midfield lowered it's colours against West Coast, so ruckman Shane Mumford and his onballers will be keen to assert themselves against Fremantle's big names in Aaron Sandilands, Lachie Neale and David Mundy. Exciting forward Michael Walters looms as a serious threat for GWS, with veteran defender Heath Shaw likely to get the big job on the in form Docker.
Stephen Coniglio will be out to continue his hot form. Picture: AFL Photos
WHERE AND WHEN: Spotless Stadium, Saturday, August 20, 4.35pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R7, 2016, Greater Western Sydney 14.11 (95) d Fremantle 11.11 (77) at Domain Stadium
R18, 2015, Fremantle 12.12 (84) d Greater Western Sydney 9.9 (63) at Domain Stadium
R17, 2014, Fremantle 21.10 (136) d Greater Western Sydney 9.6 (60) at Domain Stadium
R20, 2013, Fremantle 24.13 (157) d Greater Western Sydney 6.8 (44) at Domain Stadium
R17, 2012, Fremantle 18.24 (132) d Greater Western Sydney 5.7 (37) at Domain Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Giants midfield was brilliant in round seven with Stephen Coniglio and Callan Ward sharing 63 possessions and 13 tackles. Lachie Neale had 33 touches for the Dockers.
2. GWS is ranked second for scoring with 108 points per game this season; a big contrast to the Dockers, who are ranked 16th with 73 points per game. Fremantle has kicked 100 points in a game only three times this season.
3. The Giants win earlier this season was their first over Fremantle; the Dockers had won the previous four contests and the first three by more than 70 points.
4. Fremantle is ranked last for inside 50s, averaging only 45.9 per game, while the Giants are equal first with 58 per game.
5. This is the first time Fremantle will play at Spotless Stadium with all five previous clashes between the sides being played in Perth.
6. Dockers forward Michael Walters started the season ranked 128th in the Schick Official Player Ratings, but after five goals last week, he's now ranked 36th, three below his career high of 33rd after round 18.
IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR … Stephen Coniglio.
Will shadow the competition's leading disposal winner Lachie Neale and will want to shut him down after Eagle Luke Shuey got off the chain last week. Coniglio is in All Australian form and rarely gets beaten, so will relish to task of keeping Neale quiet.
PREDICTION: Greater Western Sydney by 67 points.
