So much attention will be placed on the Geelong-Hawthorn rivalry this week, but Saturday night's preliminary final between Fremantle and the Sydney Swans promises to be every bit as good. Nothing separated the Swans and the Dockers in round eight when the two teams played out the only draw of the season. The two have met once before in a preliminary final, back in 2006. It was the Dockers only other appearance in the last four and the Swans were triumphant by 35 points at ANZ Stadium.
WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Saturday September 21, 5.45pm (WST)
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R8, 2013, Sydney Swans 11.4 (70) drew Fremantle 9.16 (70) at the SCG
R2, 2012, Sydney Swans 14.10 (94) d Fremantle 12.9 (81) at the SCG
R17, 2011, Fremantle 15.8 (98) d Sydney Swans 13.9 (87) at the SCG
R20, 2010, Sydney Swans 14.12 (96) d Fremantle 13.9 (87) at Patersons Stadium
R9, 2010, Fremantle 14.16 (100) d Sydney Swans 9.9 (63) at the SCG
2013 MEETING
Round eight at the SCG: A clash between two evenly matched sides tipped to push for a top-four finish lived up to the billing at the SCG. The Dockers took a one-goal lead into the first break, but the home side hit back by kicking four goals to none in the second term to break open the game. The Swans' lead was still 27 points midway through the fourth quarter when Freo sprung to life, with a Michael Johnson set shot for victory falling short just before the siren as the match ended in a draw. Dan Hannebery and Kieren Jack starred for the Swans, while Michael Barlow led the way for a Dockers outfit playing without injured ruckman Aaron Sandilands.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Aaron Sandilands/Zac Clarke v Shane Mumford/Mike Pyke: The Swans ruck duo combined for more hit-outs this season than any other and is a key reason why the Swans are the number one clearance team in the competition, but Mumford believes Sandilands is his toughest opponent - and the combination of Sandilands and Clarke ran riot against Geelong in the qualifying final. Clarke's athleticism and running capacity could be a point of difference but the Dockers pair will need to be wary of Pyke drifting forward. The Canadian's 27 goals this season deserve respect.
Ryan Crowley v Dan Hannebery: Hannebery comfortably got the better of Crowley at the SCG back in round eight, kicking four goals and gathering 27 disposals. Crowley hasn't forgotten, commenting recently that he was looking forward to another showdown with the young Swan and a chance to square the ledger. Jarrad McVeigh, who starred with 42 possessions against Carlton last week, and Ryan O'Keefe could also be options for Crowley, but the Docker might be doing all he can to tempt coach Ross Lyon to give him another crack at Hannebery.
Matthew Pavlich v Ted Richards: The Swans coaching staff breathed a sigh of relief this week when Richards was handed a reprimand for his bump on Carlton's Levi Casboult in the third term of their semi-final. That leaves him free to line-up on Pavlich this week. After a season marred by injury and suspension, Pavlich has found form in recent weeks and only some wayward kicking prevented him from a bigger haul than the 2.3 he kicked against Geelong in week one of the finals. The winner of this duel will go a long way towards leading his side to victory.
WILDCARDS
Fremantle – Michael Walters
The skilful left-footer has been held goalless just once in his last 35 games and that was against the Swans in round eight. Walters damaged his ankle during the third term that night and subsequently missed three weeks. He has kicked 10 goals in five finals appearances, including two bags of three in semi-finals against Geelong in 2010 and Adelaide last season. Teammate Nathan Fyfe believes Walters could be Fremantle's x-factor in a preliminary final. He kicked just one goal in the qualifying final but expect him to be at his dangerous best on Saturday night.
Sydney Swans – Luke Parker
Ross Lyon will need to do his homework on Parker this week. Kurt Tippett's early substitution with a knee injury last week forced Parker into the forward line, where he has previously demonstrated his ability to take marks and kick goals. And he was at it again against the Blues, kicking 3.2 to go with his 22 disposals and six marks. The 20-year-old could have kicked a big bag, but missed two chances in the opening term. With the Swans running out of tall forward options, Parker could again be used as a weapon inside the forward 50m arc.
PLAN B
Fremantle
The Dockers turned to makeshift options in their round eight draw with the Swans. Trailing by 27 points in the last quarter without Pavlich, Sandilands or Walters, Lyon swung Michael Johnson forward and he nearly stole the game off his own boot. The Dockers have far more options this week and could afford to send Fyfe forward to stretch the Swans. The Dockers showed they had plan B with Crowley against Geelong when he moved to Steve Johnson after quarter-time. Crowley and Matt de Boer can mix and match depending on where the Swans are damaging the Dockers the most.
Sydney Swans
The Swans don't possess a swingman in the Harry Taylor mould and usually stick to their structures for the most part. But they do have some options through the midfield. McVeigh, who played in defence for most of the year, showed his talents in the midfield and up forward last week and can be moved to try to change things up. As mentioned above, Parker and Josh Kennedy can drift forward to provide avenues to goal, while Jesse White is proving a difficult match-up further up the ground due to his pace and ability below his knees.
THE SIX POINTS
1. This will be the 27th contest between the sides, and the Swans hold a narrow advantage winning 14 games to 11 with one draw. Recent clashes have been low scoring and neither team has reached 100 points in the past four games.
2. Fremantle has played nine finals for four wins and five losses. The Dockers will be searching for consecutive finals win for the first time in club history.
3. The Swans will be playing in their 13th preliminary final. They have won seven of the previous 12 including their last three, dating back to 2005.
4. This is the seventh season Ross Lyon has been a senior coach and his teams have reached the finals six times. His finals record is seven wins, six losses and one draw from 14 matches. He will be coaching in his fourth preliminary final.
5. John Longmire will be coaching his eighth finals match for five wins and two losses. This will be his second consecutive preliminary final.
6. The eventual premiership team has come from the second preliminary final in four of the past five seasons.
