This looks a significant mismatch on paper and the gulf between the two teams is even more damning by the statistics. The Lions have failed to live up to expectations built by a pre-season premiership whilst Fremantle has defied all conventional logic to sit fifth on the ladder mid-year despite a horrendous injury list. The Dockers are the most frugal defence in the competition and this week they face the second-worst attacking team in the AFL. Given the Lions managed just five goals against Fremantle in round three last season it is hard to see how they can kick a winning score at Patersons Stadium. The most notable quality of the Dockers is their evenness. Fremantle has just three players in the top 100 of the Official Player Ratings, and Matthew Pavlich (65), Nathan Fyfe (82), and Stephen Hill (89) have missed a combined total of 13 matches so far this year.
WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Saturday June 15, 2.40pm (AWST)
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R3, 2012: Fremantle 8.16 (64) d Brisbane Lions 5.5 (35) at Patersons Stadium
R14, 2011: Fremantle 12.16 (88) d Brisbane Lions 10.5 (65) at Patersons Stadium
R1, 2011: Fremantle 13.16 (94) d Brisbane Lions 14.8 (92) at Gabba
R7, 2010: Fremantle 15.23 (113) d Brisbane Lions 15.10 (100) at Gabba
R16, 2009: Brisbane Lions 9.8 (62) d Fremantle 7.5 (47) at Patersons Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Fremantle has won the last four clashes between these two sides but the Lions lead the overall head to head 11 wins to nine.
2. Brisbane has lost its last three matches at Patersons Stadium. The Lions last win in Perth was round 19 2010, a famou victory against West Coast.
3. The Lions have been held goalless in the last quarter each of the last two matches against Fremantle including round three last year when they kicked just 5.5 (35) at Patersons Stadium.
4. Fremantle has the number one ranked defence in the AFL this season, while the Lions are the fourth-worst defensive team in the competition and the second-worst attack.
5. Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has a unique link to the Brisbane Lions. Lyon played 127 matches for Fitzroy over 10 seasons, and two games for the Brisbane Bears in 1996.
6. Brisbane has three players in the top 60 of the Official AFL Player Ratings, in Jack Redden (43), Tom Rockliff (51), and Daniel Rich (58). Fremantle's highest ranked player is Matthew Pavlich (65) and he has not played since round three
