SUMMARY
Fremantle supporters have enjoyed watching West Coast under the blowtorch this week, and the Dockers have the chance to turn up the heat in a huge 45th Western Derby. The Eagles have been publicly hammered after their disastrous 50-point loss to an under-siege Hawthorn at the MCG, and are searching for answers after being smashed at the contest in their second defeat this season. Few would have predicted it after two shocking losses to start the year, but Fremantle enters Saturday night's clash with all the momentum. The Dockers have turned their campaign around by ramping up their pressure in three epic wins, but this looms as the biggest test yet for Ross Lyon's men. Freo will be without gun onballer Stephen Hill (hamstring) and the Dockers will be desperate to prove their finals credentials by notching a win in champion ruckman Aaron Sandilands' 250th game.
WHERE AND WHEN: Domain Stadium, Saturday, April 29, 6.10pm
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R20, 2016, West Coast 17.8 (110) d Fremantle 9.10 (64) at Domain Stadium
R3, 2016, West Coast 12.20 (92) d Fremantle 8.11 (59) at Domain Stadium
R20, 2015, West Coast 15.14 (104) d Fremantle 11.14 (80) at Domain Stadium
R3, 2015, Fremantle 17.9 (111) d West Coast 12.9 (81) at Domain Stadium
R15, 2014, Fremantle 13.10 (88) d West Coast 11.15 (81) at Domain Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. West Coast and Fremantle clash for the 45th time, and the Eagles hold the advantage 24-20. The Eagles have won the last three, ending the Dockers' run of six consecutive wins from 2012-15.
2. West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy was the difference between the sides in the most recent clash, kicking seven goals in his best Derby return. The Eagles dominated the second half with 10 goals to four.
3. The return of Nat Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands has boosted the Dockers' clearance work this season. Freo is ranked third in the AFL (40.4 per game), compared to the mid-table Eagles (37.2).
4. Sandilands has dominated the ruck since the abolition of the third-man up. The veteran leads the AFL for hit-outs (234) and the Dockers have won the most taps of any side.
5. West Coast aerial threat in attack could worry Fremantle. The Eagles average 13.2 marks inside 50 per game.
6. West Coast midfielders Luke Shuey (17) and Matt Priddis (18) will be the only players in the Derby ranked inside the top 20 of the Schick AFL Player Ratings. Lachie Neale (29) is Freo's highest-ranked player.
IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR … Aaron Sandilands
The 34-year-old will become just the third Docker – after Matthew Pavlich and David Mundy - to reach 250 games in purple and his influence around stoppages against the Eagles' big men will be pivotal to the result.
PREDICTION: West Coast by 3 points
