WHERE & WHEN: The Gabba, 1.10pm, Sunday 28 May.
TV & RADIO: Channel Nine, ABC Radio, 6PR, Triple-M (Brisbane), NIRS
OUR COVERAGE: live scores, stats & audio, Game Day News Desk, match replay (24 hour delay)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 15 - Won: Brisbane Lions - 9, Fremantle - 6
LAST TIME: Brisbane 15.16 (106) def. Fremantle 10.7 (67) Round 11, 2005, at Subiaco
TAB SPORTSBET: Brisbane Lions $1.60 - Fremantle $2.25
THE MEDICAL ROOM: The Lions have just about the longest injury list in the competition. Three players - Ash McGrath (wrist), Daniel Merrett (hamstring) and Robert Copeland (ankle) face fitness tests. Certain to miss are Josh Drummond (shoulder - one week), Clark Keating (foot - one week), Chris Johnson (groin - 2-3 weeks), Nigel Lappin (ankle 8-10 weeks), Chris Scott (hip - indefinite), Joel Macdonald (knee - season), Richard Hadley (knee - season). There are fitness tests pending for Fremantle pair Luke McPharlin (ankle) and Shaun McManus while three players, Des Headland (thumb), Ryan Crowley (cheekbone) and Aaron Sandilands (jaw) will miss 2-6 weeks.
THE STORY SO FAR: Sitting on the bottom of the ladder two weeks ago with one win from six matches, the Lions' season has turned around with strong victories - over Hawthorn at Carrara and Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium - in the past fortnight. Coming off a hard-fought victory over the Kangaroos at Subiaco last Saturday, Fremantle is sitting reasonably comfortably in the top eight with five wins.
THE WHITEBOARD: As is so often the case with these clubs, much revolves around their key forwards. When Jonathan Brown dominates, Brisbane tends to do the same, and it's a similar story at Fremantle where Matthew Pavlich is the Dockers' barometer. Brown, who has a handy foil at full-forward in Daniel Bradshaw, has scored bags of eight and seven in the past fortnight to galvanise the Lions to big victories, while Pavlich's six goals against the Kangaroos last Saturday got the Dockers over the line. On paper at least, the Lions appear to have the better match-ups for Pavlich in Mal Michael, Jason Roe or Justin Leppitsch if he happens to come up after being a late withdrawal last week with a calf. Brown, in his current form, looks too big and too strong for Fremantle's more mobile defensive options, Scott Thornton, David Mundy or Michael Johnson. Desperately short of in-form big men, the Dockers managed to get by despite being crunched at the clearances by the Kangaroos last week, and they face a similar situation this week against Jamie Charman and Beau McDonald who is starting to settle in nicely after a month back in the seniors.
THE VERDICT: Every road trip presents a wonderful opportunity for the Dockers to bolster their confidence and pocket four precious points to help to secure the club a finals berth. This match is certainly winnable for Fremantle - but it's timing is not great. The Lions are on the up and even many insiders at the club would be as surprised as they were delighted by last Sunday's thumping victory over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. Brisbane will keep it going on Sunday. Brisbane by 25 points.
