SUMMARY
With the minor premiership sewn up last week Fremantle will rest its best players ahead of a qualifying final, which gives Port Adelaide a great opportunity to finish its year on a high. The Power have played a much more encouraging brand of football in recent times and have won five of their past six games. They will be put to the test on Saturday against an under-strength Dockers line-up, which they will be expected to hammer. Coach Ken Hinkley would want nothing but a four-quarter beat-down to ensure the club takes maximum momentum into its pre-season.
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Saturday September 5, 3.20pm ACST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R1, 2015, Fremantle 11.9 (75) d Port Adelaide 10.8 (68) at Domain Stadium
1SF, 2014, Port Adelaide 15.15 (105) d Fremantle 11.17 (83) at Domain Stadium
R23, 2014, Fremantle 16.9 (105) d Port Adelaide 14.13 (97) at Domain Stadium
R8, 2014, Port Adelaide 13.16 (94) d Fremantle 11.10 (76) at Adelaide Oval
R22, 2013, Fremantle 21.8 (134) d Port Adelaide 9.6 (60) at Domain Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Port Adelaide and Fremantle clash for the 31st time. The Power holds a narrow advantage winning 16 games to 14. However, the Dockers have won seven of the last nine since 2010.
2. With Aaron Sandilands in the middle the Dockers lead the League for hit-outs but have struggled to convert that dominance into centre clearances. They're ranked eighth for centre clearances, averaging 12.5 a game.
3. At stoppages it’s a different story; Fremantle is equal first for clearances around the ground – with the Power. Both sides average just over 42 clearances a game.
4. In all four seasons under Ross Lyon the Dockers have reached the finals every year, finished in the top four after the regular season three times and have won 66 of 94 games.
5. The Power led narrowly at each change in the opening round before the Dockers kicked four goals to three in the final quarter to win. Matthew Pavlich kicked four goals for the winners.
6. With Nat Fyfe sidelined, Robbie Gray will enter this game as the highest-ranked player according to the Official AFL Player Ratings. He's fallen to seventh in recent weeks.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Jay Schulz Speculation is fierce that he will join the Dockers next season, which would leave Saturday as his final game for the Power. If the scenario does unfold, Schulz would love to say goodbye to Port fans with a big bag of goals.
PREDICTION:Port Adelaide by 46 points
