Fremantle Dockers v Sydney Swans
AFL : Australia : AFL Premiership 2010
Venue : Subiaco Oval, Perth
Saturday, 14th August 2010 - Start 15:10 AEST

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A clash that sees the Dockers needing to win to have any chance to stay in the race for a top 4 spot and Sydney working hard to finish in the spots of 5 or 6 to get a home final.

Freo are at home but with their form on the slide and Sydney winning easily against the Hawks last week we could be in for a closer game than expected, even perhaps a Sydney win.

Fremantle Dockers
5th, 12-7 W/L, Form : LWLWL

The Dockers have been hit badly by injuries in the last few weeks with Aaron Sandilands needing to pass a test in order to play this weekend. Hayden Ballantyne, Alex Silvagni and Chris Tarrant will all miss and those outs are sure to hurt the Dockers. I think their defence may be tested with Silvagni and Tarrant out and that could be the difference.

In the back the Dockers will be forced to go thin with their depleted ranks. Luke McPharlin will be asked to lead the line against a Sydney attack that could find scoring easier than normal against this Docker defence. Roger Hayden will be asked to support the midfielders with his run and carry out of half back and a lot will rest on his experienced shoulders.

The midfield has not been the same for Freo since Michael Barlow’s season ended leg injury. David Mundy and Rhys Palmer and Paul Duffield have been quite consistent all year and their efforts will need to be replicated this weekend with some hard matchups looming. Nathan Fyfe and Garrick Ibbotson will be required to offer some solid support through the centre as well pr it may be one- way traffic for the Swans.

Up forward for the Dockers it will once again by Matty Pavlich who leads the line. His leadership will be the key factor for Freo entering the finals series and if he doesn’t step up and show why he is paid that much money his team will be let down. Michael Johnson and Adam McPhee will also need to be good if they are to post a competitive score against the Swans.

Sydney Swans
7th, 10-9 W/L, Form : WWLLW

The Swans gave the Hawks a touch up last weekend and looked pretty well in their performance. Going into the finals the Swannies need to put a few good games together as it will be their coach’s last season and they will want to send him off in good fashion. I think an upset could be on the cards in this one.

Heath Grundy is a defender for the Swans who has shined bright this year and I feel could be pushing firmly for an All-Australian call up. He defends well but then goes and gets plenty of the ball before using it well. In a similar mould to Brian Lake, Grundy is the modern day defender. Support will come through Tadgh Kennelly and Rhyce Shaw whose run and carry out of half back is sure to result in some Sydney scores on Saturday.

Kieran Jack and Daniel Hannebery are the future Sydney leaders through the middle but for now their mentors Jude Bolton and Brett Kirk a still in the picture. Kirk and Bolton are veterans but are not dead in the game just yet and have plenty to offer their side as well as mentoring to future stars in Jack and Hannebery. If these 4 can get some assistance from Jarrad McVeigh and Martin Mattner the Swans will have the edge through the middle and I feel this is where the game could be won or lost.

Adam Goodes and Ryan O’Keefe are massive names for the Swans side and if they can manage to have an impact against a weak defence it is hard to see the Sydneysiders being maintained. Ben McGlynn has had a part to play for the Swans this year and always manages to chime in with an important goal or two. With Jesse White also up forward they Swans have guys who can mark and others who can get the ball on the ground so it appears as though they have a good mix in their front 50.

The Betting Tip

I think that Sydney can win in an upset result.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Sydney with the +11.5 start on Centrebet at 1.92.
(High Stakes - Bet of the Week)