Nat Fyfe, the 2015 Brownlow medallist, isn’t the only elite midfielder at the Fremantle Dockers. There’s a collective group in purple that’s rated as one of the best engine rooms across the entire competition.
David Mundy (8th) and Lachie Neale (28th) both polled in double figures on football’s night of nights last year. Stephen Hill finished 3rd in the club’s Doig Medal count while Michael Barlow still accumulates plenty of leather with six 30-plus disposal games last season.
Gary Ablett, Dion Prestia, Michael Rischitelli and co will certainly have their hands full at Domain Stadium on Saturday but if the SUNS can get first hands on the footy, they’re a good chance of getting a result against the Dockers.
“They’re very strong in that area. I think that’s the main area really,” coach Rodney Eade told United Coaches Chat.
“If you get first hand on the ball, you’re able to get territory in your forward line and be able to maybe put the pressure on and keep the ball there.
“So I think it’s going to be that as well as the team that’s prepared to work the hardest off the ball to be able to defend.”
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211cm ruckman Aaron Sandilands also returns for the Dockers this weekend after serving a one-game suspension.
In last year’s corresponding fixture, the man mountain recorded a career-high 70 hitouts, dominating across the ground. While there was a temptation for the SUNS coaches to bring in a second big man to combat Sandilands, Eade is confident his players can nullify the ruckman's impact at the stoppages.
“He dominated us last year as far as hitouts, but we were able to do ok as far as stoppages,” Eade said.
“We’ve got some good stoppages players back from last year with Ablett and obviously (Jesse) Lonergan’s grown, Dion’s back now as well so we’ve got four or five good midfielders that can go in there.”
Fans across the country are talking about the prospect of dual Brownlow medallist Ablett going head-to-head with 2015 winner Fyfe.
Eade revealed he expects the two to cross paths at some point on Saturday afternoon.
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“I think they’ll be on each other at certain stages,” Eade said.
“Whether they decide to tag Gary, they have in the past. Obviously the main tagger Ryan Crowley’s not there anymore but I think they’ll cross paths and play on each other.
“But I think they’re two good midfielders who will just be able to back themselves.”
