Fremantle Vs Port Adelaide - Match

When these teams played off for fourth place in the last round of the home and away season it was thought the stakes could not be higher. Think again. Freo and Port Adelaide now meet at the same venue just two weeks later and the stakes have been raised. A Preliminary Final date with Hawthorn at the MCG next Saturday awaits the winner and the loser’s season is over. Fremantle won the round 23 clash by eight points. The differences this time are Port Adelaide travels off a six-day break as opposed to Freo’s seven-day rest.

WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Saturday 13 September 5.45pm WST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for the broadcast guide

THIS YEAR 
R23, 2014, Fremantle 16.9 (105) d Port Adelaide 14.13 (97) at Patersons Stadium
Freo trailed by 11 points at the six-minute mark of the third term before piling on nine unanswered goals to establish an unassailable 38-point lead in the last quarter.  Port Adelaide never gave up, kicking the last five goals of the match to give the home side a fright. 

R8, 2014, Port Adelaide 13.16 (94) d Fremantle 11.10 (76) at Adelaide Oval
It was a seesawing battle for most of the afternoon with Freo leading by five points at three-quarter time. Port Adelaide's superior running power took over in thelast quarter. The home side kicked five goals to two in the final term. Chad Wingard was the star with five goals.

PREVIOUS FIVE ENCOUNTERS
R23, 2014, Fremantle 16.9 (105) d Port Adelaide 14.13 (97) at Patersons 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 Patersons Stadium
R18, 2012, Fremantle 11.9 (75) d Port Adelaide 6.12 (48) at AAMI Stadium
R7, 2012, Fremantle 12.15 (87) d Port Adelaide 7.5 (47) at Patersons Stadium

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KEY MATCH-UPS 
Ryan Crowley v Travis Boak
Crowley tagged Boak in the round 23 clash with great success. The Port skipper gathered 22 touches but only had five kicks and did not kick a goal. In the elimination final against Richmond Boak had 34 possessions and kicked a goal. Crowley couldn’t shut out Dan Hannebery last week and will be keen to atone.

Matthew Pavlich v Alipate Carlile
The Fremantle skipper kicked four goals last week from limited opportunities to keep Freo in the match. Pavlich gathered 18 touches, took four marks and kicked two goals inround 23 against Carlile but his fellow forwards kicked 11 goals between them.

Stephen Hill v Kane Cornes
Ross Lyon expects the Port veteran to tag the explosive Hill. Cornes is a proven run-with player who has the ability to get plenty of the ball as well as shut out his opponents. Hill is a match-winner, so the outcome of this contest could go a long way towards deciding the victor.

X-FACTORS
Fremantle - Nat Fyfe
Given these teams played two weeks ago, there’s no greater x-factor to add to the equation than Fyfe, the man who missed the round 23 game. Freo get back an absolute superstar of the game, one his peers have judged the best in 2014, and a player with such an intense competitive edge, he has the ability to lift all his teammates around him.

Port Adelaide - Robbie Gray
Gray leads the league clearly for score involvements this season. In round 23 he had a game that could have been considered ‘almost’ brilliant. Gray won a lot of the ball and had plenty of chances to score, but he was slightly off his best. If he brings his A-game on Saturday, Freo will have to find a way to nullify him because the evidence in 2014 so far suggests Gray can majorly influence the outcome of a game.

MEDICAL ROOM 
Fremantle - Freo have several key players under injury clouds. Hayden Ballantyne had surgery on a fractured jaw early this week and is very unlikely to play. Michael Barlow was on crutches post-match due to a foot issue but the club said it was precautionary. Luke McPharlin will try his best to return from a calf problem than has kept him out since round 20, but it appears unlikely.

Port Adelaide - Matt White broke his jaw laying a strong tackle on Sunday. It is only a small crack that doesn'trequire surgery and he is still in the frame to play this week.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY WIN? The winner will travel to the MCG to play a Preliminary Final against reigning premiers Hawthorn next Saturday.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY LOSE? It's season over.

THE SIX POINTS
1. Fremantle has won seven of its past eight games against Port Adelaide, including the past five meetings at Patersons Stadium.

2. Freo have won three of their four finals at Patersons Stadium. Port Adelaide has lost six of its nine finals interstate.

3. Port Adelaide is second in clearances this season, averaging 40.3 a game. Fremantle is eighth, averaging 39.1 a game.

4. Fremantle has the edge in finals experience with a combined total of 199 games compared with Port Adelaide’s 105.

5. Ross Lyon has coached St Kilda and Fremantle to finals in every season except for his first in 2007. This will be his 18th final. He has eight wins and has coached teams past the second week of finals four times.

6. Port Adelaide has kicked an average of 14.5 goals a game this season (second only to Hawthorn). Fremantle’s average of 13.3 goals is equal sixth.