SUMMARY
This is a must-win for Port Adelaide if it is to play finals in 2016. Essendon is the only visitor not to have beaten the Dockers at Domain Stadium this season and Port won a final at the venue two years ago. The Dockers have found some form recently, albeit against two clubs that are really struggling. The Dockers will receive an added boost with the return of Matthew Pavlich. They should have an advantage in the ruck given Port has been using Jackson Trengove but Zac Clarke's form has been patchy this year. The Power's running brigade led by Travis Boak, Robbie Gray and Ollie Wines will be a handful for a relatively young and inexperienced Dockers midfield group.
Jake Neade and Connor Blakely will likely do battle again this weekend. Picture: AFL Media
WHERE AND WHEN: Domain Stadium, Saturday, June 18, 2.35pm AWST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R23, 2015, Port Adelaide 18.14 (122) d Fremantle 8.5 (53) at Adelaide Oval
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
THE SIX POINTS
1. Port Adelaide is ranked second for tackles this season averaging 78.5 per game. Fremantle is ranked sixth with 72.6 per game.
2. Fremantle and Port Adelaide meet for the 32nd time and the Power holds a narrow advantage, winning 17 games to 14. The Dockers have won seven of the past 10.
3. Port has a big advantage over the Dockers for inside 50s this season. Port is ranked third in the AFL, averaging 57.1 per game. The Dockers are ranked 14th at 48 per game.
4. Port Adelaide has lost five of its past seven at Domain Stadium but has beaten the Dockers seven times in 15 attempts at the venue.
5. Fremantle has kicked a total of 43 goals to 15 in the past two weeks. The Dockers' score of 23.9 (147) against the Brisbane Lions was their highest score against any team since late 2013.
6. Port skipper Travis Boak (No.25) is ranked eight places higher than Dockers' leader David Mundy (No.33) on the Schick AFL Player Ratings. The Dockers' two highest ranked players, Nat Fyfe (No.2) and Aaron Sandilands (No.22), are out injured.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Zac Clarke
He took on the No.1 ruck role last week but Stefan Martin shaded him. He gets an opportunity to have a big impact against part-time ruckman Jackson Trengove this week.
ALEX MALCOLM'S PREDICTION: Port Adelaide by 10 points
