Massive Concerns for Freo

Posted on April 29, 2016June 7, 2018 | Posted by Digby Beacham

Adelaide v Fremantle

Saturday, Adelaide Oval 12.10pm

Ross Lyon has had his way with Adelaide in recent times. After narrowly losing to the Crows in the 2012 semifinal at AAMI Stadium, Fremantle have won their past four meetings. A feature of those victories has been a stout and efficient defence, conceding just 29 goals. Sadly for Lyon and Fremantle fans, those days are long gone. The Dockers are incapable of defending like a good side and possess a skill level befitting a Sunday amateur outfit.

And failing a meeting with Hawthorn in Launceston (that happens in a fortnight), Adelaide at Adelaide Oval is probably the worst assignment the bumbling Dockers could have in their current predicament. The Crows are 3-2, their two defeats being by narrow margins in Melbourne against North Melbourne and the Hawks. They boast a myriad of quality ball users, rebound with authority off half-back thanks in no small part to Rory Laird and Brodie Smith and their forward line strikes fear into the heart of all sides.

That Fremantle venture to SA without Michael Johnson, along with Nat Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands, is a massive concern. Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins, Tom Lynch and Eddie Betts work brilliantly together and have all shown an ability to kick bags. Given the turnovers Fremantle commit when attempting to clear the ball from defence, this has the potential to get ugly — and fast. One wonders whether Cale Hooker would have re-signed with Essendon this week had Lyon been able to embrace the brand of football required to succeed in the modern game.

VERDICT: Adelaide by 59 points

1st Goal Scorer: Eddie Betts

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