GWS heads out west to take on Fremantle on Saturday night from 7:25pm at Optus Stadium. With both teams coming off convincing wins in Round Three, who can keep their winning momentum going?
Jack Tobin has got you covered with a full preview and tips for this clash, and the BeforeYouBet team has you covered for every AFL game this season on our AFL Tips page.
Fremantle vs GWS Preview & Betting Tips
Optus Stadium, Saturday 9th April, 7:25pm AEST
Fremantle
Injuries: Nat Fyfe, Caleb Serong, Darcy Tucker, Eric Benning, Matthew Johnson (Out)
It’s mixed news on the selection front for the Dockers, with Sean Darcy returning from an ankle injury and David Mundy out of health and safety protocols. Darcy Tucker is out after suffering a concussion in last week’s derby win, while Caleb Serong will miss a second consecutive week with a knee injury.
Fremantle took care of a depleted West Coast side, with a 55 point win in the Western Derby last weekend. Although the Dockers have had a 2-1 start which has them in fifth place on the ladder, however it is important to note their two wins have come by a point against the Crows and against the most depleted team in the competition in West Coast. Fremantle ranks in the bottom half of the competition in many key statistical categories - 14th for clearances, 13th for disposals, 11th for points scored and 10th for inside 50’s. It’s a concern given the calibre of opposition they’ve played in the first three weeks of the season.
Sean Darcy’s inclusion is massive given he is Fremantle’s most important player, and it’s a matchup that could give the Dockers a huge advantage in this clash. The Giants have struggled with their ruck rotation across the last two seasons, with Brayden Preuss the latest to get a crack at the number one ruck role. If Fremantle are to win this clash, Darcy needs to have a big outing in the ruck.
GWS
Injuries: Nick Haynes, Jack Buckley, Brent Daniels, Phil Davis, Josh Fahey, Jacob Hopper, Daniel Lloyd, Conor Stone, Zach Sproule (Out)
Nick Haynes has been added to the Giants ever growing injury list after suffering an ankle injury, with Jake Riccardi coming back into the side for this weekend. GWS key defensive stocks will be under pressure, however Fremantle don’t have the quality up forward to take advantage of this.
GWS picked up their first win of 2022, leading from start to finish in a 26 point victory over the Gold Coast. The Giants midfield responded after a disappointing loss against Richmond as Tim Taranto (36 disposals), Stephen Coniglio (32 disposals) and Tom Green (29 disposals) led the way for an outstanding performance from their midfield. The Giants were plus 94 for disposals, plus 23 for contested possessions, plus 19 for clearances and plus 28 for tackles. The Giants rank 2nd for tackles, 4th for disposals, 6th for clearances and 8th for inside 50’s and despite a 1-2 start to the season, they’re trending in the right direction in many key statistical categories.
GWS ployed a rare double tag on Touk Miller last week and it paid dividends, with Lachie Ash and Matt De Boer holding the Suns captain to 17 disposals - the first time he failed to get at least 29 disposals in his last 19 games. With Fremantle star Andy Brayshaw coming off 28, 40 and 26 disposal returns in his first three games of the season, expect Brayshaw to receive plenty of attention from Ash and De Boer.
Match Prediction
The Dockers have been far from convincing in a year where they were expected to make progress, and this looms as a fascinating clash. Fremantle will start as favourites, but this is an excellent matchup for the Giants. Their experienced midfield put the young Suns to the sword last week in the centre of the ground and if they bring that intensity against the young Dockers midfield, they’ll go a long way towards winning this one.
Fremantle haven’t been a strong side at Optus Stadium, with just an 11-9 record at the venue since the start of 2020. GWS have enjoyed playing against the Dockers, having won five of their last seven games against Fremantle. The Giants midfield got back to their best last weekend from an attacking and defensive standpoint and it will give them the edge in this matchup. GWS are excellent value in this clash and are well positioned to cause an upset.
GWS to win
$2.10 (1.5 Units)
Prop Bets
Giants skipper Stephen Coniglio is back to his 2019 form, averaging 25 disposals per game across the first three rounds of the season. Coniglio tore the game open in the first half last weekend, with 21 disposals before half time. Coniglio had a game high ten clearances, and he looks to have his athleticism back after struggling through injury over the past two seasons. Across his last seven games against Fremantle, Coniglio has averaged 27 disposals and with the form he is in, he’s set for another big game against the Dockers.
Stephen Coniglio 25+ Disposals, $1.67 with Ladbrokes
Tom Green has burst out of the blocks in season 2022 with 31, 34 and 29 disposal games in the first three rounds of the season. Green has dominated the contest this season, ranking third in the AFL for contested possessions per game and ninth for clearances per game. The Dockers don’t have a matchup that can quell Green’s influence on the inside and have struggled to contain inside midfielders this season with Ben Keays (37 disposals), Matt Crouch (30), Brad Crouch (29) having big games against Fremantle this season.
Tom Green 30+ Disposals, $1.94 with Ladbrokes
Lachie Schultz was best on ground in the Derby last week with a 23 disposal and 2 goal performance against the Eagles. Schultz hit the two goal mark seven times in 2021, including a three goal performance against GWS. Schultz has enjoyed playing against the Giants, with six goals in two games against them. With a GWS backline that is undermanned through injury, Schultz is an excellent chance to keep this form going.
Lachie Schultz 2+ Goals, $2.55 with Ladbrokes
