SUMMARY
Fremantle makes a rare trip to Sydney for a clash with the Swans, and it looms as a tough assignment for Ross Lyon's team who showed some good signs in their win over the Suns last week, just their second from their past 10 games. Sydney bounced back from a loss to Hawthorn to smash Geelong and reaffirm its status as a premiership contender, and they'll be keen to show how ruthless they are against the Dockers. In captain Nat Fyfe, Lachie Neale and the Hill brothers, Stephen and Bradley, the visitors have some quality in the midfield, but the Swans' miserly defence is settled and in form, so it's hard to see Fremantle kicking a big enough score to cause the home side any trouble. At the other end it's a different story, with Lance Franklin, Sam Reid and Tom Papley likely to give the Freo backs plenty of headaches.
WHERE AND WHEN: SCG, Saturday, August 12, 1.45pm
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R19, 2016, Sydney Swans 21.11 (137) d Fremantle Dockers 7.5 (47) at Domain Stadium
1QF, 2015, Fremantle Dockers 10.9 (69) d Sydney Swans 7.18 (60) at Domain Stadium
R4, 2015, Fremantle Dockers 11.8 (74) d Sydney Swans 8.12 (60) at Domain Stadium
1QF, 2014, Sydney Swans 13.15 (93) d Fremantle Dockers 10.9 (69) at ANZ Stadium
R5, 2014, Sydney Swans 13.14 (92) d Fremantle Dockers 11.9 (75) at the SCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. When these teams last played the Swans dominated the second half kicking 14 goals to four, including eight to one in the third term. Josh Kennedy collected the three Brownlow votes with 45 disposals and three goals.
2. The Swans are one of the strongest contested possession teams this season, they're ranked fifth averaging 147.4 per game, well ahead of the Dockers in 17th at an average of 134.2.
3. Not much separates the sides recently; they have three wins each with one draw since 2013. Sydney's 90-point win in 2016 was the biggest ever margin between the teams.
4. At the SCG Sydney has dominated Fremantle winning 11 games to four, with one draw; not in the Dockers' favour is they haven't won a game in Sydney since round 17, 2011.
5. The Swans remain the best team over the last few months; since round seven they're 11-2, three games ahead of the next best team. In that time, they've conceded only 67 points per game.
6. Fremantle midfielder Lachie Neale had 32 possessions, 11 clearances, 10 tackles and a goal against Gold Coast last week, and the performance has seen him jump to 10th in the Schick AFL Player Ratings, a career high.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR…
Lance Franklin. After a couple of quiet weeks, the superstar forward has slipped to third in the Coleman Medal race, and with a likely match up against Joel Hamling, who kept him to just one goal in last year's Grand Final, Buddy will be keen to bounce back with a bag.
AFL.com.au PREDICTION: Sydney Swans
