AFL Preview Round 17: Dockers v Power

Fremantle v Port Adelaide
Sun 4:40pm at Optus Stadium

Round 17 concludes over in the West on Sunday afternoon, with the Power looking to get their sixth win in a row over a young and injury-depleted Dockers side. Freo were completely dismantled by the Dees last weekend, and will be glad to be back in the familiar surroundings of Optus Stadium, where they have been reasonably good this year. Coming their way will be a Port side playing with manic pressure, incredible clearance work (they are ranked #1 in the League for both statistics) and a high degree of confidence- and they will be incredibly difficult for this inexperienced Fremantle side to break down.

Form

Fremantle (LWWLL) – Fremantle are lucky they didn’t suffer their fourth 100+ point loss in 2 years when they were comprehensively thumped by the Dees up in Darwin last weekend. They were beaten up and bullied around the ball, and whenever they did get their hands on it, they usually turned it over! They had 50 less inside 50 entries than Melbourne and only the difficult weather and Melbourne’s horrendous goal-kicking spared complete embarrassment. They just offered absolutely nothing without Fyfe and Sandi.

Port Adelaide (WWWWW) – The Power are in the Top 4! They’ve now won five on the trot, and with four of their last 6 games at Adelaide Oval, they will be confident that form can continue. The forward line, led by big Charlie Dixon, finally looks to have gelled and has a number of very dangerous tall and small options- and with plenty of classy ball users in the back half the forwards are often getting it on a platter. Ken Hinkley has them going very nicely. Can safely shake the Flat Track Bullies tag now. 

Stats That Matter– Port have won the last two meetings by an average of 69.5 points
– The Dockers average 84 points per game in Perth, as opposed to 60 interstate
– Tom Rockliff averages 28 disposals and 116 Fantasy Points per game against Freo
– Power are 2-5 on the Over/Under in Away fixtures this season
– Chad Wingard is averaging 27 disposals and 105 Fantasy Points in his last 5 matches
– Freo have won just one of their past ten 2nd Halves (-189 points)
– Lachie Neale has averaged 36 disposals per game in his last 3 matches against Port

Betting Data

2018 Line: Fremantle- 7-8; Port Adelaide- 6-9

2018 Over-Under: Fremantle- 4-11; Port Adelaide- 5-10

What To ExpectNothing less than a comfortable Port win is expected here. Freo are a shadow of themselves without Fyfe and Sandilands, and even though they are at home, the Power have been in great form and are playing attacking footy, full of confidence. Wolfie is keen on the Power to pull away from the Dockers in the second half, something they have done well to poor sides- with the flip side being the young Freo side are statistically very poor late in games. From a player prop perspective, the Power are the #1 clearance side in the competition, and this is an area the Dockers have really struggled in (they are ranked 14th)- even with Nat Fyfe! The Melbourne contested ball winners belted them in that facet last round and Wolfie is keen on Wines, Wingard, Rockliff, Powell-Pepper and co. to rack up some stats.

How It’s Shaping UpPort Adelaide by 38

Recommended Bets

Best Bet: Port Adelaide 2nd Half Line -12.5 ($1.87)
Value Bet: Chad Wingard 30+ Disposals ($3.50)
Player Prop: Justin Westhoff 100+ Fantasy Points ($1.50)
First Goalscorer: Robbie Gray