SUMMARY
This has been one of the great modern rivalries with the two sides playing in three finals since 2010 and four other games that were decided by less than two kicks. But this game is unlikely to match the quality of those encounters with the Dockers really struggling in 2016. The Cats will start heavy favourites but they will need to be wary of the Dockers who would want to atone for their last two performances. The Cats have lost four of their last seven including three to bottom-eight sides. The Dockers have won their last two at Domain Stadium but their last two performances on the road have been very poor. They have been belted in the midfield and the task does not get any easier against Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood.
Can Zac Smith capitalise on the Dockers' ruck woes? Picture: AFL Media
WHERE AND WHEN: Domain Stadium, Friday, July 15, 6.10pm AWST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for AFL.com.au's broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R2, 2015, Fremantle Dockers 15.14 (104) d Geelong Cats 9.6 (60) at Simonds Stadium
R20, 2014, Geelong Cats 12.9 (81) d Fremantle Dockers 11.13 (79) at Simonds Stadium
R9, 2014, Fremantle Dockers 13.18 (96) d Geelong Cats 9.10 (64) at Domain Stadium
2QF, 2013, Fremantle Dockers 12.15 (87) d Geelong Cats 9.18 (72) at Simonds Stadium
R14, 2013, Geelong Cats 11.19 (85) d Fremantle Dockers 7.2 (44) at Simonds Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Dockers midfield was the difference the last time the sides played. David Mundy had 39 disposals, Nat Fyfe 36, Michael Barlow 31, Stephen Hill 29 and Aaron Sandilands dominated the ruck with 51 hit-outs.
2. Geelong is the number one ranked team for marks inside 50 with 15.4 per game. By contrast, Fremantle is ranked 16th with 9.7 per game.
3. The Cats are also ranked first for inside 50s, averaging 57 per game. But last week they struggled to convert finishing with their lowest score of the season.
4. The teams have played 15 times at Domain Stadium with the Cats winning eight times. Fremantle has five losses from seven games in Perth this season.
5. Fremantle is ranked 16th for scoring this season, managing only 76 points per game. Their defence has conceded 91 per game, compared to 71 in 2015.
6. Patrick Dangerfield usurped Nat Fyfe as the number one player on the Schick AFL Player Ratings earlier this year. Both Dangerfield and Joel Selwood (10th) are in the top 10. The Dockers' best two players, Fyfe (fourth) and Aaron Sandilands (30th), are unavailable through injury.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Zac Smith.
Sydney Swan Sam Naismith beat the Geelong ruckman last week. The Dockers have been having all sorts of issues in the ruck this season following the injury to Aaron Sandilands. It is a good chance for Smith to take advantage.
PREDICTION: Geelong by 30 points
