Roos and Dockers Clash at Hands Oval
Get ready for some serious AFL action down in Western Australia, folks! This Saturday, North Melbourne, the Roos, are heading to Bunbury for what's technically a home game against the formidable Fremantle Dockers. It's a bit of a unique setup, with the Roos playing at Hands Oval, a place they'll be calling their home away from home for this fixture. The Roos are still buzzing from that incredible comeback win against Gold Coast, a victory that ranks as the second-biggest in their club's history, before heading into their bye week. They'll be looking to carry all that positive energy and momentum into this tough matchup.
Fremantle, on the other hand, are in red-hot form and are looking like the team to beat halfway through the season. They recently put in a dominant performance against the Brisbane Lions, outclassing the reigning premiers on their home turf. This game against North Melbourne kicks off a favourable month for the Dockers, with their subsequent games also being relatively close to home, facing fellow top-four contenders like Geelong and Gold Coast after their own bye. They've really cemented their status as a genuine threat this year and they'll be keen to keep that going.
Now, let's talk team changes for this clash, scheduled to kick off at 12:15 PM AWST. North Melbourne has made just one tweak to their lineup, bringing Zac Fisher into the side for Finn O'Sullivan, who's unfortunately sidelined with a concussion. Fremantle, however, has opted for three changes, bringing in Hayden Young, Jaeger O'Meara and Oscar McDonald. They'll be replacing Brennan Cox, Matthew Johnson and Chris Scerri in the Dockers' lineup. It's always interesting to see how these adjustments impact the game's dynamics.
Also Read:This round also features another highly anticipated match-up: the QClash between Gold Coast and Brisbane. The Suns will be looking to capitalise on their bye week and turn up the heat on a Brisbane side that's been experiencing some uncharacteristic struggles lately. Gold Coast themselves had a bit of a stumble against North Melbourne recently and they'll be eager to prove they can consistently challenge the top teams. This game has extra spice, especially after the Suns managed to break a hoodoo against the Lions last season.
Brisbane, the reigning premiers, find themselves in an unfamiliar position after suffering three consecutive losses, something not seen since their 2019 finals exit. Signs of fatigue are starting to show after a long period at the top and they've let several games slip in the third quarter this year. However, they have a history of lifting when their backs are against the wall, particularly when facing the Suns. The Lions have also had some personnel changes, with co-captain Hugh McCluggage out with a calf injury, along with Keidean Coleman and Cody Curtin.
The West Coast Eagles will be hosting Port Adelaide in the sole night match on Saturday. The Eagles have shown steady improvement in recent weeks, securing their second win in a row on home turf by outclassing Essendon. This game against Port Adelaide is a chance for them to build further on their rebuild, especially as they'll face the Roos after this, having already beaten both Port and North earlier in the season. Port Adelaide, meanwhile, is returning from a much-needed bye after a frustrating run of four consecutive defeats, capped by a loss to Carlton.
Port Adelaide has been competitive against many of the top teams, but they now need to start converting those performances into wins, especially against sides like the Eagles, if they hope to make a late push for a wildcard spot. They've made some changes too, with Lachie Jones, Tom Cochrane and Jackson Mead coming into the side. Brandon Starcevich will make his debut for the Eagles, coming in alongside Cooper Duff-Tytler. The footy world is always buzzing with these team announcements and the potential for upsets.
Stay with Mirror 7 News for all updates as they happen.
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