VENUE & TIME: MCG, Friday 10 September, 7.45pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 25, Geelong 18, Fremantle 7
LAST TIME: Fremantle 18.17 (125) def Geelong 17.16 (118), Round 3, 2010 at Subiaco
WALKING WOUNDED: Tom Lonergan, who was a late withdrawal from Friday night's loss to the Saints, will be available and Paul Chapman's shoulder is none the worse for wear for the heavy hip and shoulder he took from Lenny Hayes. Max Rooke (knee) has an outside chance of returning to action later in the finals but the season is over for fringe players Mitch Brown (shoulder), rookie Jesse Stringer (hip) and Adam Varcoe (knee). Scans have cleared Aaron Sandilands of structural damage after his clash of knees with Wayde Skipper at Subiaco last Saturday, but the Dockers giant was unable to train early in the week which is not a good sign. Chris Tarrant (knee) may be available next week if Freo make it that far. Hayden Ballantyne (foot), Tim Ruffles (knee) and Michael Barlow (broken leg) will not play again in 2011.
FORM:
Geelong's past five:
Qualifying Final: Loss, 11.13 (79) - 12.11 (83) v St Kilda, MCG
Round 22: Win, 16.16 (112) - 10.8 (68) v West Coast, Skilled Stadium
Round 21: Win, 18.13 (121) - 12.7 (79) v Carlton, Etihad Stadium
Round 20: Win, 25.11 (161) - 9.6 (60) v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium
Round 19: Loss, 12.13 (85) - 14.23 (107) v Collingwood, MCG
Fremantle's past five:
Elimination Final: Win, 14.10 (94) - 8.16 (64) v Hawthorn, Subiaco
Round 22: Win, 13.15 (93) - 13.9 (87) v Carlton, Subiaco
Round 21: Loss, 5.9 (39) - 24.11 (155) v Hawthorn, Aurora Stadium
Round 20: Loss, 13.9 (87) - 14.12 (96) v Sydney, Subiaco
Round 19: Loss, 19.9 (123) - 10.9 (69) v North Melbourne, Etihad Stadium
WHO'S HOT: Last Friday night's cold, wet conditions were tailor-made for Jimmy Bartel who gathered a team-high 32 touches in the Cats' tight loss to the Saints. Thirty-two equalled his best for the season, achieved against the Brisbane Lions back in Round 8. Luke McPharlin's stats - 14 disposals, three marks and four tackles - were nowhere near as impressive as Bartel's. But in holding Lance Franklin to just two goals, the Dockers key defender played a pivotal role in his team's 30-point elimination final victory at Subiaco last Saturday.
WE THINK: The market gives Freo no hope, but the Cats can't afford to disrespect the Dockers who will approach this contest as if they have nothing to lose. The case for Freo is not especially strong. Their seven-point victory in Round 3 arrested a seven-match losing streak against the Cats. They're coming off successive wins over Carlton and Hawthorn after having lost the previous three to North, Sydney and the Hawks. Doubts remain over the fitness of their primary weapon, Aaron Sandilands and they've lost their past six outings at the MCG. The Cats shouldn't be judged too harshly for what, after all, was only a four-point qualifying final loss to the Saints. With James Podsiadly available after suspension they have virtually a full book to choose from and they know how to get the job done. Still, there's a query over their oldies such as Ottens, Milburn, Corey and Scarlett who are not in sparkling form. If they're not found out this week then they may be the following week or the week after. For now though, it's Geelong by 16 points.