Fremantle’s finals temperature check: Run home, wildcard player, why they can win it and more

SEN’s The Run Home team of Andy Maher, Josh Jenkins and Julian De Stoop have undertaken a finals temperature check on the teams still in contention.

They have taken a close look at some varying categories which could decide whether they qualify for finals in some cases or even contend for the premiership.

The categories are: The Run Home, Recent Signature Win, Wildcard Player, Medical Room (key outs), Why They Can (make it/win it) and Why They Can’t (make it/win it).

Next up is the Fremantle Dockers, who are currently 4th on the ladder with a 11-6-1 record and have won five of their past seven games.

The Run Home

Round 20: v West Coast (OS)
Round 21: v Essendon (MCG)
Round 22: v Geelong (OS)
Round 23: v GWS (ES)
Round 24: v Port Adelaide (OS)

Jenkins’ prediction: 4-1

Recent Signature Win

De Stoop: “It’s obviously their one-point win over Sydney at the SCG back in Round 16.”

Wildcard Player

Sam Sturt

De Stoop: “He’s come back in and kicked 13 goals in seven games, with three bags of three in his past six games, he’s a high draft pick, and he has added something to that Fremantle forward line.”

Medical Room (key outs)

Alex Pearce (Arm, TBA)
Matt Johnson (foot, 1 week)

De Stoop: “The health is not really a concern apart from one big concern that is the captain Alex Pearce, who just came back from a break in his arm and he’s got another one.

“They really don’t have anyone else significant out of their team.”

Why They Can

De Stoop: “If they get home finals as they have only lost twice in Perth this year and one of them was against West Coast.

“For the first time since Matthew Pavlich I think they have got a key forward with presence and he kicks goals so I like Josh Treacy.”

Why They Can’t

De Stoop: “I think if Alex Pearce misses finals football, he is a massive part of their side and he has had a wonderful year.”