FREMANTLE V MELBOURNE

Venue Subiaco
Date Sunday, July 20
Time 2.40 pm
Head to head Fremantle 12 Melbourne 11 Drawn 0
Last time Melbourne 17.17 (119) bt Fremantle 15.23 (113) R7 2008 MCG
Betting TABSportsbet Fremantle $1.42 Melbourne $2.75 Centrebet Fremantle $1.43 Melbourne $2.85

Fremantle

Backs: Thornton McPharlin Grover
Half-backs: Head, Michael Johnson, Dodd
Centres: McManus Carr Mundy
Half-forwards: Mark Johnson, Pavlich Browne
Forwards: Mayne Tarrant Warnock
Followers: Sandilands Crowley Rover: Ibbotson
Interchange: From: Farmer Murphy Duffield Schammer Bradley O'Brien Peake
In: Duffield Bradley McManus Head O'Brien Murphy
Out: Solomon (suspended) Hinkley, Palmer (general soreness)
New: Josh Head, 25, South Fremantle (WA)

Melbourne

Backs: Whelan Garland Warnock
Half-backs: C Johnson Wheatley Dunn
Centres: Morton Bruce Buckley
Half-forwards: Sylvia Bate Davey
Forwards: P Johnson Miller Wonaeamirri
Followers: Jamar Bartram Rover: Jones
Interchange: From: Bell Newton Valenti Martin McDonald White Yze
In: Davey McDonald White Yze
Out: Green (hamstring)

Summary Have Fremantle recovered from the horror of seeing their 51-point second-half lead eaten away in record style by Melbourne last time they met earlier this year? And how will they react to the eight-week suspension handed down to hard man Dean Solomon for shattering Cameron Ling's cheekbone? The Demons, forced to blood young players in the wake of injuries and form problems, have been slowly improving over the distance of the game but seemed to have hit a roadblock against the Bulldogs last week. It was a freak comeback which got the Demons over the line last time but if the Dockers get in front early, don't expect any sort of repeat. Fremantle coach Mark Harvey's reputation is well and truly on the line this weekend - a loss would put a serious query over his future.
Key Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich stands head and shoulders above just about every other player in this match.
Tip Fremantle by 25 points