Sunday’s AFL 2018 Round 17 match is between Fremantle Dockers and Port Adelaide Power. The opening kick is set to commence at 16:40 local time with the game to be played at Optus Stadium. The home team Fremantle Dockers are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Fremantle Dockers and Port Adelaide Power.
When: 16:40 | Sunday 15/07/2018
Where: Optus Stadium
Preview:
The Dockers had just 13 inside 50s in the first half against the Demons and without Aaron Sandilands and Nat Fyfe, it’s going to be tough.
Port weren’t dominant against the Saints but they got their 5th consecutive win
They’re in a terrific place and perfectly placed to finish in the top 4.
Chad Wingard’s last month has been superb and he has been Port’s best player in that period after a slow start.
KEY BATTLE: Dockers midfield v Power midfield
The key matchup for me is probably just the midfield of both sides which is always vital in big games.
The Verdict
Port on paper should win comfortably despite the game being in Perth.
The Power has a 10-8 (55.6 percent) record in matches played during July since 2014.
Unibet Odds:
Fremantle at $3.80
Port Adelaide at $1.27
Odds:
Tip: Fremantle Dockers at $4.60
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Michael Walters at $12.00
More Info:
Teams:
Fremantle Dockers: 
B: Cerra, Hamling, Wilson
HB: Hill, A.Pearce, Ryan
C: Sheridan, Neale, Langdon
HF: Banfield, Kersten, Walters
F: Cox, Apeness, Matera
FOLL: Darcy, Mundy, Hill
I/C (from): Hughes, Tucker, Giro, Jones, Duman, Nyhuis, Sutcliffe, McCarthy
IN: Jones, Sutcliffe, Nyhuis, McCarthy, Duman
OUT: Brayshaw
Port Adelaide Power: 
B: Hombsch, Clurey, Houston
HB: Bonner, Howard, Byrne-Jones
C: Motlop, Wines, Polec
HF: Boak, Westhoff, Wingard
F: Rockliff, Dixon, R.Gray
FOLL: Ryder, Powell-Pepper, Ebert
I/C (from): Amon, Lienert, Trengove, Watts, Farrell, Thomas, Johnson, S.Gray
IN: Hombsch, Amon, Lienert, S.Gray, Farrell
OUT: Jonas
AFL News:
The past fortnight has delivered plenty of pain for Fremantle, but the next seven weeks could end up being downright ugly.
The youthful Dockers have shown glimpses of promise this year with their 6-9 win-loss record hardly a disaster.
But are the wheels starting to fall off?
Alarm bells started ringing after their shock 55-point loss to lowly Brisbane at home two weeks ago.
And last Saturday’s 54-point defeat to Melbourne could have easily been a triple-figure loss if the Demons were more accurate.
Melbourne won the inside-50m count an astonishing 78-28 in that match, with Fremantle’s midfield hopelessly outclassed.
The end of the season can’t come quick enough for the Dockers, but they face a nightmare fixture in the run home.
Five of their remaining seven matches are against teams currently sitting inside the top eight, and another one is against Essendon, who are in form and pushing hard for a finals berth.
Fremantle are only likely to start as favourites in one more match this season – a home clash with Carlton in round 21.
And there’s not much cavalry to help out in the short term.
Connor Blakely (knee) isn’t expected to return this year while Nat Fyfe (hamstring) and Aaron Sandilands (calf) are still several weeks away from resuming.
Harley Bennell could make his AFL return in the coming weeks if he continues to build up fitness and form in the WAFL.
But after being plagued by chronic calf issues for the past two-and-a-half years, Bennell will hardly be a saviour when he returns.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon doubled down on the club’s youth policy following the round 10 home loss to North Melbourne.
The strategy is set to pay dividends in the long term as Fremantle’s youngsters get vital experience.
But Dockers fans should brace themselves for a painful end to the current season.
Fremantle take on top-four fancies Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Sunday, before facing a rejuvenated Essendon at Etihad Stadium next week.
They then play Hawthorn, West Coast, and Carlton in a three-week stretch at home, before finishing their season with tough fixtures against Geelong (away) and Collingwood (home).
