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Essendon Bombers vs Fremantle Dockers Tips - Dockers to damage Dons' AFL finals hopes

Jeremy Darke

Editor

Last updated: 03 Aug 2024

Jeremy Darke 03 Aug 2024

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Essendon vs Fremantle expert predictions for Sunday’s AFL game
Dockers expected to claim a decisive victory over Bombers
Victory crucial for Fremantle's top-two league aspirations
Essendon's recent form and defensive issues major concerns for their finals hopes

Expired

Dockers to deliver (Getty)

Essendon Bombers vs Fremantle Dockers Preview

The Dockers are tipped for a commanding win over Essendon, enhanced their own top-two claims and seriously damaging the Bombers' finals hopes.

Essendon Bombers vs Fremantle Dockers Preview
Head to Head
Essendon Bombers Form
Essendon Bombers Team News
Essendon Bombers Team List
Fremantle Dockers Form
Fremantle Dockers Team News
Fremantle Dockers Team List

Fremantle have won their past two matches against Essendon by a margin of 32 points or more.
Essendon have lost 4 of their past 5 matches by an average margin of 29.2 points.
Fremantle have scored 93 points or more in their past two games against Essendon.
Essendon have conceded an average of 96.3 points over their past 8 matches.

Head to Head

Fremantle broke a five-game losing streak with a pair of wins themselves over Essendon over the past two season getting a 32-point victory in round 15 last season and a 48-point win in round 5, 2022.

Essendon Bombers Form

As the headline of this article questions, is the Bombers dream of playing finals all but over, even before this match is played. I’m sorry Essendon fans, but I am going to have to say yes.

Things have not gone well for the Bombers over the past two months winning just two of their past 8 games while their strength of schedule has not been so difficult.

It was the Essendon defence that was surprisingly impressive for the most part in the opening 11 games of the season conceding and average of just 81.09 points per game.

Over their last 8 matches that number has gone all the way up to 96.3 and have had triple-digits scored against them in the past two weeks, including their 108-55 loss to St Kilda, who are not especially a good attacking side.

Essendon Bombers Team News

Jordan Ridley has been ruled out for three weeks with a hip-flexor injury.

Essendon Bombers Team List

B: J.Kelly, B.McKay, J.Laverde

HB: N.Martin, M.Redman, A.McGrath

C: N.Cox, D.Shiel, X.Duursma

HF: J.Stringer, N.Caddy, S.Durham

F: K.Langford, H.Jones, J.Gresham

FOLL: S.Draper, J.Caldwell, Z.Merrett - C

I/C (FROM): D.Parish, B.Hobbs, P.Wright, D.Heppell, N.Bryan, A.Roberts, J.Menzie

IN: J.Kelly, B.Hobbs, N.Bryan, A.Davey Jnr, A.Roberts

OUT: J.Ridley (Injured), A.Perkins (Omitted)

Fremantle Dockers Form

Fremantle are sitting in third place on the ladder performing well above expectation this season and are coming off a revengeful 35-point victory in the Western Derby, making amends for their big loss to the Eagles earlier this season.

At the start of the year I think everyone can agree that Fremantle were going to be strong defensively, but not as strong as the second-best in the league averaging just 73.89 points against per game.

We can also agree that no one expected them to be this good in attack, ranked seventh in the AFL with a game average of 87.05 points and a current 5-game average of 100.8.

The key for Freo has been moving the ball uncontestedly with the lowest percent of contested possessions (34.9%) in the league of the fourth highest possession rate of 363.1 per game.

This structure and execution has helped them in both aspects of attack and defence and is proving to be a winning formula for the Dockers.

Fremantle Dockers Team News

Nate Fyfe will miss the match after his striking charge on West Coast’s Jai Culley was upheld at the tribunal.

Fremantle Dockers Team List

B: L.Ryan, J.Draper, B.Cox

HB: B.Walker, H.Chapman, C.Wagner

C: J.Clark, H.Young, J.Sharp

HF: B.Banfield, S.Switkowski, M.Frederick

F: J.Treacy, J.Amiss, L.Jackson

FOLL: S.Darcy, C.Serong - C, A.Brayshaw

I/C (FROM): S.Sturt, J.O’Meara, T.Emmett, J.Aish, N.Erasmus, C.Simpson, W.Brodie

IN: N.Erasmus, L.Reidy, C.Simpson, W.Brodie

OUT: N.Fyfe (Suspension)

Verdict

Essendon v Fremantle

Fremantle are tipped score over 88.5 points and cover the 8.5 point line as favourites against Essendon.

Fremantle -8.5

Handicap/Line

@20/21 - 3 Units

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Fremantle Over 88.5

Team Total

@7/8 - 2 Units

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