Match day guide and preview for the 2022 AFL round 4 game between the GWS Giants and Fremantle Dockers in Perth.
Match details
Who: Fremantle Dockers vs GWS Giants
When: Saturday 9 April 2022, 7.25pm
Where: Optus Stadium WA
All time head-to-head record: Played 11. Giants 5 wins. Dockers 6 wins.
Teams
Giants
IN: Jake Riccardi
OUT: Adam Kennedy (medi-sub), Nick Haynes (injured)
Haynes is a big out for the Giants, but they have enough tall defenders to do the job. Riccardi comes back in after being dropped last week.
Dockers
IN: David Mundy, Sean Darcy
OUT: Bailey Banfield (omitted), Lloyd Meek (omitted), Darcy Tucker (injured)
Mundy and Darcy are two crucial inclusions for this Dockers side. Meek and Banfield drop out of the 22 while Tucker is out after a scary incident in last week’s Derby.
Season so far
GWS Giants 13th – 89.2% | 248 points for |278 points against | 1 win & 2 losses | WLL
After a disappointing opening two rounds, the Giants got on the board with a comprehensive win over the Suns last week.
GWS dominated the opening quarter to open up a 24-point lead and never looked threatened after that.
After struggling over the past two seasons, the form of co-captain Stephen Coniglio has been a real positive so far in 2022, while Canberra’s own Tom Green has emerged as a star of the competition, and doesn’t he know it.
While it was a good win last round, it was only against the Suns so the Giants will be keen to claim a bigger scalp this week.
Fremantle Dockers 5th – 123.7% | 240 points for | 194 points against | 2 wins & 1 loss | WLW
The Dockers are a tough team to get a read on so far this season, with two wins against lowly opposition and a loss at home to the Saints.
They managed to thump the Eagles in the Western Derby last week, but West Coast were dealing with an unsettled line up after making 13 changes due to the COVID protocols.
With their skipper and star player Nat Fyfe out injured, Andrew Brayshaw has really stepped up with a blistering start to the season, averaging 31.3 disposals per game.
This game is the perfect chance for Freo to claim a decent scalp and set themselves up for a shot at making finals.
Key matchup
Braydon Preuss vs Sean Darcy
This should be a cracking contest in the ruck, with these two heavyweights at their best when playing physical, aggressive footy.
In the orange corner, weighing in at 114kg and 206cm tall Braydon Preuss who did an excellent job in his first game for GWS. He picked up 16 disposals, seven clearances, 34 hitouts, 9 hitouts to advantage and one goal assist against a quality ruckman in Jarrod Witts.
The Giants have been looking for someone to fill Shane Mumford’s boots for a while, so if he can stay fit, Preuss may be that man.
In the purple corner, weighing in at 112kg and 203cm tall, Sean Darcy who shot to prominence with a breakout season last year in which he made the All-Australian squad of 40.
The 23-year-old has struggled with injury in the early stages of 2022, but if he can stay healthy, he should once again be in the top handful of ruckman this season.
It should be a fascinating battle to watch throughout the match and if one of them can get on top, it could give their side a decisive edge in the midfield.
Last 5 meetings and Optus Stadium history
- 2021 round 2 – Dockers 11.21 (87) defeat Giants 7.14 (56) at Optus Stadium
- 2020 round 14 – Dockers 8.5 (53) defeated by Giants 14.7 (91) at Optus Stadium
- 2019 round 5 – Giants 11.16 (82) defeated by Dockers 16.10 (106) at Manuka Oval
- 2018 round 4 – Giants 11.16 (82) defeat Dockers 7.9 (51) at Spotless Stadium
- 2017 round 19 – Giants 13.20 (98) defeat Suns 13.8 (86) at Spotless Stadium
GWS have won three of the last the last five matches over Freo, but the Dockers got the better of them when they met early last year.
They have met just two times at Optus Stadium with both teams winning one each.
Other match details
Saturday’s match will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally and on 7mate in the ACT and NSW from 7.25pm.
