The Tigers broke their Cairns hoodoo on Saturday evening when they beat Gold Coast at Cazalys Stadium after two unsuccessful tries at the Far North Queensland venue. It was their fifth win in six games and came on the back of their hugely disappointing loss to North Melbourne the previous week. For the Dockers, a win over cross-town rivals West Coast on Sunday was their sixth victory in seven games and has them fifth on the ladder; six points ahead of the Tigers. This will be their first trip to the MCG this year having last played there in their successful elimination final against Geelong last season.

 

WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Sunday July 21, 1.10pm (AEST)

 

TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide

 

Rd 5, 2013, Fremantle 12.9 (81) d Richmond 12.8 (80) at Patersons Stadium

Rd 21, 2012, Fremantle 13.16 (94) d Richmond 11.6 (72) at Patersons Stadium

Rd 11, 2012, Fremantle 12.6 (78) d Richmond 9.12 (66) at the MCG

Rd 7, 2011, Richmond 23.10 (148) d Fremantle 14.15 (99) at the MCG

RD 15, 2010, Richmond 15.10 (100) d Fremantle 11.15 (81) at Etihad Stadium

 

1. Fremantle defeated Richmond earlier this season in round five at Patersons Stadium in a one-point thriller. Hayden Ballantyne kicked four goals in the win.

 

2. After starting the season with an overall placing of 127th in the Official AFL Player Ratings, Ballantyne has fallen slightly in recent weeks. Since round 11, he dropped as low as 158th after round 14 and is now 157th with a club ranking of eight, with his five goals in round 15 against St Kilda producing a slight spike.

 

3. The Dockers have won the past three contests between the clubs. This will be the 29th clash between them with the Tigers holding the narrow advantage of 15 wins to 13.

 

4. The Tigers easily hold the advantage when it comes to playing at the MCG. They've met nine times at the hallowed ground with the home team leading with seven wins to two from the contests.

 

5. When it comes to Damien Hardwick and Ross Lyon being pitted against each other, the former St Kilda coach is the easy leader. Lyon has coached eight wins from nine clashes against Hardwick, with the other result a draw in 2011. 

 

6. Fremantle has the best defence in 2013. The Dockers have conceded only 70 points a game while the Tigers' average is 82, which ranks them fourth. Offensively, the Tigers are ahead with an average of 96 points a game to Fremantle's 88.