THE DOCKERS appear to be returning to the form they showed last season with two professional wins over Geelong and the Bulldogs. Adelaide's form line is slightly bemusing. The Crows have won five of their past seven following three consecutive losses to begin the year, yet the two recent defeats came at the hands of Carlton and Melbourne. The Dockers accounted for Adelaide twice last season in low-scoring encounters. Matthew Pavlich and Taylor Walker loom as key figures for both sides. Both have good records against their respective opponents and despite the prospect of a low-scoring game, a handful of goals from either player could heavily influence the result.



WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Sunday June 8, 2.10pm (AWST)

TV AND RADIO: Click here for the broadcast guide

LAST FIVE TIMES
R18, 2013, Fremantle 11.9 (75) d Adelaide 7.11 (53) at Patersons Stadium
R10, 2013, Fremantle 10.6 (66) d Adelaide 8.11 (59) at AAMI Stadium
2SF, 2012, Adelaide 12.9 (81) d Fremantle 11.5 (71) at AAMI Stadium
R20, 2012, Adelaide 17.17 (119) d Fremantle 14.7 (91) at AAMI Stadium
R10, 2012, Adelaide 17.9 (111) d Fremantle 12.10 (82) at Patersons Stadium

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THE SIX POINTS
1. The two teams have clashed 32 times and Adelaide leads the ledger 19 wins to 13. Fremantle has defeated the Crows on three consecutive occasions once previously, in 2003-04.

2. Aaron Sandilands is the number one ruckman in hit-outs in 2014 with 409 and his team, as a result, are the best hit-outs side, averaging 53.5 per game.

3. The Crows are the number one centre clearance team in 2014 averaging 14.6 per game. The Dockers have struggled despite Sandilands' dominance in the ruck, ranked 17th in the AFL with 10.8 per game.

4. Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich has kicked 42 goals in 23 games against Adelaide. Taylor Walker has a better record, kicking 26 goals in seven clashes with the Dockers, averaging 3.71 per game.

5. The Dockers have taken the most contested marks in 2014 with 122. Adelaide is ranked third with 109.

6. Patrick Dangerfield has slipped from third to fourth on the Official AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Gatorade, this week after spending six rounds in third spot. Nat Fyfe reached a career high ranking of 26 this week as the Dockers’ highest rated player.

Prediction: Fremantle by 20 points