The experts might be predicting a soft Essendon victory this weekend over Fremantle but nothing could be further from the truth.
The Bombers will need to play good football this Sunday night to defeat an Fremantle - a side which has posed some problems for Essendon in the past.
While Essendon has defeated Fremantle in five of the sides' seven encounters its average winning margin is just 24 points.
Fremantle on the other hand demolished Essendon in round 12 of the 1997 season, winning by 97 points.
The Dockers other victory over the Bombers came at Waverley in 1998 so they will beleive they can win this match despite what the betting might suggest.
Both sides go into this match having recorded comfortable victories in round two.
Essendon played patchy football to get over Richmond while Fremantle caused an upset by toppling Port Adelaide at Football Park.
The key to the match will be whether or not Fremantle's defence can match it with Essendon's powerhouse forward line.
The forward six of Darren Bewick, Scott Lucas, James Hird, Michael Long, Matthew Lloyd and Steven Alessio makes imposing reading for opposition sides.
The question is: Can Fremantle restrict the Bomber forwards to a losing score?
The Dockers back six is very inexperienced with James Walker (15), Lee Brown (2) and Antoni Grover (4) still learning the trade.
The entire Fremantle backline has played a total of 328 games while the Bomber forwards total 761 games.
It is a significant difference and it could be telling in the final analysis.
Lloyd as usual shapes as the major threat in front of goals. He has bagged seven in each of the first two games of the season.
But Lloyd has also worked extremely hard up the ground for the Bombers. Last week he collected in excess of 20 possessions making him even more dangerous.
The Dockers also have plenty of firepower up forward with Tony Modra capable of winning games of his own boot when on song.
Dustin Fletcher, who looks certain to get the best opposition forward all season, will get Modra.
Given the recent form of Fletcher, Modra could be in for a torrid night.
Other dangers up forward include Steven Koops and Clive Waterhouse. Both are capable of producing the miraculous and they will need to be closely checked by Essendon defenders.
The other wildcard for the Dockers is number one draft choice Paul Hasleby who has been superb in his first two matches for Fremantle.
Hasleby has come off the bench in both those games and that will probably be the plan again with a question mark over his ability to run out an entire game.
The Bombers travelled to Perth just once last year and were embarrassed by the West Coast Eagles.
They will be keen to erase that memory and they might just have a too much experience for Fremantle in a game which promises to be more competitive than many might think.
FOR THE RECORD
ESSENDON V FREMANTLE
Played: 7
Essendon: 5
Fremantle: 2
Highest Scores:
Essendon: 21.9 (135), round 17, 1995 at the MCG.
Fremantle: 24.13 (157), round 12, 1997 at Subiaco.
Greatest Winning Margins:
Essendon: 48 points, round 17, 1995 at the MCG.
Fremantle: 97 points, round 12, 1997 at Subiaco.
Most goals:
Essendon: Scott Lucas (7) – round 4, 1998 at Waverley.
Fremantle: Andrew Wills (5) – round 11, 1996 at the MCG; Kingsley Hunter (5) – round 12, 1997 at Subiaco; James Clement (5) – round 4, 1998 at Waverley.
The last time they met:
Essendon 16.12 (108) d Fremantle 10.12 (72), round 14 at the MCG. Goals: Essendon – Alessio, Mercuri 3; Fremantle – Michael, Modra, Wills 2. Best: Essendon – Mercuri, Solomon, Long; Fremantle – Fletcher, Wills, Michael.
