LIVE UPDATES: Fremantle Dockers hunt revenge against Ross Lyon's St Kilda at Optus Stadium
Fremantle could equal their best streak under Justin Longmuir if they grab their sixth-straight victory today against the Saints.
However, the Saints laid a Melbourne ambush for the Dockers in their last meeting earlier this year, handing the harbour club a stinging defeat.
Can the men in purple get revenge, or will former Fremantle coach Ross Lyon get the last laugh again?
Follow all the action from Optus Stadium on our live blog.
Fremantle head into the game with no changes while Nat Fyfe is back in the subs vest.
He played a full game last week but had better impact during his two appearances as the sub.
It's a big day for Fremantle.
They can equal their best-ever winning streak under Justin Longmuir with victory over St Kilda but Ross Lyon will have a thing or two to say about it.
The Dockers were embarressed by the Saints at Marvel earlier this year and need to have learnt their lessons.
The ground is looking chopped after the British and Irish Lions spanked the Western Force last night but should be fine.
At least better than the SCG!
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Perth Now
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Aussie coach's Swift response to Lions eligibility jibe
Jokes about the British and Irish Lions' eligibility haven't stuck according to laid back captain Maro Itoje, who has laughed off the expectation of more to come as the "Australian way". Ten players in Andy Farrell's squad, including Australian-born trio Finlay Bealham, Sione Tuipulotu and Mack Hansen, were born outside England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They have qualified either through family or long-term residency, with Hansen and Tuipulotu Australian under-20 teammates and Super Rugby graduates before their moves. Banter was thrown in Saturday's clash with the Western Force in Perth, with the Optus Stadium ground announcer quick to reference the tourist's foreign roots. Centre Bundee Aki and No.9 Jamison Gibson-Park were born in New Zealand but now star for Ireland and will feature in a strong Lions team against the Reds. "As long as they play a bit of Taylor Swift I'll be happy," Reds coach Les Kiss quipped when asked if he expects more jibes over the Suncorp Stadium speakers. "I don't think we'll be getting into that space." Kiss, a former Queensland and Australian rugby league winger, earnt his rugby coaching stripes in a two-decade stint that included success with the Ireland Test team as well as Irish and English clubs. "I've coached a number of those boys. Finlay Bealham was there early," Kiss said of the prop, who moved to Ireland as an 18-year-old. "It's not a light-hearted, easy thing to do. "It's an opportunity. To Mack Hansen, Bundee, I say, 'good on them'. "You get opportunities in different ways. A lot (of banter) is tongue and cheek and have a bit of fun, and that will continue. "The way Aussies like to use our humour - I think the English, Welsh, Scots and Irish, they get it." Reds and Wallabies hooker Matt Faessler agreed. "It could feel like an away game, we might need it," he laughed. "But I think Aussie fans dance on that line quite well. "When the Lions tour, new and old rugby fans come out of the works and see how good international rugby is. "There'll be a fair bit of chat if you go to Caxton Street, a bit of to-and-fro." Lions captain Itoje, who watched from the stands in Perth, is on the same page. "It's the Australian way, isn't it?" he smiled. "They love their sport. Rugby's a little different on a Lions tour. You can feel the atmosphere. It's heightened in comparison to when we were here with England. "As the tour goes on, the atmosphere will build and build and build. "It's just a sports-loving country; aggressive competitors, a little bit chirpy."
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
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AFL to inspect SCG after Freo coach's 'unsafe' claims
The AFL's independent turf consultant is part of a delegation sent to inspect the SCG after Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir added his voice to growing concerns over the venue's playing surface. Sunday's Sydney-Fremantle clash could be moved away from the SCG following uproar over players repeatedly struggling to keep their feet during the Western Bulldogs' win over the Swans on Friday night. The surface has been below its best since a concert at the venue by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in April, with particular concern over the Paddington end of the ground. Up to 90mm of rain is forecast for Sydney on Tuesday in what will further hamper hopes of having the SCG turf up to scratch. On Monday, the AFL said the independent turf consultant, members of the league's football department and AFL Players Association representatives would inspect the ground this week. The group will assist the ground's curator with ongoing management of the playing surface. Fremantle's finals hopes last year were torpedoed by a series of injuries to key players late in the season, and Longmuir fears his team will be put at elevated risk if they have to play at the SCG on Sunday. "I watched the game on Friday night, and we'll be led by the AFL, but the moment my brain goes to, 'That's unsafe for players', I have a concern," Longmuir said after his side's win over St Kilda on Sunday. "And I went there on Friday night. I thought it was a bit unsafe, especially down the left-hand side." Longmuir made specific mention of an incident in which Bulldogs defender Bailey Williams got his foot caught in the turf. "I think the Bailey Williams one - we just can't put players out there and risk their safety if the ground's not right," he said. Longmuir says he will abide by the AFL's decision. "If the AFL deem it safe to play, we'll play, and I won't speak another moment of it," Longmuir said. "The AFL approached us and they're going to look at it, like they should, and they've got the experts and will be guided by them. "But I thought it was unsafe the other night." Fremantle (10-5) are just percentage adrift of third spot following a six-match winning run. But their thrilling 11.15 (81) to 9.15 (69) victory over St Kilda on Sunday came with an injury cost, and in a bizarre manner. Nat Fyfe will be sidelined for up to four weeks with a moderate-grade calf strain sustained while he was warming up as the substitute at half-time. The 33-year-old veteran felt tightness at the time and the Dockers decided against sending him on, with the severity of the injury then confirmed on Monday. Fyfe had been set to feature in his fourth match back after recovering from a hamstring injury. The AFL's independent turf consultant is part of a delegation sent to inspect the SCG after Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir added his voice to growing concerns over the venue's playing surface. Sunday's Sydney-Fremantle clash could be moved away from the SCG following uproar over players repeatedly struggling to keep their feet during the Western Bulldogs' win over the Swans on Friday night. The surface has been below its best since a concert at the venue by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in April, with particular concern over the Paddington end of the ground. Up to 90mm of rain is forecast for Sydney on Tuesday in what will further hamper hopes of having the SCG turf up to scratch. On Monday, the AFL said the independent turf consultant, members of the league's football department and AFL Players Association representatives would inspect the ground this week. The group will assist the ground's curator with ongoing management of the playing surface. Fremantle's finals hopes last year were torpedoed by a series of injuries to key players late in the season, and Longmuir fears his team will be put at elevated risk if they have to play at the SCG on Sunday. "I watched the game on Friday night, and we'll be led by the AFL, but the moment my brain goes to, 'That's unsafe for players', I have a concern," Longmuir said after his side's win over St Kilda on Sunday. "And I went there on Friday night. I thought it was a bit unsafe, especially down the left-hand side." Longmuir made specific mention of an incident in which Bulldogs defender Bailey Williams got his foot caught in the turf. "I think the Bailey Williams one - we just can't put players out there and risk their safety if the ground's not right," he said. Longmuir says he will abide by the AFL's decision. "If the AFL deem it safe to play, we'll play, and I won't speak another moment of it," Longmuir said. "The AFL approached us and they're going to look at it, like they should, and they've got the experts and will be guided by them. "But I thought it was unsafe the other night." Fremantle (10-5) are just percentage adrift of third spot following a six-match winning run. But their thrilling 11.15 (81) to 9.15 (69) victory over St Kilda on Sunday came with an injury cost, and in a bizarre manner. Nat Fyfe will be sidelined for up to four weeks with a moderate-grade calf strain sustained while he was warming up as the substitute at half-time. The 33-year-old veteran felt tightness at the time and the Dockers decided against sending him on, with the severity of the injury then confirmed on Monday. Fyfe had been set to feature in his fourth match back after recovering from a hamstring injury. The AFL's independent turf consultant is part of a delegation sent to inspect the SCG after Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir added his voice to growing concerns over the venue's playing surface. Sunday's Sydney-Fremantle clash could be moved away from the SCG following uproar over players repeatedly struggling to keep their feet during the Western Bulldogs' win over the Swans on Friday night. The surface has been below its best since a concert at the venue by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in April, with particular concern over the Paddington end of the ground. Up to 90mm of rain is forecast for Sydney on Tuesday in what will further hamper hopes of having the SCG turf up to scratch. On Monday, the AFL said the independent turf consultant, members of the league's football department and AFL Players Association representatives would inspect the ground this week. The group will assist the ground's curator with ongoing management of the playing surface. Fremantle's finals hopes last year were torpedoed by a series of injuries to key players late in the season, and Longmuir fears his team will be put at elevated risk if they have to play at the SCG on Sunday. "I watched the game on Friday night, and we'll be led by the AFL, but the moment my brain goes to, 'That's unsafe for players', I have a concern," Longmuir said after his side's win over St Kilda on Sunday. "And I went there on Friday night. I thought it was a bit unsafe, especially down the left-hand side." Longmuir made specific mention of an incident in which Bulldogs defender Bailey Williams got his foot caught in the turf. "I think the Bailey Williams one - we just can't put players out there and risk their safety if the ground's not right," he said. Longmuir says he will abide by the AFL's decision. "If the AFL deem it safe to play, we'll play, and I won't speak another moment of it," Longmuir said. "The AFL approached us and they're going to look at it, like they should, and they've got the experts and will be guided by them. "But I thought it was unsafe the other night." Fremantle (10-5) are just percentage adrift of third spot following a six-match winning run. But their thrilling 11.15 (81) to 9.15 (69) victory over St Kilda on Sunday came with an injury cost, and in a bizarre manner. Nat Fyfe will be sidelined for up to four weeks with a moderate-grade calf strain sustained while he was warming up as the substitute at half-time. The 33-year-old veteran felt tightness at the time and the Dockers decided against sending him on, with the severity of the injury then confirmed on Monday. Fyfe had been set to feature in his fourth match back after recovering from a hamstring injury.
West Australian
3 hours ago
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Nat Fyfe: Fremantle veteran to miss multiple weeks after suffering latest injury setback in substitute's role
Fremantle star Nat Fyfe has been dealt a savage blow with the veteran ruled out for up to four weeks after straining his calf while warming up against St Kilda on Sunday. Fyfe was named as the starting sub against the Saints but remained on the bench for the entire game. Coach Justin Longmuir revealed after the match that Fyfe had reported calf awareness while warming up at half-time but was hopeful he hadn't done too much damage. The news was all bad for the dual Brownlow medallist though after learning he had suffered a strain that will keep him out of action for between two and four weeks. 'Obviously frustrating for Nat after he was able to get some continuity with his body in the last month' said Fremantle Executive General Manager of Football Joe Brierty. 'He will now commence an offloading and reconditioning period and our performance health team will set the program with Nat to return to football in the next few weeks.' The injury comes at a horrible time for Fyfe. He worked hard to recover from knee and hamstring injuries and showed he could have an impact as the sub. But now he will almost certainly have to re-build fitness and confidence in the WAFL before having another opportunity to play at the highest level. The Dockers have won six games in a row and also have Jaeger O'Meara already trying to get back in the team. Star Hayden Young is on a similar timeframe to Fyfe adding more selection pressure. Fyfe hasn't played a final since 2015. He missed Fremantle's 2022 finals run due to injury. Out of contract at the end of the season, the injury will also make it hard for Fyfe to become just the fourth Docker to play 250 games behind David Mundy, Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands. He is currently sitting on 244 matches.
