AFL live scores: Fremantle Dockers take on Sydney Swans in blockbuster top-of-the-table clash

“Sean’s just got a bit of a bung knee, so we don’t want to stress it out,” he says on 7.

Darcy has only been back for two games but short six and five day breaks see the Dockers be uber cautious with the ruck.

He also reveals Corey Wagner picked up a calf injury at main training, which scuppered his chances of a recall.

“It was probably our worst performance for two or three years [last week], it’s what happens when you don’t play to our system and for each other,” he says.

“I’ve got plans for both Heeney and Warner, Matthew Johnson has done that role for us in the past so he’s a chance.

“Our contest work has been a little bit off, which is usually a strength for us, so our mids need to get going.”

“We won’t be holding anything back tonight; Brennan Cox has been playing on the key closer to goal; if he drifts higher, he’ll hand over to Pearcy.”

“Our contest work needs to get back to what it was two or three weeks ago, effort and putting pressure on; that’s where our game starts.

“It’s always important you want to perform in these games, and clearly Sydney are nipping at our heels, and we want to be at our best.”

“It’s gonna be a finals time feeling here at Optus it gets absoultely rocking when the home team is up and about so hopefully we can silence that,

“It should be fun against Jackson, we both play in similar ways and it’s going to be a challenge.

“I’ve got to nullify him but also play to my own strengths.

Both teams will go in as named with Tom Papely coming in for Corey Worner for the Swans while Jaeger O’Meara replaces Hayden Young while Mason Cox replaces Sean Darcy after the Dockers ‘managed’ the ruck.

“It’s a massive game we love the prime time games and playing against the best teams in the comp, we had a bit of an off week last week so we’re looking to bounce back from that,” he says.

“We’ve come up against some bloody good defence and to the Giants credit they got us last week but we love coming against the best and bring our contest and pressure.

“We’ve got full confidence that we’ve prepared really well, with the 1-0 mantra it’s even better after a loss because you move on really quickly and focus on the next game.

“Really excited about the opportunity to play Freo over here, they’ve been unbelievable all year,” he says.

“We want to have multiple ways to move the ball and we need to gel those together as frequently as we can and we’ll have to use every part of that tonight.

“Brodie has played Jackson a few times and his follow up is pehnominal so he needs to be at his best to nullify that ruck stuff.

“It’s an interesting discussion all week for what we do with [James Jordan] so he’ll have his attention to someone and might roll onto a few.

“Tom McCartin has played some good footy on Josh Treacy so he’ll start with that matchup but whoever gets him will be in for a tough night.

“How you try and get some depth and length on the ground is really important, but firstly we have to get it in inside 50, and we have to make sure we win the clearances and get the territory.”

“Papley won’t play a 110 minutes but he’ll play a significant amount of time and he’s unbelievable for our footy team.”

Finals are not won in July, but with both sides expected to make a deep September run, there’s a chance to land an early psychological blow by getting the wood over the other.

It’s also a big eight-point game for who could finish top of the ladder, with the Dockers able to put one hand on the minor premiership with a win tonight.

Matthew Pavlich is back in Perth for the first time since taking over as CEO of the Swans as they look to knock off his former team off the top of the ladder.

The former Fremantle captain admitted it would be an awkward reunion as he revealed picking between his new and former club was like picking a favourite child.

Hello and welcome to Optus Stadium ahead of what could be an early grand final preview as the top two teams clash in a mega Thursday night clash.

Fremantle are hoping to respond after they saw their record win streak broken while the Swans will be hoping to snatch top spot of the Dockers.

Adding to the intrigue will be Swans CEO Matthew Pavlich who will have a foot in both camps in a win-win situation.

We’re just over an hour away from boucnedown as we bring you all the build up.