FOLLOW LIVE: Fremantle Dockers fans urged to beat Perth traffic ahead of Brisbane Lions clash
Fremantle face perhaps the biggest home and away game in their history as they take on Brisbane with finals and potential top two finish on the line in a Friday night blockbuster.
The Dockers have soared into the top four but a loss tonight could send them to a virtual elimination final next week against Western Bulldogs.
However a win will secure their first finals campaiagn and leave them with a chance for a top two finish.
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Reid gets some luck
He wins the free for a dump tackle when arguably it should have been holding the ball.
But from 30m out on an angle Reid misses right. It’s a very nervy start
Alarm bells early
Josh Treacy drops a mark he takes nine times out of 10 and then hacks a kick out of defence to turn it over to Ryan Lester.
Shai Bolton then gives away 50 for not standing on the mark and Lester gets the Lions’ third.
BRI 3.1 (19) FRE 0.2 (2)
Lions controlling the footy
Brisbane are happy to take the uncontested marks on offer early and are currently plust 17 in uncontested possessions.
The Dockers are just a bit tentative and need to try and exert some pressure.
Cameron gets an early goal
It’s his first goal in almost a month as Brennan Cox gives away a holding free and Cameron takes advantage to walk into an open goal square.
That could be big for a man who has been devoid of confidence in recent weeks.
Brisbane draw first blood
Pearce is a bit fumbly on the loose ball and then Jordan Clark lays a high tackle to give Zac Bailey a set shot.
From 45m out he nails the kick to silence the Dockers crowd early.
Here we go
Bumper crowd in.
Sean Darcy wins an early free kick. Erasmus flies but isn’t paid the mark.
Dockers reload and attempt to find Voss but the Lions defence reads it well.
Up the other end Brennan Cox takes a big intercept mark to stop Brisbane’s first attack.
Justin Longmuir speaks
“We have to embrace the finals-like atmosphere,” he says.
“Brisbane are in the smae sort of position as us but we’re ready for it.
“They’ve got talent all over the park and quick through the corrider so we have to be on defensivley.
On Fyfe
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when he announced it,” he said.
“We hope this isn’t his last home game.”
We’re almost ready
10 minutes till bounce down.
Fyfe the sub again
There’s no late changes with Fremantle confirming Nat Fyfe will be the sub once again while the Lions debutant Luke Beecken will start on the bench for the visitors.
Brisbane take down Rising Star whinge
The Lions media department had an interesting 24 hours after they got on their soapbox to cry foul over Levi Ashcroft’s Rising Star odds slipping to third behind Fremantle’s Murphy Reid.
It was not received well by footy fans witht he club taking down the article earlier today.
