So much of the Dockers’ game is based on turnovers on both sides of the ball. Under Ross Lyon, they’ve been in the top half of the competition for forcing turnovers in each of the last two seasons.
This has had a large bearing in Fremantle being the best defensive team in terms of points against last year and second in 2012. While the Dockers don’t always make their opponents pay on the counter, teams find it tough to score when confronted by the Luke McPharlin-Michael Johnson defensive duo.
To find out how a side manages to score against a Lyon-coached side, it is instructive to look towards Hawthorn and Alastair Clarkson.
The most recent clash between the coaches was in Round 3 at the MCG, when Hawthorn scored a staggering 72 points from turnovers and had 181 more possessions on the way to a comfortable 58-point victory.
When Fremantle is at its best, it refuses to allow opposition score launches to begin in its defensive half. Hawthorn’s precision kicking tends to ruin even the best-laid plans, and this one is no exception.
The Hawks had eight scoring shots begin from their defensive 50 on the night. As a comparison, Fremantle conceded less than three per game on average during 2013.
So how is this relevant to North Melbourne? Although we haven’t seen it consistently in 2014, when the Roos are flying they take care of the ball better than anyone; they led the AFL in disposal efficiency in 2013.
In theory, this means Brad Scott’s team will be well placed if they can use the ball cleanly, by eliminating a major source of Fremantle’s defensive game-plan. However the Roos have struggled to do so in the two occasions they’ve faced the Lyon-led Dockers.
Garrick Ibbotson had nine intercept marks and 18 intercept possessions in those two games, while North conceded an average of 69 points from turnovers.
Of note was the most recent game at Patersons Stadium in 2013. On that afternoon in a low-scoring game, the Kangaroos were able to limit Fremantle from stoppages, but they gave any advantage back to their opponents by turning the ball over – the Dockers scored 46 of their 68 points from turnovers.
It will most likely be another low-scoring, defensive outing in prime-time on Friday night. North’s ball-use shapes as the defining factor in picking up its first win against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium since 2007.
