Isn't this just a delightful pickle? Got the Fremantle Dockers and the Hawthorn Hawks squaring off in a game that's more balanced than a tightrope walker's breakfast. Let's cut to the chase here. What do we know? Dockers lost the last round to the Hawks but in three previous head-to-head matches, they’ve had the upper hand twice. Sounds like dating advice, doesn’t it? But let's not kid ourselves, football isn't a love story, and there are no happy endings here.
In the recent spread, the Hawks showed some talent, ripping apart St.Kilda and North Melbourne in succession. They've got their feathers in a ruffle alright, but don’t forget about Dockers, who have had a nice handful of victories, albeit not quite as spectacularly.
Looking at the standings, the Hawks are nested comfortably on the 5th spot whereas Dockers are just about clinging to the ladder in 9th position. It's like comparing apples and slightly less successful apples. However, as my dear old grandmother used to say, "the game's not over till the portly gentleman commences his tune."
In terms of regular season records, it's as close as you'd get without needing a microscope - talk about fine margins, Hawks have 1 win more than the Dockers. All said and done, we're in for a match tighter than a pair of yoga pants, but here's calling it...
Albert’s Prediction: Fremantle Dockers by 2