Freo need to go for kill, says ex-Roo
Dual North Melbourne premiership player David King says Fremantle must make a statement tonight against his old side, claiming last year's grand finalists still possess the quality to belt a vulnerable Kangaroos in the Len Hall tribute match at Patersons Stadium.
The Dockers enter the Anzac Day clash with a makeshift forward line. They are missing Hayden Ballantyne (suspension) and Michael Walters (ankle), while Chris Mayne has been unable to replicate his 2013 form.
The Kangaroos are also well below full strength, taking the field tonight without suspended All-Australian Scott Thompson, captain Andrew Swallow (Achilles) and Daniel Wells (foot).
Both sides have stumbled to 3-2 win-loss records coming off poor performances, but King said the time was right for the Dockers to show what they were made of and go for the kill.
Fremantle have won three of the past four meetings between the sides and have not lost to North Melbourne in Perth since round 15, 2007.
"The game for me right now is Freo's to lose," King said.
"There's no Scotty Thompson, Daniel Wells is sore. They (North) are not in great form. They're up and down at the moment.
"They were fantastic against Sydney two weeks ago, terrible against Collingwood on the weekend. So many of their star players are out or impacted.
"We know that historically Freo have been all work rate. That hasn't been there at the moment for whatever reason, but I think it's Freo's time to really make a statement.
"I'm not sure whether winning's enough this week.
"They'd have to win well. I'm sure Ross (Lyon) won't be saying that, but they really need to start putting some four-quarter performances together and showing us the Fremantle of old."
King predicted Thompson's loss to a one-week ban would be crippling for North and allow Matthew Pavlich to get off the leash. Thompson earned his first All-Australian jumper last season and had carried the same form into 2014, keeping Lance Franklin goalless a fortnight ago.
His absence has left a gaping hole in defence, with Nathan Grima likely to be asked to punch above his weight on Pavlich.
"There's no logical match-up for him this week, that's the thing," King said of Pavlich.
"Scotty Thompson has been their best player."
King said North's emphasis on tightening up their defence would guarantee the match was played on Fremantle's terms.
"They're trying to do a few different things defensively and that's hurting their ability to score," he said.
