It's been a long wait but Fremantle will finally get their piece of the Tiger carcass this week with Terry Wallace and the boys flying into Perth as part of their Draft Picks for 07 campaign. Without a win for the season and coming off a heartbreaking draw last week, what was left of the Tigers spirit is all but gone, giving Fremantle chance to hand out some pay back for a few MCG floggings.

Last time Richmond came to town they were right up where they belong - 9th spot. They had high hopes of breaking the black and yellow ceiling and moving into the top 8 but were once again disappointed with Fremantle winning by a less than convincing 11 points. Despite losing Peter Bell early in the first quarter and Terry Wallace's continuing efforts to ruin football, Freo fought their way through the Richmond floodle to win the game. It was a tough, hard fought, hard thought game, with the Tigers putting numbers around the ball. Brett Peake was a ball magnet with 24 touches, 5 bounces and 3 Brownlow votes. Mark Coughlan got a lot of the ball for the Tigers with 35 disposals but just the one bounce. Pavlich kicked 3 goals straight, Des headland and Brett Peake kicked 2 each. For the Tigers, Chris Hyde kicked 2. Despite the Dockers win, the conciliation Brownlow votes went the way of two Richmond players, Shane Tuck and Joel Bowden.

A year earlier the result went in a similar direction. Richmond had slipped down to 10th on the ladder but were just a game out of 9th spot. But they would have to wait another week to make their climb up the ladder. The Dockers rolled them by 27 points in a display of strength. Aaron Sandilands played like a rover, Josh Carr played like a tall forward, Des Headland played like he was having flashbacks from 'Nam and Matthew Pavlich made a late run at the Coleman Medal. Pav kicked 4 goals, Josh Carr kicked 3 and Kayne Pettifer kicked 3 for Richmond. Paul Hasleby and Joel Bowden had 30 touches each. Hasleby's 30 earned him the Brownlow votes with Peter Bell close behind with 2 votes. Kane Johsnon was given 1 vote just to keep the Dockers players in their box.

It was a different story a few months early that same year. The Dockers travelled to the MCG to try and convert some good form into 4 points but instead they were given a paddling. Fremantle started the game short handed after sending three players to bed with a 'virus' before the game. It didn't take long before there were suspicions that they'd sent the wrong three players. After looking out of touch in the first half, the Dockers descended into a complete rabble in the second half, at times giving rabbles a bad name. A 6-0 goal third quarter saw the game over well before the final siren and Fremantle shellacked by 48 points. Matthew Richardson kicked 6 goals and Nathan Brown had 34 touches and took 13 marks, Fremantle's best ball getter was Heath Black with 34 disposals and it trailed off after that.

That was at the MCG though where Fremantle have only managed to beat the Tigers once. Back at home, Richmond have won 3 games against Fremantle from 8 trips to Subicao oval but they haven't beaten the Dockers there since 2001. They've lost the last 4 by an average of just over 5 goals. Their other wins were by 1 point in 1999 and 7 points in 1995.

Last week the Tigers drew with Brisbane at the Tesltra Dome with 10.13 (73) each. Matthew Richardson kicked 2 goals and Nathan Foley had 26 touches. That was their best result for the season with the previous 9 games resulting in a loss. Come Sunday it will have been 288 days since their last win. They are currently on the the bottom of the ladder.

Last week Fremantle narrowly lost to Collingwood at the MCG. Matthew Pavlich kicked 4.7 and Paul Hasleby had 34 touches. That was the Dockers 6th loss for the season, putting them 2 games out of the 8 and 3 games away from a top 4 spot. On Sunday it will have been 16 days since their last win.