The Fremantle Dockers and the North Melbourne Kangaroos have been two of the most competitive teams in the AFL over the past few years. Both teams have had their share of success, with the Dockers making it to the Grand Final in 2013 and the Kangaroos reaching the Preliminary Final in 2014. However, this season has been a different story for both teams. The Dockers have struggled to find form, while the Kangaroos have been one of the surprise packets of the season.
The Dockers have been hampered by injuries to key players, including star midfielder Nat Fyfe and forward Hayden Ballantyne. They have also had to cope with the retirement of club legend Matthew Pavlich. Despite these setbacks, the Dockers have managed to remain competitive, but they are still outside the top eight and in danger of missing out on a finals berth.
The Kangaroos, on the other hand, have been one of the most consistent teams in the competition this season. Led by veteran midfielder Brent Harvey and key forward Drew Petrie, they have been able to put together a string of impressive performances. They currently sit in fourth place on the ladder, and are well placed to secure a finals berth.
So can the Dockers rebound to secure a finals berth? It is certainly possible, but it will require a lot of hard work and dedication from the players and coaching staff. The Dockers need to find some form quickly if they are to make a run at the top eight. They also need to make sure they are able to stay injury free for the remainder of the season.
The Dockers will also need to take advantage of their remaining fixtures. They face some tough opponents in the coming weeks, including the Kangaroos, but they also have some winnable games against teams such as St Kilda and Brisbane. If they can put together a string of wins, then they may be able to make a late charge for a finals berth.
The Dockers have shown that they are capable of competing with the best teams in the competition, and they will need to draw on this experience if they are to make it into the top eight. With a bit of luck and some hard work, Freo may yet be able to rebound and secure a finals berth this season.
