Dockers superstar Matthew Pavlich predicts midfield will decide battle against the Crows

MATTHEW Pavlich predicts a midfield showdown - rather than shoot-out with Adelaide spearhead Taylor Walker – will decide victory in the west on Sunday.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 01: Matthew Pavlich leads the Dockers onto the ground during the round 11 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Fremantle Dockers at Etihad Stadium on June 1, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

MATTHEW Pavlich predicts a midfield showdown - rather than shoot-out with Adelaide spearhead Taylor Walker – will decide victory in the west on Sunday.

However the Crows believe they have the All Australian answer in Daniel Talia to shut down Pavlich even if their engine room can’t cut supply.

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Pavlich, 32, has 46 goals in 23 games against the Crows while Walker averages 3.71 goals in battle with Fremantle with 26.

Pavlich put the onus on a Fremantle midfield headlined by Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Stephen Hill and Michael Barlow with emerging South Australian Lachy Neale to quell Patrick Dangerfield’s No.1 ranked centre clearance unit.

“As much as it is made out that way by the public and media we certainly don’t see it that way,” said Pavlich of a goal duel with Walker.

“The game is won or lost in the midfield and the Crows have a fantastic midfield group that have probably had the better of us in recent times.”

The Dockers are in seventh spot with a 6-4 win-loess record while the Crows are in ninth spot at 5-5. Ross Lyon’s side “knows how important” tomorrow’s clash is says Pavlich.

“In 2012 we couldn’t get a victory in three attempts and last year we were able to get them later in the year when they were a bit battered and bruised,” said 301-game veteran Pavlich.

“Off the back of beating the Gold Coast we understand it will be a red hot Crows.”

Adelaide swing-man James Podsiadly backed Talia as the man to stop Pavlich and Walker to fire at a venue where the Crows prevailed in round 10, 2012.

“Daniel has done a fantastic job stopping some of the game’s elite forwards. I expect him to do the job this week as well,” said Podsiadly of Talia, who has conceded just one goal over four weeks scalping Collingwood’s Travis Cloke and Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch.

“I reckon we have the All Australian full back in Daniel Talia if you look at the half way mark of the season.”

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Podsiadly said he and Crows teammates loved the open expanses of Subiaco which will suit Walker and a forward line “gelling nicely”.

“He is one of the guys who has really driven the side forward,” said 2011 Geelong premiership forward Podsiadly in support of Walker.

“I love playing with him and when I wasn’t he was one of my favourite players to watch.

“He has come in the past few weeks. I feel comfortable playing with Tex and I am sure he feels the same way.

“Josh Jenkins is a guy who is playing a really important role for us and Eddie Betts form the last couple of weeks has been good too.”

Fremantle are the dominant contested marking team – fired by Aaron Sandilands (22) and Matthew Pavlich (18) but Podsiadly has 18 this season and says Adelaide must find a way to prevail.

“They are a fantastic side that defend really well and attack in bursts. We have to be on our guard in that sense and bring our A-game,” said Podsiadly.

FREMANTLE v ADELAIDE

Patersons Stadium, Sunday, 3.40pm

DOCKERS

Backs: Spurr, McPharlin, Dawson

Half-backs: Mzungu, Johnson, Pearce

Centre: Sutciffe, Crowley, Duffield

Half-forwards: Barlow, Mayne, Fyfe

Forwards: Ballantyne, Pavlich, Clarke

Ruck: Sandilands, Mundy, Hill

Interchange: Neale, Suban, Sheridan, Ibbotson

CROWS

Backs: Laird, Rutten, Brown

Half-backs: Smith, Talia, Otten

Centre: Sloane, S. Thompson, Mackay

Half-forwards: Kerridge, Jenkins, Cameron

Forwards: Podsiadly, Walker, Betts

Ruck: Jacobs, Dangerfield, Douglas

Interchange: Jaensch, Lyons, Martin, Wright

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Originally published as Dockers superstar Matthew Pavlich predicts midfield will decide battle against the Crows