AFL round three tips: Derby 60 looms as season-defining contest for struggling Fremantle
Many had high hopes for Fremantle coming into the 2025 season, with AFL expert David King even tipping them to win the premiership.
They've had a rocky start however, belted by Geelong in round one and losing at home to the Swans last weekend.
Now they enter the 60th Western Derby against a West Coast team that took it to reigning premiers Brisbane in round two and stunned the Dockers this time last year.
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And even with coach Justin Longmuir's future consistently reaffirmed by the club, a loss on Sunday night would be an enormous double blow for his side.
Not only would finals hopes begin to slip at 0-3, but bragging rights are well and truly on the line against their crosstown rivals.
Fremantle midfielder Jaeger O'Meara is confident the club can find some form on the weekend as the eyes of the footy world turn to Perth.
Fremantle midfielder Jaeger O'Meara is confident the Dockers can find their form. Getty
"I guess both teams are 0-2, it's a Western Derby, there's a bit more pressure on in terms of everyone in WA loves football, so they want their team to win this one," O'Meara told reporters on Tuesday.
"We just want to get going and start playing our brand of footy for as long as we possibly can and try and bring that for four quarters, we haven't really done that.
"We're not so worried about the pressure of the game itself, we've got bigger things to worry about."
The pressure is on to avoid 0-3 starts around the competition, with fellow finals hopefuls Carlton and Melbourne in a similar boat to the Dockers.
The Blues take on the Western Bulldogs on Friday night. Star key forward Harry McKay has already been ruled out for personal reasons, while spearhead Charlie Curnow continues to work his way back to full fitness following three off-season surgeries.
Melbourne meanwhile is coming off a shock 59-point belting at the hands of North Melbourne in round two and now face a Gold Coast side that looked incredibly impressive in their 87-point win over West Coast before their bye.
Melbourne's Max Gawn and Harry Petty leave the field after the loss to North. AFL Photos via Getty Images
They have confirmed key defenders Steven May (larynx) and Jake Lever (ankle) will be fit to face the Suns.
Both the Blues and Dees may see external pressure rise significantly with losses this weekend as their finals hopes hang in the balance.
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 3 tips by all Nine's expert tipsters!
Nine's AFL tipping leaderboard. Nine
Jimmy Bartel: Port Adelaide, Carlton, Gold Coast, St Kilda, Hawthorn, Brisbane, Adelaide, Fremantle
Tom Morris: Port Adelaide, Bulldogs, Melbourne, St Kilda, GWS, Brisbane, Adelaide, Fremantle
Rory Sloane: Essendon, Bulldogs, Gold Coast, St Kilda, GWS, Geelong, Adelaide, Fremantle
Eddie McGuire: Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast Suns, St Kilda, GWS Giants, Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Crows, Fremantle
Tony Jones: Essendon, Carlton, Melbourne, Richmond, Hawthorn, Brisbane, Adelaide, West Coast
Clint Stanaway: Port Adelaide, Bulldogs, Melbourne, St Kilda, Hawks, Lions, Crows, Fremantle
Nat Yoannidis: Port Adelaide, Bulldogs, Demons, St Kilda, Hawks, Lions, Crows, Fremantle
