Fremantle’s favourable draw to start the season could easily result in a 3-0 record heading into the first western derby of 2019.

That’s the opinion of The Sunday Times senior sports journalist Braden Quartermaine in today’s episode of the Duff and Quarters AFL podcast.

The Dockers host an injury-hit North Melbourne at Optus Stadium in round one (March 24) before travelling to the Gold Coast to take on the Suns at Metricon Stadium on March 31.

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A clash against St Kilda, another team tipped by many experts to finish in the bottom half of the ladder, follows at Optus Stadium on April 7 ahead of the highly-anticipated derby against the reigning premier.

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Quartermaine did raise concerns about Freo’s ever-growing casualty ward, which includes Stephen Hill (quad), Aaron Sandilands (calf), Connor Blakely (hamstring), Griffin Logue (hamstring) and Sam Switkowski (hamstring), Brennan Cox (hamstring) and Matt Taberner (hamstring/calf tightness).

But their first three opponents also have worryingly large injury lists.

“There’s some storm clouds with injuries, it’s clearly not the way you’d want to go into a season,” Quartermaine said.

“But I think people are underestimating the great draw Fremantle have for the first three weeks.

“Round one is just huge for them. If Fremantle can get over North, Fremantle will be an undermanned outfit that day, I think the Dockers will be 3-0 leading into the derby.

“How’s that going to set-up a derby against West Coast, the reigning premiers, in round four?”

In this episode of Duff and Quarters, Quartermaine and The West Australian chief football writer Mark Duffield also discuss: