Fremantle’s forward line displayed potential while Melbourne suffered the fumbles in the Dockers’ 97-50 NAB Cup win in front of 11,031 fans at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.
Michael Johnson and Matthew Pavlich booted three goals apiece while goalsneaks Hayden Ballantyne and Des Headland chipped in with two each as the Demons were made to pay for a slow start in the 1.13.10 (97) to 2.4.8 (50) result.
Fremantle’s win sets up a quarterfinal against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium next Sunday after the Kangaroos upset Geelong earlier in the day.
But the Dockers will be hoping the match review panel doesn’t cite Greg Broughton after the defender ran past the ball and cleaned up Melbourne’s Ricky Petterd in the third quarter.
Injuries could also cost Fremantle with Byron Schammer (ankle), Adam McPhee (ankle) and Kepler Bradley (hip) all limping off, although Bradley returned late in the fray.
Dockers rookie and former VFL star Michael Barlow (29 possessions, four inside 50s) was the standout player, pushing his case for a quick promotion to the senior list.
Ballantyne (18 possessions, including 10 contested, Roger Hayden (23), David Mundy (19) and Paul Duffield (25) were also important contributors in an even effort from Fremantle.
Melbourne’s prized recruits Tom Scully (15 possessions) and Jack Trengove (11) impressed in patches to show a bright future lies ahead while former Lion Joel Macdonald (22) gathered plenty of the ball.
The Dockers’ first pick from last year’s national draft, Anthony Morabito, tallied just five possessions in a quiet debut.
The Demons made a series of blunders in the opening term and the Dockers made them pay, with goals from Des Headland, Hayden Ballantyne, Michael Johnson and Matthew Pavlich lifting the home side to a 28-2 lead by the first change.
Melbourne trailed by 32 points when Ballantyne bagged his second shortly after the break but the Demons finally found some rhythm as Aaron Davey and Brad Miller banged home super goals to close the gap to 16 points.
But a supergoal from Fremantle speedster Clancee Pearce right on the half-time siren undid most of Melbourne’s good work as the Dockers went to the break with a handy 24-point advantage.
Fremantle re-asserted their dominance in the third quarter and controlled the vital midfield battle to pepper the Demons’ defence.
The Dockers nailed four goals to one for the term to take a 43-point advantage into the final break and while Melbourne hit back with the first two goals of the final term, it was far too little too late.
“Disappointing start,” Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said bluntly.
“We came over here and when you travel interstate what you don’t want to do is allow the home team get off to a good start.
“They got off to a good start and their confidence grew and we were playing catch-up for the rest of the game.”
Fremantle coach Mark Harvey praised the effort of his developing group.
“It’s good to see some of our younger players and even our first gamers play pretty well, albeit in our first game,” Harvey said.
“I thought in the second and third quarters we made too many mistakes but that might be reflective of just match fitness and it being the first game.”
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