West Coast forward Mark LeCras injured his arm and Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich was reported in the Dockers’ 28-point AFL western derby victory at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night.
LeCras, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, appeared to suffer a serious shoulder injury after copping a heavy but fair bump from Tendai Mzungu.
The 2010 All-Australian immobilised his right arm by wrapping it up in his jersey, but was later seen icing his forearm.
The injury capped a forgettable third quarter for the Eagles, with Fremantle piling on six goals to one to set up the 16.12 (108) to 11.14 (80) victory in front of 39,629 fans.
Dockers midfielders David Mundy and Michael Barlow were the joint winners of the Ross Glendinning medal after dominant displays.
Fremantle were left with their own worries after Pavlich was reported for charging Will Schofield.
Schofield took a brave mark running back with the flight of the ball when Pavlich cannoned into him.
Pavlich was already in mid-air when Schofield claimed the mark, and the Fremantle spearhead turned his body when he realised contact was imminent.
Schofield was shaken by the hit, but was able to take the free kick.
The AFL’s match review panel is also sure to assess a first-quarter incident when Eagles midfielder Scott Selwood was felled off the ball.
Fremantle duo Hayden Ballantyne and Nat Fyfe were in the area at the time, but it was unclear who delivered the blow to Selwood, who stayed on the ground for around 20 seconds and left the field nursing a sore head.
Ballantyne had a quiet game and was subbed off in the final quarter with a lower leg injury.
The likely loss of LeCras for the early part of the season is a bitter blow for West Coast, who are already missing ruckman Nic Naitanui (groin), midfielder Daniel Kerr (knee), Matt Rosa (quad), Mark Nicoski (hamstring) and Sharrod Wellingham (ankle).
And in a further setback, key defender Eric Mackenzie appeared to injure his left hamstring in the third quarter.
West Coast led by nine points at halftime, but were blown out of the water in the third term as Fremantle’s midfield took control.
Such was Fremantle’s dominance, they ended up winning the inside-50m count 61-38.
Former Port Adelaide midfielder Danyle Pearce performed strongly in his first AFL game for the Dockers, while Barlow, Stephen Hill and Mundy were also key contributors.
Tagger Ryan Crowley restricted gun Eagles on-baller Luke Shuey to just 12 touches, while Luke McPharlin was strong in defence for the Dockers.
Pavlich booted just 0.3 for the match, but Fremantle’s small brigade stepped up in his absence.
Michael Walters and Nic Suban booted three goals, while Pearce and Chris Mayne chipped in with two apiece.
bryan
Guest
No,you know how some Brits & some Australians say it! The way the people of Derby in England pronounce it,would be the standard for spelling the name of the CITY,but I don't know if they say "Derby" or "Darby",or something else altogether. The TERM has become an International word,with many different pronunciations. .Many millions of Americans pronounce it the way WA people do. Of course,everybody is inconsistent,-----the Yanks call Albany "Orlbany" just like you "T'othersiders":! A big majority of people in WA say "Darnce" & "Carsel" for "Dance" & "Castle"! On the subject of feeling superior,your comment was:- "On the east coast we know the difference between correct and incorrect pronunciation". That was the "superior" bit,not your pronunciation!
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Ehrmegerd, Merlberhn
TomC
Roar Guru
Or they could have been, you know, just pronouncing the word as they've always pronounced it, as it's meant to be pronounced, without any thought as to who was superior. I've never been to Derby either, but I know how to say it.
bryan
Guest
As we don't live in a place called "Parth",it is hard to call a Derby anything but "Derby",like the town up in the Kimberleys. I "wondar" ---er,-wonder where the "ar" for "er" thing came from,as it is not used in other words. Maybe it came from pirates----Arrrrr!! I did not visit the English city of Derby when I was there years ago,so I have no idea how they pronounce the name of their city. Another strange one is "Newcarsel" for,well,"Newcastle"! OK,the NSW one is pronounced this way by the inhabitants,,but all the English Novocastrians I have heard speaking pronounce it as it is spelt. My point is that regional pronunciations are not a further oppurtunity for ES people to express their feelings of superiority.
TomC
Roar Guru
On the east coast we know the difference betwee correct and incorrect pronunciation. Perhaps that's the problem.
Martin
Guest
And why is it that a few of the Eastern states commentators show disrespect by mispronouncing the word 'derby'. This is not a horse race where you say 'darby'. Are there only egg-heads working at the ABC 24 television station who don't know the difference between a horse race and a football match.