Fremantle have sent early warning signs to the competition after another impressive victory, this time annihilating Geelong at the Cattery by 44-points.
The first half was relatively even. The Cats were well and truly in with a sniff come half-time. The Dockers once again failed to capitalise in front of the big sticks, carrying a 12-point lead into the main break.
A bone crunching tackle from 175-centimetre second gamer Cory Gregson on Aaron Sandilands in the first quarter was one of just a small handful of highlights for the Cats.
Giant Aaron Sandilands was once again dominant around stoppages, amassing 51 hitouts to Dawson Simpsons less than impressive 10. His ability to put the ball on a platter to his midfielders was superb and this was personified in the second quarter when Nathan Fyfe managed to dance around Cameron Guthrie, receive the ball in front from Sandilands and then dish it out to Michael Walters resulting in a training-drill like goal.
Just as all the talk was prior to the match, the Dockers midfielders were dominant and their ability to not only win clearances, but to impact the scoreboard significantly was remarkable. Both Fyfe (36 disposals) and Michael Barlow (31 disposals) chipped in with three goals, whilst the ever so damaging Stephen Hill (29 disposals) ironically tore the Cats to shreds, chipping in with two goals of his own.
The Cats made an emphasis during the week to win more of the football, but against a defensive Dockers – a side willing to attack more on a skinnier ground – they were beaten convincingly with the disposal tally ending up 321-409.
Fremantle’s ability to gut run and spread from the contest was unbelievable and the Cats simply couldn’t match it, raising further concerns for a side known for its polished ball movement around the ground, especially at the Cattery. The absence of Steven Motlop was certainly felt, with nobody able to stand up and add that real sense of flare through the corridor.
A George Horlin-Smith screamer in front of goal early in the third term allowed the Cats back in the contest, trailing by just five points. That’s when the Dockers clicked into gear. Five unanswered goals looked nothing more than a training drill to Ross Lyon’s men and Nathan Fyfe ensured his early short-price Brownlow favouritism stayed intact, coming in from $6 to $4.50.
It was a “marvellous” third quarter as the great Richie Benaud would have said. Fremantle took an unassailable 41-point lead into the last.
Although the tall timber in Tom Hawkins, Rhys Stanley and Mitch Clark all kicked two goals, the Dockers’ defence still won convincingly by the end of the day. Paul Duffield played well of the half-back flank, both managing to counter attack when necessary as well as dropping back into the defensive hole to take an uncontested mark.
Joel Selwood battled hard all day, ending up with a team-high 27 disposals and 8 tackles, as did Josh Caddy who was ferocious around the contest laying ten tackles and getting the ball inside 50 on five occasions.
The Cats currently sit rock bottom on the table and will be desperate for a win against Gary Ablett’s basket case Gold Coast Suns, as he prepares to return to the Cattery with one shoulder.
Chris Scott will be sweating over the availably of Jimmy Bartel after sitting out the week with after being concussed on Easter Monday.
On a sour note for Fremantle, ruckman Zac Clarke was seen limping off the ground in the final quarter clutching his left knee. Ross Lyon was optimistic and he will be sent for scans early next week. Hayden Ballantyne made high contact with Harry Taylor late in the game and is likely to miss next week’s Derby.
GEELONG 2.2 6.2 8.4 9.6 (60)
FREMANTLE 3.3 7.8 14.9 15.14 (104)GOALS
Geelong: Stanley 2, Hawkins 2, Clark 2, Duncan, Guthrie, Horlin-Smith
Fremantle: Fyfe 3, Barlow 3, Hill 2, Pavlich 2, Mayne, Walters, Taberner, Pearce, BallantyneBEST
Geelong: Selwood, Taylor, Caddy, Kelly, Enright
Fremantle: Mundy, Barlow, Fyfe, Hill, Sandilands, Johnson, Pavlich, Duffield
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