There were a few bumps along the way but the Fremantle Dockers eventually found themselves with a 21-point win over the GWS Giants.
>>MATCH REPORT: Dockers beat GWS but defender in strife
Zac Dawson will likely find himself under MRP scrutiny after elbowing GWS forward Jeremy Cameron, and Giants fans will have more than a few bones to pick with the umpiring after some poor decisions on the day.
In the end though the Dockers got the win, and moved a win-and-a-half clear on the AFL ladder following second-placed West Coast’s Saturday night draw.
Fremantle 12.12.84 def GWS 9.9.63
The Fremantle Dockers host the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Domain Stadium on Sunday to close out Round 18. Join The Roar for live scores from 2:40pm Local (4:40pm AEST).
Fremantle are currently positioned 1st and will be looking to secure a home final come September. The club have Perth rivals West Coast on their heels as well as the high-flying Hawks, meaning they must win over GWS if they want to win their first flag since coming into the AFL in 1995.
The Giants meanwhile have never defeated the Dockers, are currently positioned 10th, and the new kids on the block will be hoping to make an inaugural finals berth, this game being a huge test of their hopes.
Matt Taberner will be required to have a big game. He has kicked just two goals in his last six games, being subbed out of four of them. If he can get a touch on the ball, it will significantly boost the Dockers’ chances of winning.
Nat Fyfe is out with a groin injury with Zac Dawson and Tendai Mzungu coming on to the interchange alongside Lachie Weller on debut. Matt Taberner and Clancee Pearce have both been omitted.
GWS have made several changes due to the injuries of Devon Smith (knee), Nick Haynes (groin) Zac Williams and Rhys Palmer (both hamstring). Curtly Hampton is omitted from the squad that lost to the Cats, Nathan Wilson slots into the backline with Phil Davis, James Stewart, Matt Buntine and Will Hoskin-Elliott coming onto the interchange.
Prediction
Dockers by 23.
Preview by Riley Pettigrew
Join The Roar for live scores from 2:40PM Local (4:40pm AEST). Be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
Don Freo
Guest
It acts as a mirror. It is a response exactly in the manner of your response to me. "...your response is standard barracking for your club"
johno
Guest
Nah - Freo will play the "Judd on Pav" card....you know the one where Judd put 7 stitches in Pavs head with an elbow then went on to win the Brownlow ....
conchie
Roar Rookie
Hey Don, why do you kep crediting me with saying certain things and having a certain POV when quite clearly i neither said that or hold that POV ?.
haydos
Guest
The Giants beat teams these days. Lots of teams beat other teams these days. Freo have lost to 2 of them so far.
Don Freo
Guest
So why have a go at Dawson's careless act and defend the deliberate stuff from others? It is the comment of prejudice. You make your assessment of Dawson on the basis of personal distaste. That's ok...it's your choice how you view a game but don't pretend it is impartial or dispassionate.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Don, your response is standard barracking for your club, i don't really like Hawthorn, but i like seeing good football and good footballers get the protection to do that.
Don Freo
Guest
He'll get weeks but it was clumsy not deliberate. Mitchell was deliberate and cost Fyfe weeks of fitness. Cameron will be ok next week. Sewell on the MRP will ensure Dawson gets weeks.
Freo As
Guest
Dawson is a massive doofus. Too clumsy to aim an elbow anywhere near where he meant to when he wasn't looking. He'll get weeks for sure, which might spell the end of him for this year. There were some tragi-comic moments from him today, like when we were breaking from halfback with a good chance of setting up a dangerous move forward, Crozier had the ball and with a few Giants closing in and Dawson near by, Crozier had every right to think Dawson would either shepherd a path for him or run to space for a hand pass, instead the big doofus just stood in no mans land and watched Crozier get buried in the tackle.
Don Freo
Guest
But it's ok if it's Gibson, Lake , Mitchell, Hodge...because of the colours they wear? I love the way Dawson neutralized Cameron. It was a great first up effort. Cameron needs to be bigger than his silly response. You didn't see Fyfe go after Mitchell. He just kept playing. Your response is so OTT.
conchie
Roar Rookie
I am blaming lax umpiring for serial plonkers like Dawson getting away with "clumsy' actions making star players taking it upon themselves to retaliate. I am sure all football fans would rather see a decent shootout from Pav and Cameron than Dawson smashing someones nose in so he can't play.
Freo As
Guest
Cuts both ways.
Don Freo
Guest
That's interesting. Mitchell has been picking off star opposition all year, Dawson played his first game for the year...and you are blaming Dawson for Mitchell's behaviour. Next you'll be blaming Freo winning games as an explanation for Hawthorn's 5 losses.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Don, Mitchell has become much dirtier since weak umpiring has allowed players like Dawson to get away with crap, taggers have been allowed to much latitude.
Don Freo
Guest
With Dawson back doing the neutralizing stuff, we saw one of the things we have missed all year...McPharlin back at CHB doing the intercepting and rebounding. So creative. Alex Pearce at CHF was just exciting.
Don Freo
Guest
Ball or balls? He has just become a cynical sniper since he has lost his abilty to keep up.
Freo As
Guest
We have a pretty bad free differential, especially compared to Vic clubs and only won the count by 4 today, despite dominating possession. The rushed behind was pretty much par for the course and I bet Dawson will be smacked hard by the MRP.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Essentially Mitchell is a ball player, can't say the same in any way shape or form for Zac, Gibson is not in the same league as Zac either. The sooner Johnson is back the better the Dockers will play.
Don Freo
Guest
Not while Mitchell and Gibson are playing.
conchie
Roar Rookie
At least the Dockers had the Umpires on their side, hope Dawson gets a good break, dirtiest player running around really.
Don Freo
Guest
No Fyfe, no Johnson, no Ballas, no Pearce...yeah, only one side was undermanned. They just had a comfortable win against a team that has the wood on Hawthorn and Sydney. Still, write your own story.