Richmond made it two wins in a row tonight after over coming the Dockers and near cyclonic conditions at Domain Stadium to win by 38 points.
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The weather marred the spectacle tonight as both teams struggled with heavy rain and very windy conditions not seen for some time.
In fairness to the Tigers though, they simply made the most of their opportunities and were by far the better team on the night.
They used the ball better although that’s not saying much as Fremantle continually butchered the ball out of defence and when going forward.
Former skipper Matthew Pavlich had a very quiet night and Freo badly lacked a forward target even though their disposal was poor.
The Tigers were led by Trent Cotchin who finished with 39 possessions, 18 of which were contested. Like many his kicks didn’t always hit the mark but he worked tirelessly all night, continually winning the hard ball and dishing it off to teammates, finishing with a game high ten clearances.
Dustin Martin was one of the more polished players on the ground and finished with 30 possessions and 75 per cent kicking efficiency.
The Tigers defence was solid all night continually pressing the Dockers’ forwards and causing them to turn over the ball.
The Dockers were once again disappointing and they now own a 0-9 win-loss record after being 9-0 at the same time last season – an extraordinary turn around in 12 months.
Tonight only Lachie Neale provided any real resistance, supported by David Mundy and Danyle Pearce. The Dockers look stale and in need of some fresh ideas and players.
A very forgettable game tonight but for Tigers coach Damien Hardwick and his players it was a crucial four points as they look to revive their season.
Final score
Fremantle 6.9.45
Richmond 11.17.83
The Roar’s AFL MVP votes
3: Trent Cotchin (Richmond) – easy decision, 39 possessions, 18 contested, 8 tackles and 10 clearances, a very good night’s work.
2: Dustin Martin (Richmond) – used the ball as good as anyone and also imposing physical presence.
1: Lachie Neale (Fremantle) – a couple of Tigers unlucky not to get this vote but Neale was clearly Dockers best and they would have lost by a lot more without him
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Rosco is awesome. Response of the year so far: "I don’t think we have to tank. We have been trying our hardest and we are 0-8. That puts a pretty fine point on it doesn’t it." What a $#%@ head this journalist was asking about tanking. Great stuff Rosco.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
You're kidding, right? Luckily I was out of town, but it was literally batten down the hatches time in Perth on Saturday night (didn't they say there were around 40k tickets sold?). While some of the bandwagoners might have dropped off, the drop in attendances might also have something to do with so far only playing at home Gold Coast, GWS, a cellar dwellar clash against Carlton and then that cyclone on the weekend. Nice attempt at trying to stick the boot in though.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Seems that many Dockers fans are fair weather supporters, the exact thing they've been labeling Eagles barrackers as for years. Only 20,000 people turned out to watch this match and home ground attendances for Freo have plummeted by 22% this season compared to last. Stick fat Dockers supporters!
BigAl
Guest
I'm with you Lou, a big fan of Lyon, and am totally bamboozled by what is happening at Freo. Being a Saints fan, I am well aware of the derision many supporters have for him when he walked, but letting huge talent walk is what the Saints do best
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Fyfe, Johnson and Hill even were playing in in first 4 rounds in which time they had conceded 103, 126, 92 and 132 points. As for Lyon, I'm a fan, he came within a toe poke and unlucky bounce from being a dual premiership coach.
Don Freo
Guest
It might only be anon and henry that want him out though. Footy fans don't.
anon
Guest
What part of what I said do you disagree with and why?
Momentbymoment
Guest
Not sure why everyone wants Ross out. He is now faced with the challenge everyone wants to see - building a list. That's awesome. I'm very interested to see how he goes and suspect he will be successful.
Don Freo
Guest
De Boer is only 26. He offers great depth, grunt and leadership but he is only valuable as a player when he is a support act...not a lead. Barlow has a few more good years in him but, once again, as 3rd or 4th midfielder, not as the lead. I'd keep both.
johno
Guest
I would have thought the weather would have picked up the the third vote..... it must be the pessimist in me but did the wind pick up in the 2nd and 4th quarters? This is a season of opportunity for Fremantle though. Opportunity to sort out the wheat from the chaff so to speak. Expect Tucker, Apeness, Uebergang, Collins and Yarran (if he gets over his calf issues) to feature in the second half of the season. Fingers crossed for Morabito as well. Grey should be afforded more opportunities, although his kicking needs a lot of work, and so may Hannath or Smith given Clarke's ongoing knee issues. But Barlow, De Boer and Mzungu will either be traded or delisted come season end you would think seeing as they are not getting senior opportunities.
johno
Guest
Pretty much its Richmond and 8 other clubs at the moment. Unfortunately for the Tigers the other 8 clubs to beat Freo this season includes GWS, Hawthorn, Norths, West Coast, Adelaide, and the Doggies. Those 6 (plus another 3 I can think of) are better chances for the flag.....
johno
Guest
rinse and repeat. You're getting tired and stale with these comments anon
anon
Guest
"There are significant injuries. That’s why they don’t play like they did last year. The players are not available." They had a full strength team for the Gold Coast match at Subiaco and that match was over at half-time. It's a cultural problem. The rot starts at the top. If they had started the year playing well with a full-strength team, had some impressive wins, then started losing when they lost players then you might have a point. But whether they are full strength or ravaged by injuries, they play like the same rabble, look like the same rabble.
Don Freo
Guest
This idea that Ross tried to be more attacking and it failed is just media cliche...and very tired media cliche. There are significant injuries. That's why they don't play like they did last year. The players are not available. When they return, Freo will play with greater results. There is no need to sack Ross, no need to destroy Pav's legacy, no need to do any more with the list than any other club has to do. These are not "worrying times". The solution is simple...when the unfit stars are fit, we'll start winning again. No rocket science needed. I think you'll find that Freo had a greater disposal efficiency than Richmond and squared the second half. Not as bad as you make out.
Balthazar
Guest
Roos has tried to be more attacking this year? Not since he lost Sandi, Jonno and Fyfe he hasn't He's experimenting cos he knows rhe year is stuffed. That's why he was playing two rucks in a cyclone; while leaving his 2 best wet weather (smaller) players out of the team. For heaven's sake, he is playing a midfield of Neale against the entire clearance team from the other side - without Mundy, Hill or Barlow in there with him. OK he had Clancee and young Blakeley in there too but it amounts ro the same thing. He was playing a forward in Crozier off the HBF in case you did not notice. Yes a lot of the players there were in the team in 2013 but many of those players (Pav aside) are not old by currrent AFL standards and are there because nobody is challenging for their spots, due to an injury crisis (includjng players like Bennell, Apeness, Yarran, Morabito) So, unless the AFL is going to give Freo a bigger list than any ither team, it is what it is and you are pushing the same tired, old barrow as a lot of Victorians who hate Ross Lyon. Especially unless you can prove that St Kilda in 2011 had the same amount of LTIs to such a number of its best players
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
They need even more new players. 14 of these guys last night played in the Preliminary Final last year. I agree with you at the moment they don't have much choice thanks to injury, but there's a few last night that won't be there next season. As for looking stale, they look very slow, continue to kick backwards. There are signs of St Kilda 2011 about them. Ross tried to be more attacking this season but they leaked goals. Now they just look like there is no plan. Worrying times.
Don Freo
Guest
Agreed. If they can get over our boys, they are GF monties.
big four sticks
Guest
All other 17 clubs have been put on notice as Richmond are back! It's officially tiger time folks so all other clubs beware because we will storm our way into the finals.
Balthazar
Guest
Alex Pearce :( Can join a long and distinguished list of best and brightest Freo youngsters to have their careers cruelled by injury including Palmer, Fyfe, Barlow, Haselby, Morabito, Pitt. Freo was awful. Can't kick, can't mark, can't tackle. No idea now what the game plan actually is. But to say they look stale and need new players when they're stuffing as many young kids into the team as they possibly can makes me wonder if you watched the game. There's literally only Sam Collins and Brady Grey (who should never have been dropped in the first place) left. Everyone else you'd remotely consider is either injured or on the rookie list and too green. Oh, and Barlow, who's perfectly suited to the conditions yesterday but inexplicably was collecting 44 possessions, 9 tackles and 3 goals in the WAFL.
Don Freo
Guest
Lou, the Dockers have a team full of fresh players...not stale at all. What they lack is the hardened vets. Pav spent most of the second half down back shoring up the defence...that's why he wasn't working up forward. Taberner and Mayne were the 2 key forwards. Pav was a tackling machine last night. The youth were our better players. It looked quite promising at the game. Never in it but the kids know what to do and where to go. A mention of Blakely's game or of Pearce's great job on Reiwoldt would highlight that promise. Ethan Hughes is the obvious replacement for Duffield.