Collingwood have well and truly put the cleaners through the Dockers at the MCG and chalked up a sixty-one point victory.
Astonishingly, it could have been a more considerable margin and only a strong fourth quarter effort from the visitors helped bring some respectability to their performance.
Aside from a quick early start by the Dockers, the gap in class between the two sides was evident and the youthful Fremantle squad was always going to struggle. Nathan Buckley has instilled some steel and venom into this Collingwood team, something that has been lacking for quite some time.
The Fremantle rebuild will mean losses such as this one are predictable and inevitable. Ross Lyon has been at the helm for some time and personally, I think fairly questioned about where this team is heading.
Will Hoskin-Elliott was excellent for the Pies with six goals. Jordan De Goey was crafty and Brody Mihocek kicked four on debut.
Darcy Tucker was one of Fremantle’s best and the big story for the Dockers could be whether Nathan Fyfe raised an elbow and deserves a fine or some time on the sidelines. It looked like a potentially controversial decision.
Collingwood look to have slammed the door on any doubters still thinking they have something to prove. They must surely be considered top four chances at the midway point of the season.
Fremantle will face some scrutiny in the local press through the week. The youthful nature of their team today was clear, yet the game style also will come under pressure, as they did tend to head backwards rather than forwards for long periods early in the game.
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