Fremantle have won their first away match of the AFL season in record-breaking style, holding hapless Carlton goalless in the opening half on the way to a 57-point triumph at Etihad Stadium.
The Dockers had the game shot to bits well before the halftime break on Saturday, when they led by 70 points.
The Blues did show much more fight in the final two quarters, when they outscored the Dockers by six goals to three.
But Nick Graham’s missed set shot after the final siren meant the Blues still recorded their lowest-ever score against Fremantle, who won 15.13 (103) to 6.10 (46).
The Dockers’ best players included big guns Lachie Neale, Nat Fyfe and David Mundy, while youngsters Andrew Brayshaw and Stefan Giro also impressed.
Veteran defender Kade Simpson and stand-in skipper Patrick Cripps, who had a game-high 38 possessions, were among a handful of Blues who could hold their heads high.
The Blues were simply dreadful in the opening half, conceding six goals in both quarters without managing to kick a single major in response.
The worst moment of a horrible first quarter came when Blues backman Sam Rowe dropped an uncontested mark deep in defence, gifting a goal to Neale.
If anything, things got even worse in the second term.
Brayshaw sauntered away untouched from a stoppage to goal early in the quarter, while Tom Sheridan kicked his first major after Jacob Weitering showed a distinct lack of awareness to be caught with the ball in the middle of the ground.
The Blues were booed off the ground at halftime by a sizeable contingent of the crowd of 21,430.
The home team finally got their first goal three minutes into the third quarter through Sam Kerridge.
Tireless ruckman Matthew Kreuzer then managed back-to-back goals, the first from outside the 50m arc and the second a clever left-footed snap as Carlton showed some long overdue spirit.
Even so Fremantle finished the third quarter with the final two goals to Michael Apeness and Brandon Matera.
All five of the Dockers’ previous five victories this year had come at home at Optus Stadium.
The heavy loss kept Carlton rooted to the bottom of the ladder ahead of a daunting clash next week against traditional rivals Collingwood.
Carlton’s previous lowest score against Fremantle was 6.13 (49) in 1996.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
Lyons is without a doubt a good coach. His arrival transformed Freo, at St Kilda he took a great list with a fatally flawed culture to a draw in a Grand Final. The system is designed to ensure that it is hard for a club to stay on top for an extended period. It seems to me that one of the secrets of long term success is developing the luxury of being able to hold young players out of the AFL as long as possible while they harden up young bodies and learn their trade. The other x-factor seems to be finding talent through the rooky list, both Geelong and Hawthorn have seemed to be able to do this very well.
Haydos
Guest
It was a big win though.
Jon Boy
Guest
Playing back at Peel is not all about development ... It is also a place for out of form players to TRY and regain form which has always been my only issue with Ross Lyon. Players like Mayne, Ballantyne , D.Pearce,Dawson,Suttcliffe,Sheridan and Spurr and others were rewarded with mediocrity for many,many weeks on end and some still are. Ross dropped Ballantyne and Matera for only one week and to recall old Ballantyne at the expense of Crowden and McCarthy is insane.
Macca
Guest
Who has laid more tackles for the blues in the past 5 weeks than SPS?
Macca
Guest
Steve - On the weekend Graham had 17 touches (9 effective) , 6 marks, 2 tackles, 4 inside 50's, 1 clearance and 5 clangers 0 rebound 50's Obrien had 17 possessions (12 effective), 5 marks, 1 tackle 3 inside 50s 2 clearances 0 clangers and 3 rebound 50's It is bloody hard to make a case that the 24 year old Graham should hold his spot ahead of the 18 year old O'Brien.
Macca
Guest
Steve - it was 2010 before the 2007 list made finals - I am pretty confident this list will be playing finals by 2021 if they can get a free agent like Gaff this year. Imagine if we put Judd into the 2018 list next to Cripps, Murphy & Dow - do you really think they wouldn't be pushing towards finals over the next couple of years. If you look at my comparison with the names Slane listed it is pretty clear this current list has significantly more potential.
Steve009
Roar Rookie
And you forgot Made Simpson, another handy player. It was a better list and ready to begin it's push to the finals
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
If you have any integrity in that statement you made above about Mayne, it's saying there is a benefit in playing back at Peel, it can actually benefit development, so it's not a black and white issue, according to your words? Or not?
Steve009
Roar Rookie
If they can't beat men in the VFL, they have no chance of beating men in the AFL and little chance of even being competitive.
Steve009
Roar Rookie
Graham at this point of 2018 is a better player than O'Brien and getting a game because it is best for the club is not being gifted game, it's being given a game because it's best for the club. What happened to all your talk of patience and playing the long game Macca?
Steve009
Roar Rookie
Dow, O'Brien and SPS are just talented passengers on this team at the moment, pick up a few possessions, but other than glimpse of their talent every now and then, they have very little impact on the game. His best game this week, but most weeks O'Brien is near invisible.
13th Man
Guest
I agree with that. Lyon doesn't even do the list management so the kudos needs to go to Brad Lloyd who has done a great job recruiting these kids but up until 3 weeks ago we didn't know how good a lot of the were as they weren't getting picked. Agree completely on Ballantyne, his time is surely up. McCarthy has had his 2 weeks in the WAFL. Bring him back and play him in the correct role, a medium sized 3rd forward that puts on pressure and presents up the ground.
Steve009
Roar Rookie
It was two years to late with Weitering. Kennedy had an injury do isn't really part of this discussion. Paddy Dow and SPS I think would benefit from spending time in the VFL with the responsibility of being one of the teams more influential players on the result of games, rather than barely contributing most weeks in the AFL. Not all the time, but at times. It particularly would have benifited Paddy Dow earlier in the season, SPS for some spells last year. Silvagni's form last year warranted his spot in the best 22 and when he struggled earlier this year they did the right thing, by sending him back to VFL to add to his game by spending time in the midfield. Carlton looks to maybe have got that right, but personally I think a few more weeks in learning this new role in the VFL wouldn't have hurt. And as for this discussion Silvagni wasn't a high draft pick. And the jury is still out on how good a player McKay is going to be, but I like what I've seen this year, and I believe the patience that is being shown with him should be the approach with the development of all our young players.
Jon Boy
Guest
Ballantyne, Johnson and D Pearce should have been released at the end 2016 Blind Freddie could have seen they were "GONE". Wasted time and space....You do not keep them just because there experienced. Look at North Melbourne for example !
Jon Boy
Guest
Right Three years not four 2016-2017-2018 stuck in the bottom half of the ladder, the end of 2015 was nothing to get excited about either.
Jon Boy
Guest
Lyon never once dropped Mayne he lost form and confidence for weeks on end, even you would acknowledge that i am sure. McCarthy deserved to be dropped well done Ross. .....Crowden talented youngster was dropped weeks ago, has been a emergency the last three weeks while Old DUD Ballantyne still getting games pumped into him and not performing......... McCarthy has played two good games .Ballantyne is hindering both these young players .Ross needs to end the Renovation now.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
"Four years"? So that includes 2015 & 2014? Or should we add that to your Johnson Failure in GF File? So according to your logic not getting a spell in the WAFL "nearly ruined" Mayne's career, yet a spell in the WAFL is hindering Crowden's & McCarthy's?
Jon Boy
Guest
Correct 1DER, even Brendon Bolton could do it ! Not even DF excuses could save him.
1DER
Guest
Finals next year for Freo and top 4 in 2020 would be a pass mark for Ross. This side has plenty of potential and no excuses after this year. Just pump the games into the youngsters for the rest of the season.
Macca
Guest
Fev was the best tall forward? but putting that aside lets look at it. Fev was turned 27 in Jan 2008 - Charlie Curnow is will be 22 - if you are looking for long term success Curnow is the better bet but we can call that a win for 2007 if you want. Scotland is the All Australian potential half back flanker - in 2018 we have Simpson is has been in the squad in 2016 and Docherty who was the All Australian half back flank in 2018 - who ever you don't match up against Scotland you can match up against Walker. If you count Judd you also have to count Gaff so we will call that 2 number one midfielders, one of which is still on the list now and we have Dow (3) O'Brien (10) and Fisher (27 which looks a bargain) plus Kennedy (13). "a superstar number 1 draft pick ruckmen on the way" Who is now in his prime and still on the list. Carrazzo V Ed Curnow is a pretty decent comparison Waite V Casboult - Waite wins, but given he went on to play just 72 games between 2009 and 2014 possibly not by as much as it seems. Grigg V Cripps - massive win for the 2018 list. Betts V Pickett - a win to 2007 but Pickett's potential and Betts' modest achievements to the end of 2007 might make this closer than it seems So basically there are 3 wins for 2007, a few break evens, a win for 2018 in sheer volume of first quality young mids and a big win with Cripps over Grigg and then we get to the likes of Marchbank, Weitering, McKay, SPS & Williamson. It is pretty clear the 2018 list is much better and has significantly more young talent.