A fumbly and flat Fremantle suffered a second big loss on the trot against a ruthless Brisbane at the Gabba with their season in freefall.
The Dockers were down on confidence, indecisive and look a shadow of the team that broke their September drought last season, slumping to 2-5 with the 48-point defeat – 17.13 (115) to 10.7 (67).
It was the same old story with the contested-ball woes, losing the count for a seventh consecutive match as former captain Dayne Zorko, Brownlow medallist and former Dockers star Lachie Neale and No.1 pick Will Ashcroft ran riot.
Zorko was best-afield in the first half but was subbed out in the final term and had ice on his left hamstring soon after, while Neale looks back to his top form and should get the three Brownlow votes with 35 disposals, 24 contested possessions and 13 clearances.
Caleb Serong (27 disposals) , who would be leading the Doig Medal count by a fair way, held up his end of the bargain once again and Andrew Brayshaw also had an impact with 30 possessions and two goals.
Like the contested-possession numbers (157-136), the clearance battle (46-29) was also one-sided with Oscar McInerney winning the ruck tussle with Sean Darcy.
Fremantle got to within 22 points midway through the third quarter after their best 10 minutes of the match, but that was as good as it got with Brisbane kicking away before three-quarter time to pretty much put the result beyond doubt.
Sam Sturt went goalless for three quarters before getting subbed out for top-10 pick Neil Erasmus, who played his first AFL match in early 12 months, with fellow forwards Bailey Banfield and Lachie Schultz also goalless.
After lowering his colours against Western Bulldogs last round, captain Alex Pearce bounced back with a successful defensive role on Eric Hipwood.
Pearce won the majority of his one-on-one contests to be one of Fremantle’s shining lights, but fellow back-six members couldn’t contain Lincoln McCarthy and Joe Daniher who returned to form with three majors apiece.
Young midfielder Matthew Johnson faces a nervous MRO wait after getting reported for a dump tackle on Zorko during the second quarter.
Zorko hit his head on the turf but at least played out the match which will help Johnson’s cause of taking on Hawthorn at Optus Stadium next Saturday night.
Aside from that tackle, Johnson showed a few promising moments of composure including a brilliant third quarter goal assist to Brayshaw.
“That’s an absolute no-no,” North Melbourne champion David King said.
It took less than two minutes for last week’s seven-goal hero Charlie Cameron to hit the scoreboard after pouncing on a loose ball following a crunching tackle from fellow small forward Zac Bailey on Jordan Clark.
Cameron looked set for another big day but was well held by speedster Brandon Walker who kept him to two goals and 12 touches.
The Dockers endured a barrage of inside 50s early and struggled against Brisbane’s relentless pressure before getting going midway through the opening term.
O’Meara, one of two 150-gamers for Freo alongside James Aish, kicked his team’s first and only first-term goal with a beauty on the run.
Fremantle’s 14-point deficit at quarter-time grew to 31 by the main break with Ashcroft’s goal-of-the-year contender from the boundary the highlight.
Ashcroft, who was the best player on the ground in the second term with 10 disposals and two majors, threw the ball onto his right boot while in mid-air which was reminiscent to Daniel Wells’ effort in 2004.
“This has to be the goal of the year,” Lions great Jonathan Brown said.
Fremantle veteran Michael Walters, who was well held by Brandon Starcevich, had a contender himself in the final term when he rode a Harris Andrews tackle before getting up and bouncing it on his left foot from a tight angle.
Zorko wasn’t the only injury concern for the Lions with defender Daniel Rich’s day done early with a tight calf.
Discussion about this post