The Power took on Fremantle from 2.10pm in the AFL 2011 Indigenous Round as today’s Aboriginal stars, Daniel Motlop and Danyle Pearce, looked set to dazzle the Dockers.
The Power was due to make on change - with Jasper Pittard included for Daniel Stewart - but a late change saw Ebert also out of the side for youngster Cam O’Shea. He was selected on the bench alongside Matt Broadbent and Jackson Trengove, with Steve Salopek the starting sub for the game.
Kane Cornes went straight to Hill to try and effect a tag for the day, while Freo cleared out their forward line to some degree, leaving Chaplin effectively playing as the loose man behind the play. Thomas seemed to have the big job on Pavlich, who opened proceedings with the first goal of the day, kicking with the breeze to boot one from just inside 50.
Gray tried to be too smart when the Power finally worked the ball forward into a stiff breeze, and his dribbling shot from about 35m out cannoned straight into the post. Fremantle immediately charged forward, and a beautiful tap from Sandilands went straight to Mayne who booted their second of the day, with Ballantyne following it up soon after with a point on the run.
After Trengove took a ripper mark on the wing the ball was worked forward, and Phillips goaled from a stoppage after reading the Sandilands tap to perfection. Exciting play off half-back saw Moore deliver the ball forward where Phillips again showed clean heels, delivering the ball to Broadbent on the 50, when then chipped over the top to Cornes. He made no mistake from the set shot. It was answered by Mayne, who booted his second for the day.
After struggling to get the ball out of the front of the Dockers half of the ground, it was inevitable that a big kick forward was going to come, and when it did Pavlich was too tall for Thomas, marking just outside the square and kicking truly. As Freo again stormed forward, Roberton was the beneficially, kicking the fifth Freo goal of the day.
From a long kick into the breeze, Motlop narrowly missed, and Fremantle moved the ball forward with ease thanks to run and spread from half-back, resulting in Crowley having a shot at goal, which he missed, but Bradley continued his terrific run of form shortly after, snapping truly from directly in front, about 40m out.
As the siren rang out, Fyfe booted the Dockers’ seventh goal in a dominant display with a stiff breeze.
QUARTER-TIME: 2.2.14 to 7.3.45. Goals: Phillips and Cornes. Possessions: Broadbent 9, Moore 7, Chaplin and Cornes 6, Gray and Trengove 5.
Fremantle immediately won clear possessions, going forward but kicking inaccurately at goal, but poor disposal from the Power saw the Dockers with another chance at goal, which Bradley made no mistake in taking as he snapped his second goal, and then Fyfe immediately followed it up with his second of the day.
Fremantle were doing it far too easily, running the ball forward with ease and virtually no pressure upon them - Mundy hit the post from another set shot. Another poor defensive effort saw Lower kick another Fremantle goal as they continued to dominate proceedings.
An ill-disciplined piece of play saw Crowley given a free kick and then a 50 metre penalty, and he was never going to miss an easy shot after that. After a long time between drinks, the Power finally got their third goal of the game after Hartlett worked hard along the boundary to work the ball in-board then followed up to banana it for goal.
Chaplin missed a difficult shot, but a big tackle by Schulz in the middle of the ground found Boak kicking it forward where Westhoff finally found front position, earned the free, and goaled. The hard work than the Power were exhibiting to run and spread was coming off, with Hartlett working hard and giving the ball to Gray, who fed it to Schulz, then back to Gray, then back to Schulz, who finally kicked the Power’s fifth goal for the game.
A free kick against Jacobs was compounded by the second 50 against a Power player for abusing an umpire, guaranteeing a goal for Broughton. A third 50 against for abusing an umpire saw another kick from outside 50 turned into a certain goal for Fremantle, and as the half came to a close Fremantle added another point to proceedings to make it a 53 point game at half time.
HALF-TIME: 5.3.33 to 13.8.86. Goals: Phillips, Cornes, Hartlett, Westhoff and Schulz. Possessions: Broadbent 13, Gray 11, Boak, Moore, Cornes and Chaplin 10 apiece, Jacobs 9, O’Shea 8.
The Power started the third term with a bit more effort in their approach, spreading wide and giving Westhoff the first shot at goal, but he missed it right. The Power’s defensive intensity was much-improved, and Gray was able to make the most of the clearance won by Westhoff from a bounce, running into an open goal.
Chaplin was seemingly stationed across the forward 50 and his attack on the ball was important, with a strong mark and then pass to Gray seeing the latter kick his second goal of the game, with Pittard making it 3 in a row for the Power after booting it from 50 to continue a strong start to the third term.
Great desperation in the square from Palmer saw a goal created by Fremantle to stop the Power’s run of play, stretching the margin back out to 41 points, and then Palmer quickly booted another as Pearce was subbed off for Salopek. Fremantle continued their dominance with another two quick goals to stretch it back out to 59 point margin midway through the third term.
Gray’s goal-kicking accuracy continued to see him be a shining light in the Power’s forward line, booting his third for the term after a nice kick by Schulz hit him on the lead. A lack of body-on-body cost the Power as a quick kick saw Clancee Pearce boot his second goal of the game late in the third term.
More clever work from Gray deep inside the forward saw a goal created for Schulz, and then after a bit of hard work inside a contested situation Moore kicked his first goal for the year, but Bradley kicked another to maintain his accuracy for the day as Freo made it a 55 point lead late in the third term.
THREE-QUARTER TIME: 11.4.70 to 16.11.119. Goals: Gray 3, Schulz 2, Phillips, Cornes, Hartlett, Westhoff. Possessions: Broadbent 20, Boak 17 and 6 tackles, Gray 17 and 5 marks, Jacobs 15, Cornes 14, Moore, O’Shea and Pittard 13 apiece.
Jacobs put his head over the ball early on in the final term and kicked truly from just inside the 50 metre arc with the wind to boot his first goal in AFL football to start the quarter well.
Fremantle's ability to transition the ball from defence to attack was slick, quick and incisive, with Roberton the recipient after some quick work out of the defensive half, quickly followed by Hill in much the same manner.
Gray’s skills came to the fore again, delivering the ball superbly to Schulz inside 50, who booted his third for the game, while Boak’s ability to read the spill of the ball was excellent as he booted his first for the game.
It really was a dominant display by Fremantle, who ran out 52 point winners.
FINAL SCORE: 14.6.90 to 21.16.142.
Goals: Gray 3, Schulz 3, Phillips, Cornes, Hartlett, Westhoff, Pittard, Moore, Jacobs, Boak.
Possessions: Broadbent 24, Boak 23 and 7 tackles, Gray 22 and 7 marks, Jacobs 22, Cornes 21, Hartlett 18, Pittard 17.
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