Opening bench: Wingard, Moore, Pfeiffer, Sub: McCarthy
First quarter
Port Adelaide won the opening clearance and set up Daniel Stewart with a direct shot at goal, thirty-five metres out, but his mis-kick to the right of goals opened a ten-minute surge from the Dockers.
Two goals to Mayne and a single to Pavlich commenced the onslaught, with the Power unable to work the ball inside 50.
Mayne and Clancee Pearce added to Port Adelaide’s woes with the Dockers controlling the play and their relentless tackling pressure forward of centre forcing the Power to turn the ball over.
Brett Ebert softened Fremantle’s early blows with Port’s only goal for the quarter shortly before half time, but missed a second shot to see the Power trail the Dockers by 4 goals at the first break.
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 1.2 (8) trails
Fremantle 5.2 (32)
Goals: Brett Ebert
Stats
Disposals: McCarthy 8, Cassisi, Cornes 7
Marks: Pearce 3
Tackles: Jonas, Westhoff 3
Hitouts: Lobbe 9
Dream Team: Cornes 33, Jonas 31, Brett Ebert 27
Port Adelaide won the opening clearance and set up Daniel Stewart with a direct shot at goal, thirty-five metres out, but his mis-kick to the right of goals opened a ten-minute surge from the Dockers.
Two goals to Mayne and a single to Pavlich commenced the onslaught, with the Power unable to work the ball inside 50.
Mayne and Clancee Pearce added to Port Adelaide’s woes with the Dockers controlling the play and their relentless tackling pressure forward of centre forcing the Power to turn the ball over.
Brett Ebert softened Fremantle’s early blows with Port’s only goal for the quarter shortly before half time, but missed a second shot to see the Power trail the Dockers by 4 goals at the first break.
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 1.2 (8) trails
Fremantle 5.2 (32)
Goals: Brett Ebert
Stats
Disposals: McCarthy 8, Cassisi, Cornes 7
Marks: Pearce 3
Tackles: Jonas, Westhoff 3
Hitouts: Lobbe 9
Dream Team: Cornes 33, Jonas 31, Brett Ebert 27
Second quarter
Port Adelaide was again able to break through Fremantle’s suffocating game play and failed to score a goal in the term.
The Dockers again controlled possession and forced the Power’s defence and midfielders to kick sideways and backwards in order to try and find options forwards of the centre.
Often stuck with a one-on-two option to kick to or no options forward at all, Port was caught out of position repeatedly and failed to dent the Dockers on the scoreboard.
Some consolation came from the fact that the Dockers managed to kick just 1.5 for the quarter - the Power down by 34 points at the main break.
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 1.3 (9) trails
Fremantle 6.7 (43)
Goals: Brett Ebert
Stats
Disposals: Cornes 16, McCarthy 14, Carlile, Cassisi 12
Marks: Cornes 5, Chaplin, Pearce, Pfeiffer 4
Tackles: Jonas 5, Cassisi 4
Hitouts: Lobbe 13
Dream Team: Cornes 65, Cassisi 52, Pearce 45
Third quarter
After an appalling first half, Port Adelaide came out with a significantly higher intensity and set up its second goal of the afternoon through Daniel Stewart.
The Dockers however responded as quickly - slotting three majors to increase its significant lead.
The Power worked hard to find its opportunities and truly brought the game back onto a level footing.
Despite its turnaround on the field, it’s massive half time deficit was increase through its inability to convert its other set shots.
The Power trails by 44 points at the final change.
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 2.7 (19)
Fremantle 9.9 (63)
Goals: Brett Ebert, D. Stewart
Stats
Disposals: Cornes 22, Cassisi 19 McCarthy, Pearce, Pfeiffer 18
Marks: Cornes, D. Stewart 5
Tackles: Jonas, Lobbe 5, Cassisi, Broadbent 4
Hitouts: Lobbe 18
Dream Team: Cornes 78, Cassisi 71, Broadbent, Pearce 63
Fourth quarter
Once again the Power had their chances in front of goal, but with the angular breeze making it difficult work, Port Adelaide couldn’t take its chances.
Brett Ebert took a strong mark thirty five metres from goal to put through his second and the Power’s third for the day.
Travis Boak was awarded a fifty metre penalty from a free but he pushed the ball to the left, as did Justin Westhoff who was paid a free kick shortly after.
The Power controlled the play and its possession the best it had all day, and some clever play from Dom Cassisi, Tom Jonas and Aaron Young allowed Travis Boak to curl in Port’s fourth.
Justin Westhoff kicked one goal late in the term to bring up the Power’s fifth for the day.
Aaron Young, having been brought in as the substitute for Jackson Trengove at the beginning of the fourth term, selflessly set up Kane Cornes thirty metres from goal.
Despite the first three quarters lacking the intensity and effectiveness expected of the Power, the fourth quarter at the least demonstrated Port’s willingness to see through a contest.
The Power eventually went down 27 points, with captain Dom Cassisi, Kane Cornes and Travis Boak all contributing throughout the day.
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 6. 12(48) def by
Fremantle 11.9 (75)
Goals: Brett Ebert 2, D. Stewart, Boak, Westhoff, Cornes
Sub: Aaron Young replaced Jackson Trengove in the fourth quarter
Stats
Disposals: Cornes 30, Cassisi 25, Pearce 23
Marks: Cornes, D. Stewart 6
Tackles: Jonas, Lobbe, McCarthy 6
Hitouts: Lobbe 22
Dream Team: Cornes 108, Cassisi, Lobbe 92
