A fumbly and flat Fremantle suffered a second large loss on the trot in opposition to a ruthless Brisbane on the Gabba with their season in freefall.
The Dockers have been down on confidence, indecisive and look a shadow of the staff that broke their September drought final season, slumping to 2-5 with the 48-point defeat – 17.13 (115) to 10.7 (67).
It was the identical outdated story with the contested-ball woes, shedding the depend for a seventh consecutive match as former captain Dayne Zorko, Brownlow medallist and former Dockers star Lachie Neale and No.1 decide Will Ashcroft ran riot.
Zorko was best-afield within the first half however was subbed out within the last time period and had ice on his left hamstring quickly after, whereas Neale appears to be like again to his high type and may get the three Brownlow votes with 35 disposals, 24 contested possessions and 13 clearances.
Caleb Serong (27 disposals) , who can be main the Doig Medal depend by a good manner, held up his finish of the discount as soon as once more and Andrew Brayshaw additionally had an affect with 30 possessions and two objectives.
Like the contested-possession numbers (157-136), the clearance battle (46-29) was additionally one-sided with Oscar McInerney successful the ruck tussle with Sean Darcy.
Fremantle obtained to inside 22 factors halfway via the third quarter after their finest 10 minutes of the match, however that was nearly as good because it obtained with Brisbane kicking away earlier than three-quarter time to just about put the consequence past doubt.
Sam Sturt went goalless for 3 quarters earlier than getting subbed out for top-10 decide Neil Erasmus, who performed his first AFL match in early 12 months, with fellow forwards Bailey Banfield and Lachie Schultz additionally goalless.
After reducing his colors in opposition to Western Bulldogs final spherical, captain Alex Pearce bounced again with a profitable defensive function on Eric Hipwood.
Pearce received nearly all of his one-on-one contests to be one among Fremantle’s shining lights, however fellow back-six members couldn’t include Lincoln McCarthy and Joe Daniher who returned to type with three majors apiece.
Young midfielder Matthew Johnson faces a nervous MRO wait after getting reported for a dump sort out on Zorko through the second quarter.
Zorko hit his head on the turf however at the least performed out the match which is able to assist Johnson’s reason for taking over Hawthorn at Optus Stadium subsequent Saturday night time.
Aside from that sort out, Johnson confirmed a couple of promising moments of composure together with an excellent third quarter objective help to Brayshaw.
“That’s an absolute no-no,” North Melbourne champion David King stated.
It took lower than two minutes for final week’s seven-goal hero Charlie Cameron to hit the scoreboard after pouncing on a unfastened ball following a crunching sort out from fellow small ahead Zac Bailey on Jordan Clark.
Cameron regarded set for an additional large day however was effectively held by speedster Brandon Walker who stored him to 2 objectives and 12 touches.
The Dockers endured a barrage of inside 50s early and struggled in opposition to Brisbane’s relentless stress earlier than getting going halfway via the opening time period.
O’Meara, one among two 150-gamers for Freo alongside James Aish, kicked his staff’s first and solely first-term objective with a magnificence on the run.
Fremantle’s 14-point deficit at quarter-time grew to 31 by the principle break with Ashcroft’s goal-of-the-year contender from the boundary the spotlight.
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Ashcroft, who was the most effective participant on the bottom within the second time period with 10 disposals and two majors, threw the ball onto his proper boot whereas in mid-air which was reminiscent to Daniel Wells’ effort in 2004.
“This has to be the goal of the year,” Lions nice Jonathan Brown stated.
Fremantle veteran Michael Walters, who was effectively held by Brandon Starcevich, had a contender himself within the last time period when he rode a Harris Andrews sort out earlier than getting up and bouncing it on his left foot from a decent angle.
Zorko wasn’t the one damage concern for the Lions with defender Daniel Rich’s day achieved early with a decent calf.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
