Australian Football

Match Report

Fremantle continued its push for a top-two finish and a home game in the first week of the finals with a clinical performance against Port Adelaide on Saturday night. The Dockers jumped the Power early, established a 27-point quarter-time lead and then outscored Port Adelaide in the second, third and final terms to record a thumping 74-point win.

The victory underscored the apparent gap that exists between the top four sides and the others that will take part in September action. As good as Ken Hinkley's Power team has been this year, it appears to be a class below Fremantle and the other top four teams, Hawthorn, Geelong and Sydney.

The Dockers win was orchestrated in large part by fine performances from Hayden Ballantyne, who kicked four goals and collected 19 touches, Lachie Neale, (28 possessions and a goal) and Nat Fyfe (25 disposals). There was no lack of effort Port Adelaide, but try as it might it could not break the shackles put in place by Fremantle, particularly in the first half. The Power's best players included Robbie Gray (28 touches and a goal), Kane Cornes (29 disposals) and Justin Westhoff (22 possessions).

Fremantle's win virtually secured third place on the ladder and there is still some chance the Dockers could end up in second place. For that to occur, the Dockers would need to defeat St Kilda at Docklands next Saturday, an outcome which is more than likely, and Geelong would have to lose or draw to Brisbane at Kardinia Park on the same day, a result that is far less likely, even though the Lions upset the Cats at the Gabba earlier this season.

Port Adelaide cannot move from eighth position on the ladder via normal means, regardless of whether or not they defeat Carlton next Saturday afternoon, but the near-certainty of Essendon being stripped of its premiership points means that the Power will likely end up in seventh place, and face Richmond or most likely Collingwood in week one of the finals. That result represents a remarkable achievement for coach Ken Hinkley, who took over at the helm after the Power finished 14th with just five wins in 2012.

GOALS
Fremantle: Ballantyne, Pavlich 4; Walters 3; Clarke, Sheridan 2; Crowley, Barlow, Hannath, Neale, Johnson, Sutcliffe
Port Adelaide: Neade, Wingard, Ebert, Schulz, Monfries, Mitchell, Young, Gray, Moore

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Fremantle: Neale, Fyfe, Ballantyne, Mayne, Johnson, Mundy, Barlow, Walters
Port Adelaide: Gray, Cornes, Westhoff, Mitchell, Moore

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Fremantle: Ballantyne, Fyfe, Barlow, Neale, Walters, Clarke, Mundy
Port Adelaide: Gray, Cornes, Broadbent, Westhoff, Lobbe

INJURIES
Fremantle: Suban (hamstring)
Port Adelaide: Wingard (groin soreness)

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Tom Sheridan replaced Nick Suban (hamstring) at quarter-time
Port Adelaide: Aaron Young replaced Chad Wingard the third quarter

UMPIRES: Margetts, Dalgliesh, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Matthew Campbell, Brad Johnson, Tony Shaw,