Australian Football

Match Report

Despite the gulf between these sides on the ladder (Fremantle first, St Kilda 13th), Sunday's match at Docklands between them had the makings of a intriguing contest. At the same venue in both 2013 and 2014, the Saints had shocked their more highly fancied opponents, winning easily each time. And when Jack Lonie goaled for the Saints inside the first two minutes, thoughts of a 'three-peat' came to mind. Sadly for Saints' fans, though, those thoughts were quickly dashed as the Dockers kicked the next seven goals to set up a 37-point win that has virtually guaranteed them top spot.

Lonie's goal gave Saints fans brief hope but the Fremantle machine clicked into gear very soon after. The Dockers had four goals on the board by the 10-minute mark through Chris Mayne, Tendai Mzungu, Aaron Sandilands and Hayden Crozier. Over the next 11 minutes, Jonathan Griffin, Matthew Pavlich and Alex Pearce made it seven goals from seven different goal kickers for Freo before Jack Steven kicked St Kilda's second. At the first break, the Dockers led by 27 points.

It was more of the same in the second term, with the Dockers piling on five goals while restricting the Saints to just four behinds. Griffin, Pavlich, Stephen Hill, Crozier and Sandilands were the goalkickers, and Fremantle's lead at the long break was a massive 54 points.

Jack Sinclair broke a long drought when he finally scored St Kilda's third goal at the six-minute mark of the third term. The Saints were unable to add another goal for the quarter but at least managed to restrict the Dockers to just two for the term, one each to Hill and Nick Suban. At the last change of ends, it was the Dockers by 62 points.

To the Saints credit, they fought on strongly in the final quarter. They restricted the Dockers to just a single goal, while adding five of their own, including a beautiful snap from first-year player Paddy McCartin. It was all too little, too late, though, and Fremantle cemented its place at the top of the table with a strong win.

Best for the Dockers included Lachie Neale (36 touches), Hill (29 disposals, nine marks) and David Mundy (33 possessions, eight marks), while St Kilda was well served by Steven (27 possessions, two goals) and Leigh Montagna (36 disposals, 11 marks).

Next up for Fremantle is the year's second Western Derby against the Eagles on Sunday, while St Kilda will head to Hobart on Saturday to take on North Melbourne at Bellerive Oval.

GOALS

St Kilda: Steven 2; Bruce,Lonie, McCartin, Montagna, Riewoldt, Sinclair

Fremantle: Crozier, Hill, Griffin, Mayne, Pavlich, Sandilands 2; Mzungu, Pearce, Suban

BEST - THE AGE
St Kilda: Steven, Montagna, Armitage, Gilbert, Roberton, Newnes, Geary
Fremantle: Neale, Hill, Mundy, Ibbotson, Sandilands, Pearce, Suban, Sheridan

BEST 
- AFL.CON.AU
St Kilda: Montagna, Steven, Newnes, Roberton, Dempster

Fremantle: Neale, Hill, Mundy, Ibbotson, Suban, Silvagni

INJURIES 

St Kilda: Lonie (left knee), McKenzie (concussion), Sinclair (concussion), Savage (hip)

Fremantle: McPharlin (calf)

SUBSTITUTES

St Kilda: Nathan Wright replaced Daniel McKenzie (concussion) in the third quarter
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Fremantle: Lachie Weller replaced Luke McPharlin (calf) in the third quarter.

UMPIRES: R. O'Gorman, B. Ryan, C. Kamolins

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Sandy Roberts, Dwayne Russell, Dermott Brereton, Alastair Lynch, Cameron Mooney