Australian Football

Match Report

It's taken until round 11, but the Fremantle Dockers have finally broken through for their first win of the 2016 season with an emphatic home win against Essendon at Subiaco on Saturday night. So comprehensive was the win that it left some wondering how Fremantle, minor premiers only last year, could have gone through 10 rounds of this season without a win. The Dockers one all quarters except the last resoundingly to finish 79 points clear of the Dons, and more victories in the coming weeks would now seem a likely prospect for them. 

The Dockers were on song right from the beginning and Michael Barlow, Matthew Taberner, Matthew Pavlich and Tom Sheridan all had goals on the board in the first 10 minutes, during which time Essendon could manage only a single behind, kicked by Adam Cooney. Joe Daniher finally kicked the Bombers' first major at the 12-minutre mark, but the only other goal of the quarter went to Pavlich, and it was Fremantle by 22 points at quarter time. 

Any thoughts of a second-term revival from Essendon were dispelled quickly as Hayden Ballantyne kicked his first goal and Pavlich his third to give the Dockers a 34-point lead after seven minutes. Daniher clawed one back for the Dons but Darcy Tucker responded and it was still Fremantle by 34 midway through the quarter. Bomber skipper cut the margin back to 28 points with his first goal at the 17-minute mark but the Dockers closed out the half with two majors to Michael Walters and one to Chris Mayne to lead by 46 at the long break. 

There was no let-up from the Dockers in the third quarter. Walters, Danyle Pearce and Lachie Weller all added majors in the first 10 minutes, and David Mundy and Mayne added two more of the next 10 to put Fremantle ahead by 76 points going into time on. Orazio Fantasia finally kicked a goal for the Bombers at the 20-minute mark, but the Dockers closed out the quarter with two more goals, one each to Lachie Neale and Jonathon Griffin, to lead by a massive 81 points at the last change. 

Fremantle kicked off the final term with goals to Mayne and Ballantyne and a 100-point slaughter looked very much on the cards. Thankfully for the Bombers, they fought out the remainder of the match, keeping the Dockers goalless in the last 20 minutes while adding majors though Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Will Hams to reduce the final margin to 79.

David Mundy was brilliant for the Dockers, with 33 possessions and six marks, while Zach Merrett, with 37 disposals and seven tackles was outstanding for Essendon.

The win was enough to lift Fremantle from the bottom of the ladder and put it ahead of the Bombers and Brisbane and the Dockers will head into their match against the Lions at the Gabba next Saturday full of confidence. For Essendon, things could get a lot worse before they get better, with the Dons to face reigning premier Hawthorn at the MCG this Friday night.

GOALS
Fremantle: Pavlich, Walters, Mayne 3; Ballantyne 2; Taberner, Barlow, Sheridan, Tucker, Neale, Mundy, Weller, Griffin, D Pearce
Essendon: Daniher 2; Goddard , Fantasia, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Hams

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Fremantle: Mundy, Barlow, Neale, Walters, Sheridan, Pavlich, Crozier
Essendon: Goddard, Z Merrett, Daniher, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Crowley, Parish

BEST - WATODAY.COM.AU
Fremantle: Mundy, Neale, Walters, Barlow, Pavlich, Crozier
Essendon: Z Merrett, Goddard, Bird, Leuenberger, Cooney, Parish

INJURIES
Fremantle: Apeness (fractured collarbone)
Essendon: Crowley (hamstring)

UMPIRES: Ryan, Foot, Dalgleish

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Brian Taylor, Luke Darcy, Matthew Richardson, Cameron Ling