FREMANTLE 6.1 8.14 14.18 18.24 (132)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 0.2 0.3 4.5 5.7 (37)
Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich has been the highlight of an otherwise dour and one sided affair at Patersons Stadium, kicking seven goals as the Dockers pummelled the Giants by 95 points.
In a match that was expected to be incredibly one sided, the Dockers didn’t disappoint, finishing the first term with a 35 point lead. Things could have gotten far worse for the Giants in the second if not for some incredibly errant kicking.
Fremantle kicked two goals 13 in a remarkable second term which could come back to haunt the club as percentage appears set to play a massive role in shaping the final eight.
Despite leading comfortably, coach Ross Lyon was clearly agitated by the play of the Dockers, who seemed lax in defence and at times too casual in the midfield.
It was never going to result in an upset today, but Lyon obviously believes the good habits sustained in a match like this could only be good for the club moving forward.
Speculation before the game that several club records were set to tumble proved incorrect on many fronts, yet Fremantle still managed to record its third biggest winning margin in the short history of the club. Also, somewhat embarrassingly, it was the second most points the club has ever kicked in a match.
They just have to hope that those behinds do not cost them a spot in the finals.
Votes
3 – Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle)
2- Luke McPharlin (Fremantle)
1 – Stephen Hill (Fremantle)
GOALS
Fremantle: Pavlich 7, Walters 2, Pearce 2, Hill 2, Crowley, Johnson, Ballantyne, Clarke, Bradley
Greater Western Sydney: Bruce, Frost, Hoskin-Elliot, Ugle, Treloar
BEST
Fremantle: Pavlich, Hill, McPharlin, Johnson, Pearce
Greater Western Sydney: Greene, Palmer, Bruce, Bugg, Treloar
INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Cameron Sutcliffe replaced David Mundy in the third quarter
Greater Western Sydney: Jacob Townsend replaced Kurt Aylett in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fleer, Farmer, Ritchie
Official crowd: 28,767 at Patersons Stadium