AFL Match Review: Fremantle Dominates Melbourne

No one in the TIO Traeger Park (Alice Springs) crowd could have predicted what was coming as Fremantle hammered Melbourne by an incredible 92-point scoreline in the AFL. The Dockers were awesome for four quarters, going on to kick their biggest score since 2019 and make it their second-biggest win in club history outside WA.

It handed Demons coach Simon Goodwin, who labelled his side’s effort as “about as bad a performance as you can get”, his worst loss since taking the job in 2017.

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Talking post-siren to Fox Footy, midfielder Caleb Serong (pictured above) said “We felt like coming here we wanted to bring our trademark to life, we haven’t played a four quarter game this year. We really wanted to commit to our brand for a full game and see where that took us. Today, I felt like the commitment was there, across the board, and at a really high level.”

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Giving props to team-mate Sam Switkowski (pictured above), he went on “His pressure is at an incredibly high level every week. With the way we were able to use our hands, chain through and his ability to get in and out of traffic is incredible. His side-steps, he’s one of the hardest blokes to tackle. For him to get some reward today was really pleasing; he is the barometer of our club and we love the energy that he brings.”

Bombers miss out on chance to close gap

The big winners of the weekend were ladder leaders Sydney, who did not even play after second-placed Essendon missed out by losing to Gold Coast.

The scores were level midway through the fourth quarter in what proved to be a pulsating, end-to-end affair. However, the hosts managed to get in front once more, and with 90 seconds remaining, midfielder Touk Miller kicked the sealer.

Ben Long continues to flourish in his new forward role, grabbing a career-high four goals and making 100 AFL appearances. The Suns maintain their perfect record at People First Stadium (seven-zip), which is becoming a real fortress.

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Carlton end Adelaide Oval hoodoo

Carlton picked up their first-ever triumph at the Adelaide Oval over a South Australian team by defeating fellow top-four outfit Port on their home deck.

With the game evenly poised at three-quarter time, the Blues stepped it up with an eight-goal blitz to showcase why they are seen as real challengers this year.

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Speaking on the ground to Channel 7, captain Patrick Cripps (pictured above) said, “We said all week that it was going to be an arm wrestle the way they play, a contested brand, and we knew territory was going to be important.”

“We were up but we felt like they started to gain the dominance around the ball but, in the last quarter, we got on top of that; we just talked about playing with courage and taking the game on.”

“Earlier in the year, when we got up a few goals, we probably played a bit safe but tonight we played aggressive and that is why the scoreboard kept ticking over.”

Bont v Daicos show

It was billed as Marcus Bontempelli (pictured below, left) vs. Nick Daicos(pictured below, right), two of the game’s top stars, and it certainly didn’t disappoint, as the Western Bulldogs bested Collingwood.

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It lived up to all the hype. Both players were firmly on their game, even playing on each other at stages, which made for a compelling spectacle. The Magpies midfielder finished with a career-high 26 contested possessions and 15 clearances.

However, the ‘Bont’, Doggies captain, amassed some very impressive figures of his own that ultimately helped lead his side to securing an important win.

Geelong snapped a run of four consecutive defeats, their worst ever under coach Chris Scott’s reign, after finally managing to see off a brave, injury-hit Richmond.

However, the Cats didn’t have it all their own way. They had to overcome a horror opening before working themselves into the contest and managing to grind it out.

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Oliver Dempsey’s quick-fire brace, just before the half-time interval, proved a crucial point in the encounter as it brought them back into it as well as giving some belief.

Gunston 250th

Dylan Moore booted a career-high five majors as an in-form and fast-starting Hawthorn, which proved to have too much and swept aside Adelaide at the MCG.

It was a big afternoon for fellow forward Jack Gunston, who scored three of his own as he brought up his 250th AFL appearance in a stellar career.

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The 3× premiership player, 3× leading goalkicker and All-Australian, with all his family and friends in attendance, was chaired off the ground at full-time.

Speaking to the club’s website on ‘Gunners’, Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said, “I think the contribution of his career, you really break it into two: he has been great at kicking goals in big games and being a big game player.”

“The second part of his career, we look internally and the impact he is having on our group and our forward line and our leadership programs.”

He added “I couldn’t be prouder of what he’s doing off the field. What he is doing off the field I was really confident in him doing and I think some of our social media stuff has been able to show our fans why we brought Jack back, despite him not being part of our age profile that we might not be looking for. He has been massive.”

Mason Wood kicks career-high four majors

An under-fire St.Kilda gave themselves some breathing space, travelling to WA and producing a strong final term to get up against fellow strugglers West Coast.

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Mason Wood (pictured above) really stepping up for this side, particularly in the latter stages, with an equal career-high four snags. Earlier in the afternoon, the Saints had lost key forward Max King with a left knee injury that could see him back on the sidelines.

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Harley Reid has been a sensation since hitting the scene this year as the number one draft pick, but he received a first suspension (two games), which automatically disqualified him from the Rising Star Award, for a sling tackle on Darcy Wilson.