Same Docker time, same Docker channel.
This time last year, people were forced to take Fremantle seriously. After ten rounds of footy, they sauntered into the MCG with an “anyone, anywhere, anytime” attitude and handed Melbourne their first loss of the season.
Things were different this season. Melbourne weren’t flying, and had some pretty big questions over their form against good teams, whereas the Dockers had started slowly, with many questioning whether last season was the outlier for the purple haze.
This game was always going to test both sides, with plenty ready to sink the boots into the team that fell short. And once again, it was Fremantle emerging victorious, taking it up to the Dees on their home deck and challenging them to match their intensity.
The Dees could not. I hope “Naarm” have some thick skins when the experts start questioning many aspects of their game. And I hope “Walyalup” remind those who wrote them off that they were a little premature.
At half time of this one, it genuinely felt like a Fremantle game. Not meaning this in any disparaging way at all, but the Dockers love a scrap. They’re not going to blow a team off the park with slick ball movement and pinpoint accuracy, but they will rarely be beaten when the game comes down to a scrap. They love it and are always willing to mix it up when the ball is on the deck.
Melbourne are no slouches at winning hard footy, but without their number one exponent of contested possession, this game was right in Fremantle’s wheelhouse. They came ready to fight and do whatever it took to walk away with a huge road win and that is exactly what they did.
They head into their bye riding the crest of a wave of form with four-straight wins, whereas the Dees find themselves having their credentials questioned.
Speaking of questions, I have some of my own. Let’s jump into The Mongrel’s Big Questions review.
Oh, what the hell? A Mongrel paywall? Yep, I own this site and believe my work is worth twenty cents per day. If you don’t, that’s fine. Sometimes, I release these to everyone after a day or two. Sometimes, I don’t. You could join us and access the members’ game reviews, as well as columns like the Wingman of the Year, Recruit of the Year, and other nonsensical stuff HB comes up with each week?
