The Dockers return home for their first time in 30 days. It’s the second time this season they’ve had an extended period between home games, and it makes you wonder how Collingwood would handle such a ‘quirk in the fixture.’ Although, it doesn’t take much imagination to come to a fairly accurate conclusion.
For those with short memories, last time Freo had a few weeks away from home, they came back & were hammered by the Eagles – though that was technically still an away game. So, history may not be destined to repeat itself entirely. I cannot, however, as I write this in the prelude to the game, shake the feeling that something like that will happen again.
The Suns have not yet won an away game and will be licking their lips at the form the Dockers have suddenly found themselves in. If bipolar was a football club, it would be the Dockers…and maybe the Dogs. Still, if the Dockers showed their lowest valley last week against the Dogs, they showed their highest peak before the bye. The Suns, pushing for their first finals appearance and their first away win of the year, are going to want to be all over the purple army early and they’re hitting them at the right time to do it.
The Dockers need a win. Their older brothers did them no fortune earlier today – a loss to Essendon would have opened the Docker door to the Top 4. But, more importantly, a loss here see them in a likely permanent departure from the 8. Yes, the Dockers need a win and that’s often when they’re at their most vulnerable. The Suns also need a win, but there’s less pressure on them – less eyes altogether (It’s a bit sad when a Tassie Guernsey is sighted in the town before the away team. Get some Perth fans, Suns!) but they’ve really nothing to lose, everything to gain and that’s often a very inspiring position to be in.
What transpired was not nearly as impressive or interesting as the build-up I’ve given it. Fremantle did what they needed to do, and the Suns (to put it simply), didn’t. Nothing about this game was particularly inspiring, which is somewhat ironic, as finding inspiration when a team needed it, was the recurring theme of what I witnessed.
Here’s what I noticed:
The first quarters
The first quarter started pretty flat as both teams skipped around like boxers, sizing each other up. In football terms, it means not much pressure around the ball and then turning it over to the opposition at any opportunity. That remained the case until the Suns found the space to go end to end and Sam Day kicked the first. Their second came moments later, and I was starting to wonder whether the final score of 0.1.1 effort from my daughter’s team that morning may not be the most disappointing game I’d watch today, but then remembered that first quarters are often a barometer of Fremantle games. When Fremantle start a game well and generate some shots on goal (either goals or misses) they often finish the quarter and then the game poorly. If Fremantle start a game slowly and concede a goal or two early, they seem to find momentum in the five or ten minutes before quarter time, and they often carry that through and win the game.
It’s weird, but that trend continued today.
Treacy in game 50
It annoys me how much that almost rhymes. Unlike my daughter’s team, Treacy hadn’t quite resorted to doing handstands in the goal square just yet, and managed to wrangle back late momentum through a terrific grab and goal. In the second, he took yet another great mark and slotted a second goal. All game, Treacy was everywhere at his physical best. It’s amazing to think this kid is only 50 games in – the conversation around him should be bordering on the hyperbolic, yet something says he’ll be quite happy to continue doing what he’s doing to the appreciative whispers he gets.
The best highlight probably won’t even make the package, but running back towards goal after an Amiss drop, Treacy burst through two Suns defenders to harry the ball 20m forward to an open Sturt, who was able to run most of the way in from 50.and ruin it completely with a half dribble, half snapped behind.
Still, Treacy is just 21. You’re looking for moments and signs of growth, and if that’s what you’re focused on, you’d be very happy with what you saw in this game. He might be the league’s best kept secret, but who knows how much longer that’ll last?
Hayden Young
Last week they tried Hayden Young in a semi-defensive role on Marcus Bontempelli, which was always going to be a terrible idea. Young is one of the best kicks in the team and perhaps the competition, and should not be wasted thus. He proved this with his first real kick of the day in this game.
His eyes darted inside and dragged the defender, then the crowd began to groan as the ball went to the forward pocket – but it was no mis-kick, and actually went directly to a now-uncontested Amiss. It looked like a mis-kick, granted, but it was a terrific bit of skill, and as the Dockers continued to butcher inside 50 after inside 50, it highlighted exactly the importance of Young as the go-to player when it comes to delivery. All game, Young was able to find the ball in space and use it well, often going forward himself to collect 3 goal. It was a remarkable performance.
Sam Collins
Sam Collins has always been one of those guys I’ve loved watching play. I understood why Freo delisted him when they did, but I never liked the call. He’s a heart and soul player and, more than that, he’s emerged to being a first class defender. Coming into this round, he was the number-one ranked player in The Mongrel’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, and yet, his name was not mentioned when the All-Australian selection panel made their half-yearly squad.
That’s not unexpected, by the way. He plays Off-Broadway.
He set the tone early in the game, with eight first quarter disposals as he intercepted and intercepted. Outside one moment when Young fooled him with some clever trickery, he was relentless all game but particularly dominant early. His influence was slightly reduced from the second when the Dockers opted for a strategy that wasn’t just kicking it to him, but he still ended with 16 touches, seven marks and continually made life difficult for his Freo counterpart, Jye Amiss. They says that forwards win members and defenders who make premiers and, well the Suns aren’t yet in that conversation, but they’re a little closer because of the efforts of Sam Collins.
Mac Andrew
Speaking of quality defenders, I really liked Mac Andrew’s game, particularly in the second half. He played most of the game on Luke Jackson and for a big part of the game, beat him fairly soundly. Jackson was able to provide an option up forward at times and certainly his presence up there helps Treacy, Amiss and Sturt, but Jackson was largely unsighted for the game – and Andrew even popped up with a quick shot on goal. It was a complete game from the defender.
He can be taught
Jeremy Sharp ran down the wing, then ran, then ran, then ran way too far, then was finally penalised for running too far. Some seconds later he had the ball in the same spot and took two bounces in 10 metres, before setting up a crumbing goal for Young. I highlight this because he may be the first Fremantle Docker in 30 years to learn something.
Solid Sam Day
Sam Day had a pretty good afternoon out. The contest between him & his opponent – often Pearce was worth keeping an eye on. With limited opportunity, Day managed three goals and competed well. Pearce used his contested strength to good advantage and Ryan tried his intercept game, but Day is a wiley operator, and by using the focus on King, managed to lose and confuse the Freo captain on a few occasions, creating just enough space for him to be the reliable presence up forward.
Davies debut
Freo debuted their new defender, Hugh Davies. I don’t know much about him but when, in the second quarter, he managed to bring the ball to ground with a solid defensive effort then bounce up to spoil and finish with a tackle, he received extra applause from his local fans and probably won himself a spot in the side next week.
Ned Flanders
I could watch Flanders all day. The way he accumulates the ball is effortless. In the first half, he’d racked up the 18 and was everywhere – yet third for disposals on the stats sheet behind Brayshaw & Serong who, after being specifically told not to play for stats, decided to get as many as possible.
But back to Flanders – he is clean, he’s hard working, he does all the right things, but he had no friends. Those whom he distributed the ball to were often run down in tackles or had no one to go to. The Suns just did not get bang for his buck. If the Dockers had Brayshaw and Serong take the game by the scruff of the neck and say “we’re going to make it ours,” I wasn’t getting the same vibe from Flanders. He was a bit too much “polite next door neighbour” by popping up here and there in a (from Freo’s perspective) mildly annoying way, when his team needed him to bring out the Flanders that he’s capable of – the “stupid, sexy Flanders.”
Holding the ball?
Two weeks ago, the AFL said they were clearing up the HTB decisions so that they’d be more consistent. It lasted two weeks before the AFL decided that playing on a from a mark and immediately being tackled means that you didn’t have prior opportunity. Later in the game, Treacy laid the absolute text book tackle on Bodhi Uwland, completely body slamming the sprinting Sun. It was a ripping tackle, but it seems as though the umps have reverted ti the exact style that wasn;t working three weeks ago, as it was not enough for a reward. Play continued, the Suns moved the footy and kicked a goal. What was the point of tackling?
Later, another Sun goal in the fourth was made harder by the fact Brayshaw had an age to get rid of the ball before he did. It seems that confusion reigns supreme and the umps , supporters, and players now have absolutely no idea what to expect from any tackle at any time ina game.
Well done, AFL… you’ve cocked it up again.
Is Lukosius wasted as a deep forward?
Yes, but it’s the best place to put him. Does that make sense?
He certainly kept Ryan’s ball use down (though Ryan’s coach may also have had something to say about it). He kicked a couple of goals and looked threatening. But ultimately, he is too good of a player to to kick a couple and have a handful of touches when the team is 30 or 40 points down.
I think I’d like to have seen him moved to a wing or a half back flank when Freo had momentum. it’s all well and good having a classy forward but if you’re not getting the ball inside 50 – get your classy players around the ball and see if they can generate a few more inside 50s. They may not be as efficient as scoring, but some repeat attacks may just be enough to swing momentum to the point that he can go back deep and have a proper influence as a forward.
But then,. I think this may be the fifth or sixth time we’ve had this discussion about Lukosius. Maybe he fits everywhere, or nowhere?
When the going gets tough, the Dockers got going, better.
After half time, Longmure sent Brayshaw to CHF for extended periods of time. A surprisingly effective manoeuvre, as Brayshaw hit the scoreboard and then helped out Young (who also went forward at times) for another goal. The flip side of that, is Flanders, whom I mentioned earlier, found some friends in the middle. He had less of it, but Miller, despite a low efficiency (if that really means anything) found it a lot more, along with Rowell and others, and the Suns started to gain some control in the middle – or at least prevent the Dockers from having their way with it.
Unfortunately for the Suns, Brayshaw went back into the middle and others were able to step up when the team needed them to, and Freo were able to squash any attempt of a resurgence. I was unable to find any answer to my question asked earlier: do the Suns have a player in their engine room who can inspire? Who can find a way to get on top and lift a few up with him. At home they may have several, but away?
When all else fails for Gold Coast, there’s always me.
See, I went the early crow and, with about 10 minutes left, added to the Mongrel group chat that I think Freo are home. The Sun’s finally came from behind the Dockery clouds and kicked three goals to got to within a couple of kicks before O’Meara broke their run.
In seriousness, it was the only time in the game, barring maybe the first 10 minutes, that the Suns looked the better side and it was almost enough.
Where did it come from?
It came from everyone I’ve mentioned, but not in any big way. Ellis coming on as sub lifted them and he collected a goal. Miller, Anderson, Flanders et al, were all involved and even King popped his head up after being absent most of the game. I don’t think anyone was the inspirational leader I’d been looking for all game, and perhaps that’s why it was an ‘almost’ run home. It could’ve been that, like me, the Dockers had put the cue in the rack. I dont really know.
But I think the last 10 minutes.or so we’re symbolic of the game as a whole – but just a little more generous for the Suns. Throughout the game, the Suns had patches where they looked good but they were never able to turn it into anything. Most of the time, it resulted in a few forward thrusts that didn’t concern the scorers too much. Then, Fremantle would find a way to bring it back to the game they wanted. Be it a half smother, a good tackle, an interception, a clearance…the Dockers, too easily, prevented the Suns from taking ownership and then took it back themselves, usually on the action of someone – usually Young – saying enough is enough and pulling off a terrific bit of skill to get the ball forward then either score or hold possession.
I said at the start this was a bit of danger game because the Suns had nothing to lose & everything to gain. The pressure was on Freo. The Sun’s didn’t apply the pressure as much as they should have, and Freo, in a professional style, never really allowed them to dictate terms. The Dockers knew this was a must win, they knew they’d stuffed it up last week, and they were determined not to make the same mistake. All barring a few of them (namely Amiss who was well held by Collins and Jackson who was beaten by Mac Andrew) managed to step up when the game needed them to, while the Suns were all just waiting for it to happen naturally, for someone else to take it on, and when that finally happened it was too little, too late.
Final Word
Are Freo are the real deal?
I don’t know.
I doubt it, and I don’t know if they think they are, themselves. This game didn’t tell us much about the Dockers except that they are capable of being the professional outfit they need to be.
Can they do this consistently?
Again, I don’t know. But today, they were and they’ll enjoy that. There are still concerns; they were not flawless and, outside some of Young’s kicks, weren’t really pretty. But they found a way to get on top and stay there, which is what they needed to do.
I also don’t think the Suns lost any fans for that result. They weren’t bad, they just weren’t good enough. They needed to find something and never really did – but that doesn’t mean they were bad. At home, they’d likely have won this game. This year, the Suns have reminded me a little of the Dockers in 2003: The focus then was winning home games and building a reliable fan base, and they made finals doing it. The Suns may do the same this year, but they will need to find a way to win at least one road game to do that, and waiting around for momentum is not going to happen on the road. Time to be ruthless.
