There is always a sense of fear about Freo supporters. When you talk to them, they find it difficult to celebrate a win and tell you how pleased they are with it, because history has taught them to be very caution about what may come next.
After their best win of the year on the road against the Giants, dropping a game at home to Port Adelaide was exactly the kind of thing Docker fans have come to expect.
And so, it was with a genuine sense of trepidation that Fremantle welcomed the Power to Optus Stadium in Round 11. And they also welcomed something else that they hadn’t faced in a while. Rain.
In slippery conditions, it was always going to be the team that attacked the contest hardest for longest that reigned, and to their credit, this was Freo. Combined with this hardness was a set of skills that Port simply couldn’t match. Port had moments, but they were too few, and too far between to pose any legitimate threat. It was as though there was a feeling Freo were going to pull away, and it was justa matter of when.
It’s funny to look at where the teams now are. Port was considered a contender just last year, but they look anything but right now. With an inexperienced ruckman, a forward line in flux, and a midfield that has its foundations build on shifting sands, they look incredibly shaky.
In contrast, Freo now look like something they have not for quite a while.
They look settled.
The Dockers were powered by Luke Jackson in the ruck, and got solid contributions across the board. Port looked a bit like a patchwork quilt – things just didn’t quite go together.
Lots to get through in this one, as HB has a look at the Heroes and Zeroes from this one.
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