In Round 23, we found a team on the verge of a perfect home stand for the entire season. And at the conclusion of their clash with the visiting Adelaide Crows, that record remained intact.
The Fremantle Dockers completed their home fixture in style, with a tough win over a Crows outfit that gave them everything they could handle for three quarters, before the power of the Dockers saw them cruise to a four-goal win.
The Dockers kicked away early in the final term, snuffing out the Adelaide challenge, and went goal-for-goal late in the piece to retain their lead.
It was powerful, impressive, and the perfect way to salute their home fans, as they ramped up their September preparations.
Make no mistake, the Crows brought the heat in this contest – they were well-and-truly up for the fight. However, when you come out swinging against this Freo team, you have to be aware that you’re going to cop a few on the chin in return. It is how well you handle getting punched in the face that will likely determine whether you can hang with the Dockers.
The Crows hung with them… for a while.
The power of Josh Treacy (six contested marks), the midfield consistency of Caleb Serong, and the brilliance of Shai Bolton were too much for their Adelaide counterparts, as Freo put together a solid four-quarter performance to send Adelaide back to the pack and all but shatter their dreams of a top-four finish.
There are not a lot of negatives to state about the Dockers from this game. They were challenged, and they responded the way good teams should. With home finals on the cards, the rest of the competition is now on notice, and you get the feeling the flag is Fremantle’s to lose.
Let’s jump into The Big Statements from this one.
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