SPEARHEAD Cam McCarthy snared a Fremantle-best four goals as the Dockers notched a morale-boosting 23-point victory over injury-ravaged Gold Coast on Saturday night.
There wasn't much to play for in terms of ladder position for two outfits destined to miss finals, but there were encouraging signs – particularly for the Dockers in the 12.18 (90) to 10.7 (67) triumph.
McCarthy's haul led Fremantle to its highest score since round seven, while at the other end first-year half-back Luke Ryan intercepted everything, Lachie Neale (32 disposals, one goal) strengthened his Doig Medal claims and superstar skipper Nat Fyfe continued his resurgence.
Full match details and stats
Gold Coast star Gary Ablett returned and racked up 33 disposals, Pearce Hanley (24, one goal) tried his heart out, while twin towers Tom Lynch and Peter Wright both slotted three goals, but it wasn't enough to seriously threaten a rare victory in Perth.
The Suns came into the clash battered and bruised – and their cause wasn't helped by losing David Swallow (tight groin) pre-game or Aaron Hall (hamstring) in the second term – but the result will still pile more pressure on under-siege coach Rodney Eade.
Gold Coast had patches of decent football but not enough to challenge the Dockers, who snapped a four-game losing streak at home and registered just their second victory in 10 matches.
"It's always good to have a win and sing the song. It's been a while since we've been able to do that, but we've been in a lot of tight, competitive games, so we feel like we're improving," coach Ross Lyon said.
"They've got their challenges as we have and they're rebooting in a real sense if you think about it with (Jaeger) O'Meara gone, (Andrew) Swallow rebooting his career and (Harley) Bennell gone and a few of those guys.
"So they're not dissimilar (to us) and they've got some injuries. It was nice to get it done tonight and the way we played was quite strong."
The perfect start to the second quarter for Fremantle! #AFLFreoSuns pic.twitter.com/ibIa5G3UvN
— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2017
The Suns are staring at another bottom-four finish after slumping to their seventh loss from eight matches – and their ninth from 10 games in Perth.
Gold Coast made the running early on Saturday night, putting two goals on the board before most of the 27,050 crowd had found their seats.
Five talking points: Fremantle v Gold Coast
Wright and Lynch had the Dockers defenders working overtime – with courageous backman Ryan feeling the brunt of a Lynch knee to the ribs in the early going.
However, Fremantle soon found a groove and some bite through spearhead McCarthy, whose second goal hauled the men in purple to within a point at quarter-time.
Four goals to Cam McCarthy now after some quick thinking on this loose ball #AFLFreoSuns pic.twitter.com/bBZ1i0pINL
— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2017
It was the first of five unanswered majors for the Dockers, who streaked ahead by 25 points on the stroke of half-time and had Gold Coast's measure thereafter.
The Dockers had their chances to blow the game open but, to their credit, the visitors kept fighting and the young Suns dominated contested ball (146-109) in a sign of their effort.
They closed to within nine points in the third stanza, but a steadier from Hayden Ballantyne and McCarthy's fourth out of mid-air snuffed out any danger.
GAME BREAKER: McCarthy proves a force up forward
"Stats aren't everything but when you are winning the contested possession by 37 it shows a real intent," Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade said.
"I think it shows the effort the players are putting in.
"It was galling the other way, the kicking disposal differential where we went at 57 per cent.
"That's the thing that hurt us."
A timely goal from Hayden Ballantyne - Freo's first since the start of the quarter. #AFLFreoSuns pic.twitter.com/JQ88P0MxYF
— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2017
McCarthy's haul ended a relative dry spell in front of goals – it was only the second time in 10 games he has kicked multiple majors - and was one shy of his career-best against the Suns when he was playing for GWS in 2015.
Ryan clung onto nine intercept marks in another assured display and tallied 28 touches, while Fyfe's (29 disposals, 10 marks) aerial prowess has returned in a sign he is getting back to his best.
Mitch Hallahan picked up 25 touches in his first game for the Suns this season, while journeymen Daniel Currie (37 hit-outs) and Jon Griffin (34) fought out a draw in the ruck.
Freo's eighth win for the year – double their tally from last year - came at a cost, with tenacious small forward Brady Grey suffering a hamstring injury that could end his season with only three rounds to go.
MEDICAL ROOM
Fremantle: Brady Grey has a standard hamstring and is facing about three weeks on the sidelines.
Gold Coast: Aaron Hall damaged a hamstring in the second quarter and his season could also be over.
NEXT UP
The Dockers head to the SCG for a daunting assignment against the competition's form team, Sydney, while the Suns will travel to the 'Gabba for the Q-Clash against the improving Brisbane Lions.
Pearce Hanley's long bomb was on target. #AFLFreoSuns pic.twitter.com/PKIVO3SzfK
— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2017
FREMANTLE 3.5 7.8 11.12 12.18 (90)
GOLD COAST 4.0 5.4 8.7 10.7 (67)
GOALS
Fremantle: McCarthy 4, Kersten 2, Crozier, S.Hill, Mundy, Griffin, Ballantyne, Neale
Gold Coast: Wright 3, Lynch 3, Sexton 2, MacPherson, Hanley
BEST
Fremantle: Neale, Ryan, B.Hill, Fyfe, S.Hill, McCarthy
Gold Coast: Hanley, Lynch, Wright, Ablett, Rosa, Miller
INJURIES
Fremantle: Grey (hamstring)
Gold Coast: David Swallow (groin) replaced in selected side by Jarrad Grant. Hall (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Kamolins, Glouftsis
Official crowd: 27,050 at Domain Stadium
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
GOALSuns (Alex Sexton)
Fremantle have outscored the Suns by 30 points from stoppage clearances tonight despite recording only four extra clearances, lead by Lachie Neale's gamehigh 11 clearances and Nat Fyfe's game-high three centre bounce clearances.
Nat Fyfe has put in a challenge to Lachie Neale's claim for best on ground with a great showing tonight. He has 29 disposals, 15 contested possessions including 10 postclearance, six tackles and inside 50's, four score assists and 10 score involvements.
GOALDockers (Shane Kersten)
BEHINDDockers (Hayden Ballantyne)
Luke Ryan has as many Intercept Marks as the entire Gold Coast team (nine), and three times as many as both his previous careerhigh in this category that he set against the Eagles in Round 17, and the Suns best Intercept marker tonight, Steven May.
BEHINDDockers (Hayden Ballantyne)
Pearce Hanley breaks the deadlock and gets the first goal of the final term, and their seventh goal launched from an Intercept Possession in their midfield zone. The Suns average 30 points per game from this source, the thirdworst average in the league.
GOALSuns (Pearce Hanley)
Mitch Hallahan has stood up for the Suns in the final term of his first game for them this season. He has six disposals, 101 metres gained, four contested possessions and is the only Suns player with multiple clearances this term, all teamhigh's.
Fremantle have recorded 19 tackles to four, including six to one preclearance tackles in this term alone. They average four less pre-clearance tackles per game than their opponents this season, the worst average of any side in the competition.
The Dockers are yet to manage a goal from six inside 50's this term. They average a goal from 22.5 per cent of inside 50's this season, the fourth worst rate in the competition.
BEHINDDockers (Rushed)
BEHINDDockers (Rushed)
BEHINDDockers (Bradley Hill)
BEHINDDockers (Hayden Ballantyne)
BEHINDDockers (Nat Fyfe)
Q4 is now underway.
Tom Lynch had Gold Coast's only oneon-one offensive contest win of the quarter from four attempts. They average a 27 per cent win rate of these contests over this season, ranked ninth in the AFL. He also kicked 2.1 (13) from four inside 50 targets.
Luke Ryan registered four Intercept Marks in the third term. No other player on the ground had more than one mark in this category in this term. He launched one of two goals for the Dockers from this source in the third term.
Fremantle won the stoppages in the third term, winning 10 clearances to four and outscoring their opponents by 10 points from this zone (122). They had four players with two clearances, compared to Gary Ablett winning all four for the Suns.
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
GOALSuns (Tom J. Lynch)
Gold Coast recorded a superior kicking efficiency in their forward half this term, outperforming the Dockers with five per cent more efficiency by foot. However in their defensive half they were exposed, going at 14 per cent less kick efficiency.
BEHINDDockers (Brennan Cox)
GOALDockers (Cam McCarthy)
BEHINDDockers (Shane Kersten)
Griffin gets a goal for the Dockers to take the lead out past 20 points again. He has performed well in his first game back in the side since Round 12. He has 18 hitouts, including two toadvantage, as well as five score involvements and that goal.
GOALDockers (Jonathon Griffin)
Mark, Play On (0-15m, Right Side)
BEHINDDockers (Cam McCarthy)
GOALDockers (Hayden Ballantyne)
BEHINDSuns (Pearce Hanley)
BEHINDSuns (Jarrad Grant)
Nat Fyfe has been very important to the Dockers performance this quarter. He leads all players with five disposals, four contested possessions, two clearances, two intercept possessions and five pressure acts in this term.
GOALSuns (Peter Wright)
BEHINDSuns (Tom J. Lynch)
Tom Lynch gets his second goal of the game to reduce the margin to three goals. Gold Coast have scored four goals from set shots in this match. They average 6.5 goals per game from this shot type, ranked 10th in the AFL in 2017.
GOALSuns (Tom J. Lynch)
Fremantle InterchangeEthan Hughes off due to an injury.
BEHINDDockers (Brennan Cox)
BEHINDDockers (Rushed)
Lachie Neale seems determined to get the three Brownlow votes for this match and you'd find it difficult to find another player more deserving. He wins the free kick and converts the set shot for a goal with his 20th disposal of the match (gamehigh)
GOALDockers (Lachie Neale)
Q3 is now underway.
Cam McCarthy has had a strong first half in this afternoon's match, leading all players with 3.1 (19). He has marked all four of his inside 50 targets and has seven score involvements. Only Lachie Neale has more (eight).
Aaron Hall appears to have been ruled out of the rest of the match after being a standout for the Suns in the second term. After losing David Swallow prior to kick off this could be a big blow for the Suns.
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
BEHINDSuns (Josh Schoenfeld)
Brad Hill has 167 metres gained this term, leading the Dockers and third in this category for all players. However his 70 per cent possession retention is leading all 17 players on the ground with 50 metres gained or more.
GOALSuns (Darcy Macpherson)
BEHINDSuns (Rushed)
BEHINDSuns (Darcy Macpherson)
Jarrod Harbrow is the only player on the ground yet to record a stat of any kind this quarter.
Gold Coast Suns InterchangeTouk Miller replaces Aaron Hall and is possibly out for the game.
BEHINDDockers (David Mundy)
Fremantle InterchangeHayden Crozier replaces Brady Grey and is possibly out for the game.
Hallahan gets a behind after five inside 50's for the Suns. Gold Coast average a score from 46 per cent of inside 50's this season, the sixthworst conversion rate in the competition. Fremantle have the second-worst conversion rate in 2017 (43 per cent).
BEHINDSuns (Mitch Hallahan)
GOALDockers (David Mundy)
It's all Fremantle in the second term, primarily as a result of their 79 per cent kicking efficiency compared to the Suns 58 per cent efficiency by foot. They have also recorded 25 more uncontested possessions than the Gold Coast this term.
BEHINDDockers (Rushed)
GOALDockers (Cam McCarthy)
GOALDockers (Shane Kersten)
Gold Coast Suns InterchangeAlex Sexton off due to an injury.
BEHINDDockers (Cam McCarthy)
Aaron Hall has bolted out of the gates in the second term with five kicks, 132 metres gained, three groundballgets, three contested possessions, two clearances and one Intercept Possession, leading all players this term in these categories.
Fremantle open the scoring in the second term with the first chain for either team to be launched inside their forward 50. They have launched their last three goals from forward half clearances.
GOALDockers (Stephen Hill)
Q2 is now underway.
Lachie Neale gave the assist on the final goal for the Dockers to get them back within a point and he was critical for Fremantle in the first term. He lead all players with nine disposals, six contested possessions, five clearances and three tackles.
Gold Coast were stronger around the contest in their forward half compared to Fremantle in the first term. They recorded four more groundballgets and contested possessions than their opponents in this zone in the opening quarter.
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
GOALDockers (Cam McCarthy)
Gary Ablett has been important for the Suns in the first term. He has a teamhigh eight disposals, five contested possessions and two clearances.
GOALSuns (Peter Wright)
Nat Fyfe has already taken two contested marks in the first term of this match. This is his sixth game in a row with at least two contested marks. Only Ben Brown has a longer active streak in this category (seven matches).
BEHINDDockers (Bradley Hill)
GOALSuns (Tom J. Lynch)
Lynch gets his first goal of the match to retake the lead for the Suns. The last time he played the Dockers in Perth, he notched up a gamehigh five goals to lead the Suns to a 26 point win in Round 2, 2016.
The Suns have dominated the ruck contests so far in the first term, winning 11 of 14 possible hitouts, however they are yet to turn this dominance into scoreboard pressure, outscoring the Dockers by two points from this source.
BEHINDDockers (Darcy Tucker)
Nick Suban has provided the assist on both of the Dockers goals in the first term.
GOALDockers (Hayden Crozier)
BEHINDDockers (Brennan Cox)
After intercepting the ball in their defensive 50, the Dockers go the length of the field to get their first goal through McCarthy. They average 7.6 points per game launched from Intercepts in their defensive 50, ranked 17th in the AFL in 2017.
GOALDockers (Cam McCarthy)
BEHINDDockers (Shane Kersten)
BEHINDDockers (Brady Grey)
Sexton kicks inside 50 and finds Wright for the Suns second goal. Gold Coast has retained 44 per cent of Sexton's kicks into the forward 50 this season, the lowest percentage of the top 10 players to have kicked inside 50 at the club.
GOALSuns (Peter Wright)
Fremantle have already recorded 13 marks to the Suns one, controlling the ball with plenty of short kicks in their defensive half.
GOALSuns (Alex Sexton)
Q1 is now underway.
Daniel Currie has large shoes to fill in replacing Jarrod Witts. No player in the AFL has launched more points from the attacking midfield zone than Witts (86) and he is also ranked fifth for points launched from centre bounces (52).
Danyle Pearce becomes the 41st player to play 100 games for the Dockers in this afternoon's match. He has recorded 10 or more inside 50's in eight matches in his career, ranked equal 10th in VFL/AFL history in this category.
Fremantle have retained possession from 70.6 per cent of Bradley Hill's disposals this season, the secondhighest rate among the top 10 players in the AFL for metres gained, and the best rate of midfielders in the top 10 of this category.
Since Round 14, Fremantle have played on from marks in their forward half on average 12.5 per cent more than their opponents, the highest differential rate of any side in this time.
Since Round 14 the Suns average 1.3 more clearances per game in their forward half, ranked fifth in the AFL in this time. This has also given them the fourthbest differential score from forward half stoppages over this time (plus 18.2 points per game).
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
Ins for Suns: J.Schoenfeld, G.Ablett, T.McKenzie, S.May, D.Currie, M.Hallahan, J.Grant
Outs for Suns: M.Rischitelli, B.Fiorini, C.Ah Chee, B.Ainsworth, J.Witts, D.Swallow, J.Lonergan
Ins for Dockers: J.Griffin, D.Pearce
Outs for Dockers: S.Darcy, C.Blakely
Welcome to Domain Stadium for the Fremantle v Gold Coast Suns Round 20 clash.