The Dockers, fresh from their first win of the season last week against Hawthorn, really never looked likely to make it two in a row, despite closing to within 14 points midway through the final term.
While the Dockers had some useful performers at different stages of the match, most of the better players on the day were Eagles, as they cruised early and rallied late to score a 14.14 (98) to 9.10 (64) victory.
The two sides managed only two goals between them in a scrappy opening term – both to the Eagles – and the second quarter wasn’t much better, with the Eagles enjoying a slight ascendancy, three goals to two.
Leading 5.5 (35) to 2.4 (16) at the main break, the Eagles probably didn’t feel that they had made the most of their opportunities, although they probably also didn’t feel that the match was still in the balance.
Their third term was significantly better, as they handled the ball with more confidence and set up attacking moves with greater conviction.
The Eagles worked their way to a six-goal lead late in the third term, before the Dockers’ third goal of the quarter closed the margin to 32 points at the last change, 10.9 (69) to 5.7 (37).
The Dockers found an extra gear early in the final term, with three goals in a row closing the margin to 14 points, before Troy Wilson marked and goaled from 50 metres to give the Eagles some breathing room.
When Rowan Jones and David Haynes followed up with two more, the 32 point margin had been restored, and only Mark Merenda’s fourth goal of the match provided a little more interest in the closing stages of the match.
Glen Jakovich was awarded the Ross Glendinning Medal as the best player in the western derby, while Ben Cousins, Peter Matera and Daniel Kerr were also driving forces for the Eagles.
Troy Cook was Fremantle’s best, with good support from Adrian Fletcher and Peter Bell.
Scoreboard:
WEST COAST 2.4 5.5 10.9 14.14 (98)
FREMANTLE 0.3 2.4 5.7 9.10 (64)
Goals:
West Coast: M Merenda 4 R Jones 2 T Wilson 2 D Wirrpunda Phil Matera A McIntosh B Cousins M Gardiner D Haynes
Fremantle: M Carr 2 A Fletcher S McManus B Fewster M Pavlich P Bell T Cook S Koops
Best:
West Coast: B Cousins Peter Matera G Jakovich R Jones D Kerr M Merenda
Fremantle: T Cook A Fletcher P Bell A McPhee M Carr S Parker
Injuries: Fremantle: D Kickett (hamstring) West Coast: D Kerr (shoulder)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: B Shehan S Schmitt M Avon
Official crowd: 41,285 at Subiaco, Perth.
