The Dockers hadn’t beaten the Dogs since 1997, but enjoyed an emphatic victory – 23.17 (155) to 10.12 (72) - at a poorly attended match at Telstra Dome on Sunday.
The 12,542 pro-Bulldogs crowd had little to cheer about, but raised an angry racket as their dejected team left the field 46 points down at half-time.
Seven unanswered goals late in the second quarter set up the Dockers’ memorable win. Most impressively, they went on with it in the third term, adding a further seven goals to their tally.
Meanwhile, it was genuine doom and gloom for the Dogs, after key defender Rohan Smith went down with a knee injury early in the second term. And his side had just one fit man on their bench by the end of the match. Key position player Daniel Bandy limped off during the third term with a suspected injured ankle, and Nathan Bassett was sidelined with an injured thigh. The Dogs are already without skipper Chris Grant and Mark Alvey who have had their seasons ended by knee injuries.
But the on-field situation was significantly worse, as the Dogs’ discipline and confidence crumbled.
With talented forward Nathan Brown benched for some undisciplined play in the third term, fellow senior player Luke Darcy gave away a 50-metre penalty to take his opponent Aaron Sandilands less than ten metres from goal. Having initially given away a free kick, an angry Darcy slammed the ball into the ground and then refused to give it back.
It did not bode well for the Dogs from the outset, after Fremantle got off to an inspired start. The Dockers held their opponents to a single goal in the first quarter and enjoyed an 18-point advantage at the first break.
Des Headland goaled three minutes into the game, and Justin Longmuir and Paul Medhurst followed before the Dogs even registered a score. It took the home side 24 minutes before Patrick Bowden finally broke through after receiving a handball from ruckman Darcy, who momentarily lost his opponent Troy Simmonds.
The Dogs were terribly uncertain and placed little man-on-man pressure on their rampant opponents. In contrast, the Dockers played a quick and attacking brand of footy. Shaun McManus racked up possessions all over the ground, finishing with 23 touches and eight marks. And the exciting Medhurst, who finished with four majors, was dangerous in every attacking thrust.
It looked - temporarily - as though the Dockers might rue their early wastefulness before goal, after they had nine scoring shots to the Dogs’ one in the opening term. Jordan McMahon and third-gamer Brian Harris kicked two early goals for the Bulldogs in the second quarter, and Smith was lifting his team by providing excellent drive out of defence.
But shortly after he left the ground, leaving the already short Bulldogs defence further undermanned, the Docker onslaught began. Antoni Grover, McManus, Trent Croad, Headland and James Walker added one each. And a rampaging Matthew Carr kicked two, in what was a best on ground performance.
Inexperienced forward Patrick Bowden was one of the few Bulldogs to keep his pride intact. He kicked three majors, including two in the third quarter.
Fellow small forward Brad Johnson contributed two majors, while Nathan Brown was held goalless. However both players were required to fill gaps around the field. Brown was predominately minded by the impressive Dion Woods.
The Dogs’ unforced errors were plentiful, and there was none worse than when Paul Dimattina received a kick-in ten metres from goal, only to cough it up when tackled by Jeff Farmer. Headland pounced and kicked his third major, taking the Dockers to a 51-point lead eight minutes into the third term.
The only concern for Fremantle was an ankle injury to Headland, after he limped off in the third term and was rested on the bench thereafter.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 1.0 3.4 7.7 10.12 (72)
FREMANTLE: 3.6 10.8 17.13 23.17 (155)
GOALS: Fremantle: J.Longmuir 4, Medhurst 4, Carr 3, Headland 3, Cook 2, Croad, Grover, Koops, McManus, Pavlich, Sandilands, Walker
Western Bulldogs: Bowden 3, Harris 3, Johnson 2, McMahon, Power
BEST: Fremantle: Carr, Medhurst, Woods, McManus, J.Longmuir, Cook, Bell, Haddrill
Western Bulldogs: Johnson, Giansiracusa, McGuinness, Bowden, West
INJURIES: Fremantle: Headland (sprained ankle)
Western Bulldogs: Bandy (ankle), Bassett (quadricep), Smith (hyper-extended knee)
CHANGES: Fremantle:Parker replaced in selected side by Schammer.
Western Bulldogs:Croft replaced in selected side by Eagleton, REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Wenn, Woodcock
CROWD: 12,542 at Telstra Dome
