Fremantle Dockers

2022 - 4 - 30

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Fox Sports"

'Real deal' Freo leave Cats 'shocked'; 'Superb' Docker's best ever ... (Fox Sports)

'Real deal' Freo leave Cats 'shocked'; 'Superb' Docker's best ever game: 3-2-1.

“It’s exciting to have them coming back later in the year. “You come to a cauldron like this against all the odds, you’ve got a number of really good players out. The Cats then fought back late with two clutch goals as it all came down to the last centre bounce with 30 seconds left. “Freo’s pace is just starting to come into the contest, worrying the Cats a little bit. “He was absolutely superb today. I’ve been impressed with his work rate to get back and support his defence,” Dal Santo said. “First quarter they were getting smashed in the contested situation, around the clearances. I’ve been really impressed with his willingness to chase back defensively, as much as he loves to run forward and use that big thumping kick. It had all the makings of another Cats domination at GMHBA Stadium early after the hosts kicked the first three goals. But Fremantle got the clearance and was able to lock the down in to hang on a for a massive victory. The Dockers defied all odds in this one, playing without Nat Fyfe, Sean Darcy and Matt Taberner, and at one of the AFL’s hardest grounds to play at in GMHBA Stadium, to pick up a massive victory. The Dockers then withstood a late fightback from the Cats, who kicked two goals late in the game, to hang on for a famous victory.

Dockers upset Cats at home to stamp themselves as genuine ... (The Age)

Fremantle have stamped themselves as genuine premiership contenders after overcoming a slow start to pick Geelong apart on their home ground.

They do not need to be told how to act at the football nor turned into an American environment on the surf coast. Geelong are the second oldest club in the game’s history and their fans provide a unique atmosphere at their home ground. However the Dockers stayed in touch as they made the most of their forward thrusts, cashing in on Geelong’s weakness in defence to score more often than not when they entered their forward 50. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter. Ruckman Rhys Stanley appeared to hurt his ankle in the dying minutes. Unfortunately, from their perspective they could not convert only scoring level at half-time after dominating field position in the second quarter.

Fearless young Dockers breach Cats' fortress (Wide World of Sports)

Fremantle has solidified its status as a bonafide premiership contender by handing Geelong a rare loss on i...

Three of Geelong's 12 home losses since 2012 have been to the Dockers. Well, there's some more money in the bank," Saints great Nick Dal Santo told Fox Footy after the Dockers' win. 6. (66) winners in front of a stunned crowd at Geelong's GMHBA Stadium.

Going up! The numbers that point the way to Freo's rise (AFL)

Champion Data's AFL Player Ratings indicate this, with regulars Blake Acres (+5.4), Matt Taberner (+2.5) and Lachie Schultz (+2.5) along with emerging ...

Bigger tests are to come, starting on Saturday against the Cats. They were able to strip the ball back and get it going in their half." Longmuir explained on AFL 360 earlier this week: "I think that's been the biggest difference in our game this year is the constant pressure we're bringing on the opposition. In 2021, Fremantle conceded the seventh most scores, averaging 82.95 points against per game. Brodie, who could only manage 25 games across five years at Gold Coast, is averaging 26.8 disposals, 6.5 clearances, 3.8 inside 50s and 4.3 tackles this season. In 2022, that's down to 61.5 points against per game. Over the past week, rival coaches Michael Voss and Scott have both lauded the Dockers’ pressure around the ball. Fremantle has endured years of underachievement, having not made the finals since their minor premiership year of 2015. The Dockers have also risen from 15th in intercept marks (13.8) per game, up to seventh (15.3) in 2022, led by defenders Brennan Cox (3.2, ninth in the AFL) and Griffin Logue (2.5, 20th). The aforementioned pressure plays a big part in that as Fremantle ranks second for scores against per inside 50 (38.8%), as opposed to 16th last season (44.7%). Fremantle has also risen from being ranked 16th (20.8) for scores from forward-half intercepts to first (36.3). That's also built off an improvement in generating forward-half intercepts, up from 10th in 2021 (21.9) to third in 2022 (26.0). The Dockers were last in the competition for tackles inside 50 in 2021 (6.8) but they've surged up to seventh (10.3) this year. The statistics back that up, with Fremantle going from the side with the worst scores from turnover differential (-13.8) to now being the best (+35.7).

Fremantle Dockers fans blow up social media after team passes ... (The West Australian)

Jubilant Fremantle fans have erupted on social media after their club stamped its premiership credentials with a stirring three-point win over Geelong on ...

They sit a game behind reigning premiers Melbourne on the ladder, with the Demons to face Hawthorn later on Saturday. The Dockers lead by 16 points with just four minutes to go, before Geelong goal-sneak Tyson Stengle briefly opened the door with a clever goal, before Mark Blicavs kicked another to bring it within a goal. The Dockers kicked just two goals in the final term as Geelong threatened to take the game away from them.

'Real deal': AFL stunned by shock upset (NEWS.com.au)

Fremantle has silenced the doubters and continued its strong start to the AFL season with a thrilling three-point win over Geelong on Saturday.

Against all odds. They all played their guts out. The Dockers have had a favourable fixture to start the season but the thrilling victory proved they are the real deal and an early contender for the premiership. The win was the Dockers’ fifth in a row and sees them move up to second on the ladder with a 6-1 win loss record. Fremantle has silenced the doubters and continued its strong start to the AFL season with a thrilling three-point win over Geelong on Saturday. A new contender for the AFL premiership has emerged after Fremantle proved they are the real deal with a thrilling upset over Geelong.

AFL Round 7 brilliant Fremantle Dockers stun Cats in Geelong (ESPN)

Fremantle have stunned Geelong with a memorable three-point win at GMHBA Stadium to lay down their marker as genuine AFL premiership contenders.

"I don't know where it (the win) stacks. The Cats wouldn't go away in the final term and Mark Blicavs cut the margin to three points with 26 seconds left. "We fought and that's become a part of our brand is we just keep fighting and we were able to do that." "I do (believe that) because we're playing a really strong, defensive, contested game and we're able to adapt in games," he said. "We came down here prepared for an arm wrestle and prepared to go the distance, because that's what you have to do down here. "We've got plenty of work ahead of us and this game's got a real knack of pulling you into line if you get too far ahead of yourself."

Going up! The numbers that point the way to Freo's rise (AFL)

The importance of scores from turnover is significant, given nine of the past 10 premiers have ranked in the top six that season, while last year's grand ...

Fremantle Dockers

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