Fremantle Dockers

The margin did not reflect the high drama at Optus Stadium, as the Eagles showed great resilience to hold on with one fit player on the bench after injuries to ...

It was a quarter that concerned Justin Longmuir and would have served as a warning that things can go wrong quickly if the team stops competing at the source. The Dockers went away from what was working in the third quarter and were punished by a West Coast team that lifted its rating around the ball. Contested ball was back on level terms in the final quarter (35-35) and the only backflips happening were from Michael Frederick, who marked the last goal of the game with an aerobic celebration. He started as a ground-level midfielder at the first centre bounce, moved forward for the second, and then contested the third as a ruckman. The club will be desperate to regain star midfielder Elliot Yeo, with key defender Harry Edwards a likely replacement for McGovern. Ryan had his knee strapped and was asked to play on for a while before being pulled out of the game. A number of potential marks went to ground on Sunday, but his increased involvement with time in the midfield was a big step forward. Fremantle has put a focus on starting games fast and physical but failed to deliver in the opening two rounds. Cripps was in hospital post-match with a broken ankle, while Witherden will need to be assessed after a heavy collision with Jaeger O'Meara that could result in him entering concussion protocols. Luke Shuey was on fire early but succumbed to a hamstring injury, while McGovern's setback appeared a bad one. West Coast has endured more injury trauma than any club in the past two seasons, and so it could be again in 2023. Jackson had three different roles for the first three centre bounces on Sunday, setting the tone for his first Derby as a Docker.

Caleb Serong led the way in a medal-winning performance as Fremantle's work-horses stepped up in the 41-point derby win over West Coast.

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Caleb Serong put the onus on Fremantle's midfield to improve ahead of Western Derby 56 — and the young gun led from the front.

Sean Darcy (Fremantle) Caleb Serong (Fremantle) 3: Caleb Serong (Fremantle)

Fremantle may have claimed a massive 41-point Western Derby win but it was West Coast who finished the talking point after a day of absolute injury carnage.

Coach Adam Simpson was described as “like a proud father” on the bench as he continued to try and rally his troops, despite having no fit players to call on in the third quarter. With no fit players left on the bench as the likes of senior players Shuey, McGovern and Cripps were ruled out, the Eagles stood tall in the third quarter. First Luke Shuey limped off – after a best on ground first quarter. The Eagles had no rotations for at least five minutes in the third term and were limited to just one for patches of the final term before the decision was made to keep Ryan benched. The skipper was so frustrated, he lashed out and punched the dug out wall as he was subbed out with a hamstring injury. The Eagles were left with no fit players on the bench after the likes of Luke Shuey, Jeremy McGovern, Jamie Cripps and Alex Witherden were all ruled out with injury.

Premiership forward Jamie Cripps was sent to hospital with a suspected broken ankle as West Coast suffered up...

"In the end, I turned around to provide a bit of support to the players, but there's no one on the bench," Simpson said with a wry smile. Well, that's happening this quarter." Simpson coached from the bench in the second half in a bid to keep spirits high. The situation was so dire that a hobbling Ryan was patched up and sent back out onto the field in the final quarter to allow West Coast to have at least one functioning rotation. Ryan ended up giving away a crucial 50m penalty when he couldn't stand a mark in time, and he was eventually taken back off and sent down to the changerooms for medical treatment. The Eagles lost captain Luke Shuey (hamstring), All-Australian defender Jeremy McGovern (hamstring) and former Lion Alex Witherden (concussion) in the second quarter alone during Sunday's 16.12 (108) to 9.13 (67) loss in front of 56,090 fans.

West Coast were left without a fit player on their bench after five key stars were injured during Sunday's 41-point AFL western derby loss to Fremantle.

"In the end, I turned around to provide a bit of support to the players, but there's no one on the bench," Simpson said with a wry smile. Well, that's happening this quarter." Simpson coached from the bench in the second half in a bid to keep spirits high. The situation was so dire that a hobbling Ryan was patched up and sent back out onto the field in the final quarter to allow West Coast to have at least one functioning rotation. Ryan ended up giving away a crucial 50m penalty when he couldn't stand a mark in time, and he was eventually taken back off and sent down to the changerooms for medical treatment. The Eagles lost captain Luke Shuey (hamstring), All-Australian defender Jeremy McGovern (hamstring) and former Lion Alex Witherden (concussion) in the second quarter alone during Sunday's 16.12 (108) to 9.13 (67) loss in front of 56,090 fans.

West Coast were left without a fit player on their bench after five key stars were injured during Sunday's 41-point AFL western derby loss to Fremantle.

"In the end, I turned around to provide a bit of support to the players, but there's no one on the bench," Simpson said with a wry smile. Well, that's happening this quarter." Simpson coached from the bench in the second half in a bid to keep spirits high. The situation was so dire that a hobbling Ryan was patched up and sent back out onto the field in the final quarter to allow West Coast to have at least one functioning rotation. Ryan ended up giving away a crucial 50m penalty when he couldn't stand a mark in time, and he was eventually taken back off and sent down to the changerooms for medical treatment. The Eagles lost captain Luke Shuey (hamstring), All-Australian defender Jeremy McGovern (hamstring) and former Lion Alex Witherden (concussion) in the second quarter alone during Sunday's 16.12 (108) to 9.13 (67) loss in front of 56,090 fans.

FREMANTLE has overcome a gallant but ultimately injury-ravaged West Coast side to win the Western Derby 16.12 (108) to 9.13 (67) at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

It was a quarter that concerned Justin Longmuir and would have served as a warning that things can go wrong quickly if the team stops competing at the source. The Dockers went away from what was working in the third quarter and were punished by a West Coast team that lifted its rating around the ball. Contested ball was back on level terms in the final quarter (35-35) and the only backflips happening were from Michael Frederick, who marked the last goal of the game with an aerobic celebration. He started as a ground-level midfielder at the first centre bounce, moved forward for the second, and then contested the third as a ruckman. The club will be desperate to regain star midfielder Elliot Yeo, with key defender Harry Edwards a likely replacement for McGovern. Ryan had his knee strapped and was asked to play on for a while before being pulled out of the game. A number of potential marks went to ground on Sunday, but his increased involvement with time in the midfield was a big step forward. Fremantle has put a focus on starting games fast and physical but failed to deliver in the opening two rounds. Cripps was in hospital post-match with a broken ankle, while Witherden will need to be assessed after a heavy collision with Jaeger O'Meara that could result in him entering concussion protocols. Luke Shuey was on fire early but succumbed to a hamstring injury, while McGovern's setback appeared a bad one. West Coast has endured more injury trauma than any club in the past two seasons, and so it could be again in 2023. Jackson had three different roles for the first three centre bounces on Sunday, setting the tone for his first Derby as a Docker.