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By Tim Stone reporting for the AFANA @ Subiaco.

 

Fremantle has silenced its critics in 2006 by finishing third on the ladder, breezing past Port Adelaide by 79 points in their final match of the 2006 home and away season.

 

Fremantle has now earned a double change by claiming a spot in the Top Four, and will fly to AAMI stadium next week to do battle with the Adelaide Crows for a place in the Preliminary Final. A club that counted just 6 wins after 13 games has now won its last 9 games on the trot to be the form team going into the Finals. They will now appear in the Finals for only second time in their 12 year history as an AFL club.

 

The win was revenge against a side that beat them in round 22 last season,  denying Fremantle a spot in the Top Eight. It was also their 15th win of the season, surpassing their previous best ever season of 14 wins back in 2003 where they finished 5th.

 

Jeff Farmer weaved his magic with 6 goals while Pavlich kicked 5 in what was an inspired effort from the Dockers forward line. Young Dockers in Crowley, Peake and Hayden inspired, while seasoned players in Bell, McManus and Cook played their best football of their illustrious careers.

 

The Dockers continue the fairytale as they head to September Finals action in the most important chapter written at the club to date.

 

Early nerves gripped Fremantle as Port Adelaide kicked the first 2 goals of the match within 6 minutes of the opening bounce. The scare was momentary as the home side found its feet and steadied through the reliable hands of Justin Longmuir, set up by Des Headland. Headland was rewarded 2 minutes later with a goal of his own, and when Crowley and Peake followed in quick succession, the sleeping giant had been awoken.

 

Any attempt by Port Adelaide to slow the game to their tempo was crushed by a relentless Fremantle defense. The pressure applied on the ball carrier and all subsequent recipients was immense, with any delivery less than perfect turned over and punished.

 

Freo showed that they were on top despite the opening 2 goals. An eventual 6 goal run came unstuck with a poor clearance out of defense, Mahoney on the end of an intercept that brought the players and supporters out of the heavens and back to the job at hand.  Port's late goal kept them within 23 points at the break, but when Pavlich got involved with 2 goals in the first 4 minutes of the second quarter, the lead had ballooned out to 35 points.  A few critical errors crept into the Dockers game, as they turned the ball over 5 times in a row going through the midfield. Port was unable to punish the errors, and the game moved along with the scoreboard unabated.

 

It took until the 12th minute for the next goal to come, Farmer goaling on the end of a long chain of handballs, starting in the midfield and ending up in the goal square. It was far from convincing, and showed signs of the Dockers-of-old, but it didn’t stop him celebrating as he joined Pavlich on the multiple goal kickers list.

 

Pavlich goaled for his 3rd of the quarter, and when Schammer climbed up on Logans shoulders for a late contender for mark of the year, the Dockers had started to erradicate the errors. What started with a collective gasp from the crowd ended with a goal as the “Fre-o” chant went up around the ground, and the lead moved out to 49 points.

 

It was far from flattering by both clubs at times, but with Port's continual inability to convert opportunities, the dividends reflected the story of the quarter. A 5 goal run for the Dockers ended with a late goal from Toby Thurstans. A quarter of errors benefited the Dockers with an eventual 5.3 to 1.6 quarter.

 

Unconvincing at times, Fremantle had started to overuse the ball, a foible that had seen the side slip to a record of 6-7 mid-way through the season.  It was sporadically an ugly sight that supporters did not want rearing its head in the last game before Finals.  Any worrying signs for Freo, along with ambitions to curb the lead by Port were over quickly in the second half. Farmer and Pavlich continued their field day as they both kicked goals to well and truly close the door on the visitors.

 

The champagne started to flow and the “Freo” chant went up again, with the sense that the lead was too large to recover and victory was formality for the Dockers. The dream of not only another Finals berth, but a Top Four finish was inevitable.

 

An eventual 7 goal to 1 quarter on the back of “The Wizard” Jeff Farmers inspired brilliance made for  entertaining football for the Purple Army.  An official sellout crowd of 41,121 supporters was the first non derby sellout game ever for Fremantle.

 

Coach Chris Connolly began to wrap his best players in silk in preparation for the finals in the last quarter. Protecting his assets from any late chance of injury, he rested his stars in Pavlich, Bell and McManus, all treated to a heroes reception as they came off the ground.

 

The Dockers ran out the final quarter 5 goals to 4 in cruise control as they extended their current record winning streak to 9 games with the 79-point demolition of Port Power, and go into the finals as the form team of the competition.

 

FREMANTLE: 6.6, 11.9, 18.11, 23.13 (151)
PORT ADELAIDE: 3.1, 4.7, 5.14, 9.18 (72)


GOALS – Fremantle: Farmer 6, Pavlich 5, Peake 2, Headland 2,
Longmuir 2, Crowley 2, McManus, Schammer, Bell, Hayden
Port Adelaide: Thurstans 2, Pearce, Thomas, Salopek, Bentley,
Ebert, Mahoney, Willits
UMPIRES - Stevic, Wenn, Jeffery
CROWD - 41,121 at Subiaco Oval, Perth

Article last changed on Sunday, September 03, 2006 - 11:47 PM EDT


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