Garrick Ibbotson

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

TRIBUNAL

Rick Browner reporting for AFANA from Subiaco Oval

Big name cuts to both teams for disciplinary breaches and poor form saw the Fremantle Dockers and the Carlton Blues face off with new look sides and plenty of youth on display. Carlton wore a new away strip, a yellow jumper signed by Lance Armstrong, each one to be sold at auction post-match as a fundraiser for cancer research. Both teams had looked brittle in previous matches and Carlton in particular were out to show the football public that they were serious contenders for the Finals. The umpire was keen to get the ball bounced at the start of the game with players already involved in shoving and niggling that could have resulted in an all-in brawl had it gone on any longer.

Rick Browner reporting for AFANA from Subiaco Oval

It is hard to believe that this time last year the struggling Fremantle Dockers produced one of the closest matches of the year against the big name Geelong Cats. Had it not been for a wayward shot on goal by Matthew Pavlich in the last seconds of the game (his shot hit the goal post on the siren) Fremantle would have snatched the surprise victory of the 2008 season. One year later the teams matched up again in similar circumstances.

A bumper crowd of 41,654 watched Matthew Pavlich become one of only three Fremantle Docker players to reach the 200 game milestone, joining former team mates Shane Parker and Shaun McManus in the illustrious 200 club. In a Western Derby played in two starkly contrasting halves, Pavlich started slowly and had minimal influence until after half time. Moving into the center of the ground in the third quarter, the Captain imposed his strength and willingness to go in hard after the football and turned the tide of the game.

Rick Browner reporting for AFANA from Subiaco Oval

ANZAC Day holds a special place in the hearts of all Australians and was honored by the AFL in Round 5. Fremantle has a good ANZAC Day record, having won eight from thirteen "Len Hall" memorial games since entering the competition in 1994. Before the match, veterans paraded with a military band and an eternal flame was lit to pay respect to the fallen soldiers of Australia and New Zealand. As the lone bugler played the Last Post there was absolute silence in the crowd of thirty two thousand as each paused for one minute of remembrance.  The Len Hall Game is named in honor of a member of the Western Australian 10th Light Horse Regiment, active during the Gallipoli campaign.