Ireland got off to a slow start and, according to their coach, opted to kick the ball more than use their hands. Australian players ran in groups to stymie the Irish. Small forwards Eddie Betts and Todd Banfield applied plenty of defensive pressure while veteran Dustin Fletcher repelled a number of Irish attacks to help put the game in Australia's keeping.
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.
Janet Linn reporting for AFANA from Subiaco Oval
All indications for the Round 11 West Coast versus Geelong match predicted that the Eagles would struggle to produce a half-respectable performance against the Cats' talented and so far unbeaten team. In past years, Subiaco Oval has been infamous as a hostile ground, difficult for interstate teams to conquer but this time, even with the home town advantage, the pundits were anticipating a thrashing for the Eagles.
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