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Freo Win Biggest Derby Of All

by Tim Stone, reporting for the AFANA @ Subiaco Oval, Perth.

Before the bouncedown of the Round 21 derby between West Coast and Fremantle, the Dockers were the younger colt in a 2 horse town. As the final sounded, Fremantle had not only earned the respect of West Coast, but the attention of the entire AFL community.

Fremantle humbled the top of the table and Premiership favourites in West Coast by an astonishing 57 points only one game away from finals, and in doing so has broken all kinds of club and derby records.

 

In amassing the score 18.10 (118) to 8.13 (61), Fremantle tied its highest ever derby score, whilst West Coast were left to lick their wounds with their lowest score and worst defeat in derby history. It was the first time Fremantle has won both derbies in a single season, and have now beaten West Coast on their past 3 outings.

  

Finding themselves in 4th place after 20 rounds, many had speculated that Fremantle had simply overachieved, and were waiting for their "big brother" in West Coast to school them on what it took to be a Top Four squad.

 

It simply was not the case.

 

What had been dubbed as the biggest game in West Australian history started in the mold that it was destined to. A frantic first quarter pace was maintained from the opening to closing siren of the first quarter.  Showing they were not to be intimidated by the lack of supporters, the Dockers kicked 3 goals early in the quarter. This early barrage was broken up by a thumping kick off Lynch's boot outside 50 to keep West Coast in check.

 

Each goal the Dockers kicked was followed with a fist pump and a taunt aimed at the West Coast faithful. The intimidation was enough to silence the crowd, but it did nothing to stem the 3 straight goals that West Coast put on in return. The sheer work load of Cousins reached breaking point 20 minutes in when he brought himself off the ground to vomit, a testament to the work rate he had sustained for the opening term of the game.

 

Cousins and Judd ran ragged, making up for the loss of key midfielder Kerr and forward Ashley Hanson. Each player inspired and lifted the crowd, a goal from each followed by a snap shot from Staker gave back the ascendancy to the ladder leaders.  A late goal from Headland kept the Dockers in check going into the break, and another goal from him early in the second returned the lead to the underdogs.

 

It was the start of what would become an historic game for the Dockers.  Opportunities went begging for West Coast while the Dockers punished the mistakes and capitalized on the openings that were presented to them in the second quarter. Goals to influential game breakers Bell and Farmer opened the game out to 16 points. This margin quickly  turned into warning bells late in the quarter for West Coast as Farmer, Johnson and Peake all combined for the play of the day.

 

Farmers untamed and equally unpredictable magic shone as he tapped the ball over his head to Johnson, who in turn found Peake ready for the ball. The timing was impeccable, and West Coast could do nothing but stand by and watch as he ran to the 40 and goaled, to bring the half to a close.

 

West Coast only managed 5 behinds for the quarter, while Farmer, Bell and Peake flexed the muscle of the Purple Army. A 4 goal to 0 quarter gave them a 22 point lead going into the major break.

 

It wasn’t the end of their grip on the game. In Fremantle's display of skill, they brought West Coast to its knees as they kept the flag favourites goalless in back to back quarters, in front of what was the biggest ever crowd at Subiaco Oval.

 

The result was merely a formality by ¾ time. Fremantle piled on 6 goals in a display that saw the "escape artists" in West Coast, known for their comeback heroics, kept to 3 behinds in their worst 2 quarters 2006.

 

What was to be an eventual 10 unanswered goal run, the Dockers not only put to rest the ‘little brother’ syndrome they had carried for 12 years, but proved themselves as contenders for this years Premiership.

 

Jeff Farmer and Peter Bell were simply stunning in their dominance around the ground. West Coast played the match without any answers to the onslaught. By the time Ben Cousins goaled 2 minutes into the last quarter, the fat lady had already packed her bags. His goal was their first since the 19 minute mark of the first quarter.

 

The Eagles could only manage 35 points for the match up to the third quarter. Eight minor scoring shots took place over 71 minutes of football before they were able to register their next major. Making the victory all the sweeter, the Dockers ace Matthew Pavlich was kept quiet by Darren Glass of West Coast. This stood testament to a side that is now contributing in all facets and by all players, rather than relying on its star players to perform.

 

While they played on their home turf, the support was anything but friendly. Fremantle who were fortunate enough to score a ticket to the hottest game in town, were as many in number as goals for West Coast.

 

The Ross Glendinning medal for best player on the ground in the 25th derby between these 2 sides went to Dockers skipper Peter Bell, who had 28 possessions and 2 goals in a inspired "leading by example" performance.

 

Peake and Farmer were also worthy of mentions, contributing to a side that has risen to the upper echelon in 2006, and wrote an important page in the growth of the Fremantle Dockers. Cousins and Glass were winners for the Blue and Gold in a day where their teams colors had been lowered.

 

The importance of the win could not have been overemphasised. It moves Fremantle into the third place spot, while the outcome of a loss would have seen them slip down to seventh. They now must win their final home and away match against Port Adelaide at home to secure a Top Four finish, and the resulting double chance in the finals. The loss to West Coast did not affect their position on the ladder. They maintain top spot, 1 game clear of Adelaide and are guaranteed a home final regardless of next week's outcome.

  

WEST COAST: 4.3 4.8  4.11  8.13  (61)
FREMANTLE: 4.1 8.5 14.8 18.10 (118)


GOALS – West Coast: Cousins 3, Lynch 2, Staker 2, Judd
Fremantle: Farmer 4, Headland 2, Crowley 2, Bell 2, Hasleby 2,
Pavlich 2, Johnson, Peake, Longmuir, Cook
BEST – West Coast: Cousins, Judd, Stenglein, Glass, Fletcher
Fremantle: Bell, Farmer, Sandilands, Hayden, J Carr, Headland
INJURIES – West Coast: Wirrpanda (left hamstring), Embley (shoulder)
Fremantle: Nil

REPORTS - Nil
UMPIRES - Vozzo, Rosebury, Ryan
CROWD - 43,527 at Subiaco Oval, Perth

Article last changed on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 2:05 PM EDT


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