RECAP: Fremantle Dockers claim third straight win as they brush Richmond aside
Fremantle are firm favourites to notch a third consecutive victory when they clash with Shai Bolton’s old side Richmond in South Australia’s Barossa Valley.
Follow all the action here!
Tigers 19, Dockers 13
Treacy is AGAIN the man who responds as Freo go end-to-end with speed. No surprise that Young is responsible for the set-up.
Three marks and a tackle for Treacy already, to go with two goals.
Tigers 18, Dockers 7
Richmond are up and about early!
McIntosh kicks truly on the run from 50 before Rioli adds a second to his fast start. Not quite panic stations yet for Freo, but they’d want to get going a little here...
Treacy responds
Freo find the answer through Josh Treacy, who’s on the end of a neat build-up thanks to a nice inboard kick from Karl Worner.
Ben Miller has the job on Treacy, while at the other end, Brennan Cox is matched up with Tom Lynch.
It’s 6-6 in the early stages.
Tigers strike first!
Wow! Richmond make the fastest of starts!
Darcy is beaten in the ruck, McIntosh gets a quick kick forward, and Rioli is at the fall of the ball and snaps truly!
Ready to go!
Bouncedown time in the Barossa!
It’s Darcy, Serong, Brayshaw and Young in the middle to start things off for Freo. Today is a box they simply must tick off for a third straight win.
Freo take to the field
The Dockers are out on the ground and greeted by the warm conditions at the Barossa venue.
Freo have kicked four goals, five goals and four goals in opening terms in their past three games to set up leads at each of the first changes. Can they make another fast start today?
Shai says g‘day
Shai Bolton is easing nicely into his work in purple, but gets another test today - of a more emotional kind - when he clashes with his former club.
Bolton comes up against just six premiership teammates in Nick Vlastuin, Tom Lynch, Kamdyn McIntosh, Jayden Short, Toby Nankervis and Nathan Broad, but it’s still set to be a test of composure against the club where he spent the first eight seasons of his AFL career.
Young talent time
Hayden Young’s inclusion is also a massive one, with the man who finished third in Freo’s best-and-fairest count set to give them a significant boost through the middle today.
Young polled Brownlow votes in both of the Dockers’ wins over Richmond last year, averaging 27 disposals and two goals across the two matches.
Big man back
Darcy will be one of the main points of interest today, with the 2021 Doig Medal winner desperate to work his way back to top form after a frustrating couple of years.
In a quirk, today’s game will be the third time in his past 11 AFL appearances that Darcy is taking on the Tigers. He was subbed out of both wins over Richmond last season, so fingers crossed he can run it out today.
Here’s Freo footy boss Joe Brierty on having faith in the big man’s body ahead of a crucial clash today.
No late changes
Freo will go in as named! That means Sean Darcy and Hayden Young are locked in for their first appearances of the season, with Sam Switkowski also back from injury.
It’s Isaiah Dudley who gets the sub nod for the Dockers, while Jacob Bauer fills the role for the Tiges.
