RECAP: Fremantle Dockers fall to record defeat against Geelong Cats at GMHBA Stadium
Fremantle will get their highly-anticipated 2025 season underway with one of the toughest road trips in football, against Geelong at the Cattery.
Follow all the action in our live blog.
Stylish from the Cats
The work to keep the ball alive on the wing is incredible with the taps and quick handballs getting them out of trouble.
The Dockers have flooded numbers back in defence but somehow Cameron can take an uncontested mark in the goal square from a high ball.
Geelong have 70 before half time.
GEE 11.4 (70) FRE 2.4 (16)
Two for Stengle
The Dockers are powerless to stop the Cats at the moment.
A long kick to half-froward spills out the back of the contest where the Cats gather and kick over the top to Stengler who converts the set-shot from directly in front.
It’s eight goals to two and this game could be getting real ugly.
GEE 10.4 (64) FRE 2.4 (16)
Stengle on the board
Geelong burst out of the middle and Walker is powerless to stop Stengle.
He converts from 40 and the lead is above 40 points.
To make matters worse Fremantle finally get a clean stoppage burst out of the middle and finds Tracy who then shanks the kick as it goes out on the full.
That sort of day.
GEE 9.4 (58) FRE 2.3 (15)
Holmes has two
Fremantle’s pressure has lifted this quarter but its still not enough as Geelong win the ball on the wing and the instep kick finds Holmes in the middle of three Fremantle defenders.
He becomes the Cats first multiple-goal scorer to push the margin out to 37 points.
GEE 8.4 (52) FRE 2.3 (15)
Treacy gets one back
Fremantle force the turnover in the middle of the ground and the Dockers go quick.
The kick inside 50 isn’t great but Treacy does well enough to halve the contest and keeps the ball live and eventually gets some space to snap one through.
That was desperately needed for the Dockers.
GEE 7.4 (46) FRE 2.3 (15)
Jackson caught holding the ball
Another tackle inside 50 as the Dockers defence is getting mobbed.
Luke Jackson is stripped of the ball inside the forward pocket and Max Holmes becomes the Cats seventh different goal scorer.
GEE 7.4 (46) FRE 1.2 (8)
Brandon Walker with a coach killer
Having one the free in defence Walker kicks across goal but it’s an awful pass to Luke Ryan with Brad Close moving across to intercept and run into an open goal.
Both Ryan and Longmuir less than pleased with that decision from Walker fair to say.
GEE 6.4 (40) FRE 1.2 (8)
END OF Q1 GEE 5.4 (34) FRE 1.1 (7)
Well that’s a hot start from the Cats who, despite the heat, have been outworking Freo handsomely.
They’re plus eight in contested possession and have forced 19 turnovers and plus 14 for tackles and plus 10 for tackles inside 50.
Fremantle need to be quicker with ball in hand because they are getting run down everytime when they take that extra step or pass.
Dangerfield on the board
It’s Danger(field) signs for Freo as once again the Cats just outwork them on the wing to move the ball forward with Bailey Smith involved again.
The Dockers defend the first attack but Brennan Cox is caught holding the ball and Dangerfield snaps his first around the corner.
Tom Stewart is back on the ground after that hit as well
GEE 5.4 (34) FRE 1.1 (7)
Oliver Dempsey the karate kid
Geelong kick it deep inside 50 and Fremantle get sucked towards the ball allowing Dempsey to get goalside and kicks the ball out of mid-air for a goal.
Fremantle could really use a score before the break now.
GEE 4.3 (27) FRE 1.1 (7)
