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.
Cats all over Dockers
The defensive pressure from Geelong has been outstanding this first quarter with other than O’Driscoll’s run for Freo’s opener the Dockers are struggling to generate any run and carry.
It’s hurting them on the scoreboard with 67 per cent of their defensive chains resulting in a score compared to Freo’s 33 per cent.
Geelong as laid 27 tackles to Freo’s 16 with eight of those inside 50 while the Dockers have laid just two.
Tom Stewart off with an injury
The Cats defender goes head first into Luke Jackson in an attempt to pick up the ball and is left worse for were.
He’ll off to undergo a HIA as he comes off the ground straight away.
Henry kicks Cats third
The Dockers have been caught in possession a couple of times already Brandon Walker the latest offender and a 50m gets the Cats up the ground.
Cameron gets it on 50 sets the ball to the top of the square and Henry is allowed to run through get goalside and snap his first.
GEE 3.2 (20) FRE 1.0 (6)
Bowes hit back
Bailey Smith is getting plenty of ball early as he strips Serong on the wing.
He goes to Dangerfield who wins the free kick and his kick to Jack Bowes is perfect allowing him to convert from 20m out.
GEE 2.1 (13) FRE 1.0 (6)
Brayshaw gets Freo rolling
Brayshaw finishes it off but this is all about Nathan O’Driscoll who gets it on the wing and burns all comers with his pace as Freo stream forward.
He finds Brayshaw who runs into 50 and kicks the goal.
That will get Freo fans excited
GEE 1.1 (7) FRE 1.0 (6)
Miers with a stunner
The Cats win it out of the middle they go quick through Dangerfield then Smith.
The kick dribbled out into the right pocket but Miers sweeps in and kicks from the boundary and curls it through for the opening goal.
Stunning start for Geelong.
CATS 1.0 (6) FREO 0.0
And we’re underway!
Luke Jackson starts in the ruck for Fremantle, not Liam Reidy.
The Cats get the first clearance but it lands in the hands of Jordan Clark. The Dockers go coast-to-coast and Sam Switkowski kicks it across the face of goal.
It’s thrown in by the umpire and Geelong clear it out of defence after a free kick goes Bailey Smith’s way.
Who needs to step up in Young’s absence?
Fremantle players must go out of their way to get the ball into this Docker’s hands in their forward half during Hayden Young’s absence, writes Craig O’Donoghue.
Reid all about it
Fremantle vice-captain Andrew Brayshaw has presented debutant Murphy Reid with this jumper, with the top draft pick to don the famous No.16.
The number has not been worn since club legend David Mundy hung up the boots.
In presenting the jumper to Reid, Brayshaw said he had “really earned” it.
The 18-year-old’s family was in the changerooms for the heartwarming moment.
Famous No.3
Bailey Smith was presented his jumper by Geelong great Jimmy Bartel, who famously donned the No.3.
Bartel won three flags, a Brownlow and a Norm Smith Medal in the iconic digit, which has more recently belonged to premiership player Brandan Parfitt.
Smith previously wore No.6 in his 103 games for the Western Bulldogs.
