RECAP: Fremantle Dockers fall to record defeat against Geelong Cats at GMHBA Stadium

Fremantle will be without Shai Bolton today after the star recruit failed to overcome a lower leg issue.

The 26-year-old remained in Perth alongside veteran forward Michael Walters (knee) as the team flew to Victoria on Thursday.

But coach Justin Longmuir was optimistic Bolton could return to face Sydney at Optus Stadium in eight days time.

“If it’s not next week, it’s short term,” Longmuir told Fox Footy. “I’ve got my fingers crosses for next week but he’ll be back the week after if it’s not.”

Heath Chapman will be the sub for Fremantle while Jhye Clark will start on the bench for Geelong.

Top draft pick Murphy Reid will make his debut for the Dockers, while star recruit Bailey Smith will play his first game as a Cat after crossing from the Western Bulldogs.

Here are 40 things you need to know about Murphy Reid.

It might be the opening game of the season and the stakes are high, but there plenty of friendships among the two teams and they withstand all types of pressure.

Former Cat Jordan Clark was chatting with Tom Stewart and Jack Henry as the teams warmed up. Jeremy Sharp and Shannon Neale spent extended time talking to each other too.

Fremantle assistant coach Joel Corey and Cats assistant Steven King are former teammates so they caught up too.

Fears that heat would have an impact on the game appear to have disappeared.

The original weather forecast had it being a 36 degree day in Geelong but now the mercury isn’t expected to exceed 32 and the players are warming up under cloudy skies with a mild 26 degrees.

With daylight saving still in force throughout the state, it usually takes longer for the days to warm up. The game starts at 1.20pm EDT and the temperature isn’t expected to reach 30 until much later in the afternoon.

Fremantle will experience the new changerooms and grandstand at Geelong for the first time, with the renovations not completed when they last played at GMHBA Stadium in 2023.

The stadium now holds 40,000 people which is almost double the 21,619 who attended the 2023 game when the Joel Selwood stand was being buit.

The Dockers used to run out from the opposite side of the stadium to the Cats. Those smaller rooms are famous for Ross Lyon complaining about having do the 2013 qualifying final press conference next to the toilets.

But now they are in more modern facilities which were opened last year.

Fremantle will kick off their 2025 season with one of the toughest road trips in football, taking on preliminary finalists Geelong at the Cattery.

The Dockers have a better record than most visiting teams at GMHBA Stadium, with coach Justin Longmuir enjoying a 2-0 record as coach at the venue.