RECAP: Nat Fyfe, Sean Darcy return as Fremantle Dockers face Gold Coast Suns test
Fremantle veteran Nat Fyfe played his first game of the season against Gold Coast on Saturday, as ruckman Sean Darcy also returned to the side.
The Dockers made three changes with defender Josh Draper replacing captain Alex Pearce, who is out with a leg injury. Cooper Simpson (shoulder) and Isaiah Dudley (personal reasons) also missed the clash at People First Stadium.
The Suns were red-hot, coming off three consecutive wins and an impressive 8-2 record as the club firms for a maiden finals appearance, but could not stand up to the Dockers.
Fremantle had also bounced back from an inconsistent start with strong victories over Greater Western Sydney and Port Adelaide over the past fortnight to sit 6-5.
Top-10 pick Leo Lombard also made his debut for Gold Coast, with Malcolm Rosas and Ethan Read omitted.
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Reunion
There are a few premiership Tigers involved in this one.
Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli both won flags for Richmond and moved at the end of last season while their flag-winning coach Damien Hardwick is in the box for the Suns as head coach.
Rioli and Bolton are having good influence for their sides so far as well.
Rioli with 12 touches and Bolton with 10.
GCS 14, FRE 33
QUARTER TIME: Gold Coast 13, Fremantle 33
Fremantle are showing why they were top four fancies ahead of the season.
Their pressure has been elite and the ball movement has matched!
The Suns are winning in the centre but the Dockers’ ability to win the ball back has completly stifled the home team.
The Dockers have scored 4.1 from turnovers including a blistering one late in the term from a Johnson steal.
They finished the quarter with 30 tackles while Jackson had a monster quarter.
He enters the first break with nine disposals, seven hitouts, four tackles, two clearances and 203 metres gained.
Tackle fever
The Dockers have started with superb pressure.
They lead the tackle count 23 to 17 and have impressively laid eight of those in the forward 50, resulting in two goals.
They are getting smashed in the clearance battle but so far Jackson and Darcy are on top of Witts in the ruck battle.
GCS 13, FRE 24
A day for firsts!
Wagner kicked six goals for Melbourne in 2019, his only six.
Until today!
He gets an absolute gift for his first goal as a Docker.
Joel Jeffries tried to use his hands to escape the back pocket but missed his teammate over his head.
The ball landed with Wagner who had pressed up to pressure and he made no mistake with the quick snap.
His teammates smothered him in celebrations.
GCS 12, FRE 18
The run down
The Dockers have the first two!
Fredericks snapped the first after a strong shepard from Treacy allowed him to stop and get onto his right boot.
But the second was even more impressive.
The Dockers looked sharp after winning the ball on the defensive side of the wing from a hacked kick.
The entry kick from Serong went to no one but Voss did not give up after Uwland collected it first.
He ran him down from behind and got him holding the ball before slotting the set shot.
GCS 0, FRE 12
Bounce down!
Bolton starts in the middle against Anderson but Rowell gets the first clearance against Serong.
Jackson has also started in the ruck against Witts with Darcy on the bench.
GCS 0, FRE 0
Who will star?
Shai Bolton is playing his best footy of the year while Murphy Reid comes into the game off his second four-goal performance.
Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong rarely play a bad game but will a new name stand up against the Suns who don’t lose at home very often in recent seasons?
Weather update
Somehow, the rain has cleared and the sun is shining on the Gold Coast.
From the coach...
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has explained his decision to play two rucks in Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson against Gold Coast.
Longmuir said the Dockers had an inkling that the Suns would also double-up, with Ned Moyle to partner star No.1 ruck Jarrod Witts.
The wet weather also played a part, Longmuir said, with more stoppages likely in the rain which could have put an enormous ruck load on Jackson’s back and Pat Voss undersized.
Longmuir also told Fox Footy that Fyfe was “probably ready to play WAFL last week” but they decided to hold off and bring him straight into the AFL side today.
