Recap: Fremantle Dockers smashed in Marvel disaster as Ross Lyon fires up St Kilda
Fremantle are wary of a fired-up St Kilda with their former coach Ross Lyon on the warpath. Can the Dockers avoid another Melbourne slip-up and push into the top eight?
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Key Events
Saints pressure is up
It’s 8 inside 50s to three as the Saints lock the ball in their forward half.
The Dockers have been caught holding the ball three times, but so fa,r Alex Pearce and Brennan Cox have been able to intercept the attacks.
But it’s all defence at the moment.
Young gets a goal
The entry again is not great, but the Saints defender in Liam Stocker slips over as Josh Treacy gathers.
He handballs out to Young who snaps on goal to get the Dockers first.
STK 1.1 (7) FRE 1.0 (6)
Freo butthering the ball inside 50
Fremantle have gone forward twice, and both times they’ve picked the wrong option for the kick inside 50 turning it over.
The Saints nearly go need to end but Darcy Wilson misses his snap and it’s a behind.
Here we go
St Kilda win the first clearance but the kick forward is stopped on the 50 when Sean Darcy wins a free from a contest.
There’s a turnover on the wing and it’s former Docker Brad Hill running through to put through the first goal on the run.
STK 1.0 (6) FRE 0.0
Ross Lyon speaks
“They’re a pretty good team we know their midfield is A-grade where we’ve been smacked the last couple weeks,” he said.
“Hopeful we can bring the pressure and force them to turn over early.
Some early thoughts from Justin Longmuir
He speaks on the return of Luke Jackson and how he plans to play him and Darcy together.
“Since [Luke Jackson] came to the club we haven’t been able to play them together all that often,” he says on Fox Sports.
“We like the three stalls down forward and I think Sean can evolve into that player and Jackson can give us a bit in the midfield.”
He says he won’t be taking the Saint’s lightly.
“We try and be really balanced in the way we preview our opposition.
“A few things drifted in the last quarter last week, but our first three quarters was the most decisive we’ve been with our pressure and we hope to build on that tonight.”
Who is Hugh?
St Kilda great Leigh Montagna presented Boxshall with his jumper down in the rooms.
The first-year midfielder, taken with pick 45 in last year’s draft, earned his maiden call-up on the back of a solid start to the year in the VFL, averaging 23.8 disposals in his four games.
Boxshall was a key pillar of Claremont’s colts premiership in the WAFL last year, before he bolting up the draft order after dominating at the state combine.
An angry Ross Lyon
Ross the boss was in a combative mood this week after he lit-up Hugo Garcia and the Saints midfield after an insipid display against the Bulldogs.
WA’s Hugh Boxshall will make his AFL debut but Phillipou’s injury has forced a stay of execution for others.
Will his words have a desired affect?
Welcome
Hello and welcome as Fremantle Dockers prepare to take on St Kilda in Friday night footy action.
There’s already been a late charge with star St Kilda midfielder Mattaes Phillipou a late out, having failed to overcome a corky he copped in training.
It’s a big blow for the Saints who are looking to respond to a heavy Ross Lyon spray after last week’s loss to the Western Bulldogs.
