RECAP: Walyalup (Fremantle) take down Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) at Optus Stadium
A brilliant road victory last weekend and a win over Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) has Walyalup (Fremantle) on track to regain a spot in the eight.
The unchanged Dockers overcoming an early injury to young gun Cooper Simpson to out play the Power from quarter time onwards.
However, skipper Alex Pearce will face MRO scrutiny for a big bump on Darcy Byrne-Jones that saw the Power defender subbed out of the match with concussion.
Recap all the action from our blog.
Underrated night
Johnson does not always have the best ball use but his in-and-under work tonight has been valuable.
He has 20 disposals, one goal, five clearances, four tackles and 532 metres gained.
The midfielder has also been in the thick of the contest ensuring the Power’s midfielders can’t find space.
Meanwhile, Reid has kicked a career-high fourth goal!
WAL 82, YAL 42
Attendance
40,466 Walyalup fans have braved the cold and wet to support the Dockers to a win tonight.
Voss the boss!
The Dockers are on the board inside 30 seconds!
Jackson won his side the tap straight to Serong who gets the clearance with a smart handball.
Voss takes a nice mark on the lead and even though he got under the ball kicks another major.
WAL 74, YAR 36
THREE-QUARTER TIME: Walyalup 68, Yartapuulti 36
Yartapuulti took a long time to find some energy after coming out of the break and its meant they have slipped five goals behind.
And had Walyalup used the ball better going forward this match would be over.
Wines is pushing hard for the Power but they can’t stop Chapman rebounding off half back.
He has been vital to keeping the Dockers going forward.
Jackson continues to be the best player on the ground and slotted an incredible set shot from an acute angle in the pocket late to cap his first three terms.
The inside 50s have evened and the clearance battle is also pretty close but turnovers are getting out of hand for the visitors.
They had 22 in that quarter and it didn’t rain at all.
For Walyalup, Serong is lifting big time and now has 19 disposals and six clearances.
Pearce again!
The skipper takes one for the road.
Pearce may be having a bit of a spell after this week so he sneaks towards the forward and slots a long-range goal to lift the home fans off their feet!
The Power are on the verge of breaking.
WAL 61, YAR 35
All at sea
The Power have not come out with any energy and the Dockers are picking them off at will.
Walyalup have missed kicks a couple of times to hurt themselves but the visitors are letting themselves down in the contest.
The Dockers need to get ruthless and put the foot down now to ensure this is an easy win down the stretch.
If the Power can hang in for the next 10 minutes they may be able to find some momentum.
WAL 55, YAR 34
Buttered up
Switkowski won a free kick for being held without the ball before Butters bumps a Docker to the ground while running past the area and gives away the 50-metre penalty.
Just the start the Dockers wanted with a gift.
WAL 48, YAR 34
HALFTIME: Walyalup 42, Yartapuulti 34
Walyalup could almost have iced this match given the pouring rain but missed a couple of golden chances to end the quarter and Rioli made them pay with one the other way.
Jackson has been a one-man midfield at times for the Dockers and is showing off his skills at ground level with 13 disposals and five clearances.
The Dockers have taken over the clearance battle but the Power have had more of the ball.
Turnovers are also sitting at 33 apeice.
Reid also has his first multiple goal game since his debut down in Geelong.
Massive blow
Byrne-Jones has been crunched in a marking contest by Pearce and the Dockers’ skipper could end up with weeks on the sideline.
They were coming from opposite directions as a high ball came in and Pearce chose to brace himself while the Power player did not see him coming.
Byrne-Jones ends up flattened and gets a free kick.
Not much Pearce could do to avoid but he will likely get a suspension regardless.
WAL 42, YAR 28
