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.
The front
Another large band of rain has swept over Optus Stadium.
Scoring may be a premium from here and Walyalup have played the conditions better than the Power so far.
WAL 42, YAR 27
Feeling at home
Georgiades is loving being back at home in Perth.
He has three goals in the first half.
Cox is still taking him after stopping Jesse Hogan last week but it may be time for Pearce to give him the swap out.
Georgiades is too strong in the one-on-one.
WAL 34, YAR 27
Value for money
Jackson is doing a bit of everything early in this game.
He has 14 hitouts to go with eight disposals and a tackle while also being the leading clearance-winner on the ground with five.
Johnson is next best with three.
WAL 34, YAR 21
From range!
Walyalup have been hanging on to start the term with the Power setting up their half back line across the middle of the ground to create a wall.
Johnson found the ball in chaos in defence and delivered a nice kick out to Amiss who took a strong contested grab on the wing.
Johnson then powered forward and found the ball back in his hands on the edge of the 50-metre arc.
He wasted no time in heading for goal and slotted it.
WAL 28, YAR 21
QUARTER TIME: Walyalup 21, Yartapuulti 19
The Dockers have the lead but all of the numbers would suggest the Power are on top.
They lead the clearances by two but have had 20 inside 50s to just eight.
The Dockers have looked great at speed and in transition but the rain is coming down in buckets and that style will not be possible for long.
Rozee has been excellant while Drew is doing the tough work inside for the Power.
Chapman leads the way for the home side but their midfield needs to get into the action if they want to hold the lead.
Dudley do
Dudley gets the Dockers’ answer on a nice sling shot play.
Erasmus got slightly lucky with his kick out of defence falling to Fredericks but after that the Power could not catch them.
Dudley was all alone in the pocket and marks what was likely a shot at goal from Wagner.
He slots the banana.
WAL 15, YAR 18
Simpson out
Cooper Simpson has been subbed out of the game with an AC injury.
Bailey Banfield is in.
WAL 8, YAR 12
Rain arrives
The wet is not the Dockers’ friend and the rain is starting to fall heavily.
It’s barely rained all year but the wet weather has arrived in the last two days.
Cooper down
Evans has laid a huge bump on Cooper Simpson and the youngster has come off the field carrying his left shoulder.
There appears to be a bulge in the joint.
Both players went hard at the ball and turned their bodies perfectly.
Meanwhile, Switkowski sneaks the Dockers’ first goal.
WAL 8, YAR 6
Georgiades!
The Dockers had two chances to goal but missed both and the Power made them pay.
Three perfect kicks down field and then changing the angle heading deep into the 50 was too much for the Dockers to defend against.
Cox had his chance to kill the ball but missed and WA boy Georgiades comes down with a mark in the goal square.
WAL 2, YAR 6
