Western Derby LXI recap: Fremantle Dockers out to avoid any finals spoilers from West Coast underdogs
Fremantle are looking to continue their march towards finals as West Coast hope to spoil their party by causing the biggest upset in western derby history.
The two teams could not be more polar opposites when it comes to form, with Fremantle coming off one of their best-ever wins and having won eight of their past-nine.
The Eagles are coming off one of their most dispiriting losses and are set for a second wooden spoon in three years, and are facing the prospect of a one-win season.
But the derby rarely cares about the ladder with the Dockers on high alert to avoid any Eagles spoilers.
Follow all the action live.
Second half underway
Fremantle win another centre clearance through Serong and Jackson.
West Coast defend the first but can’t stop the second as Liam Duggan hobbles off with a lower leg injury.
Jye Amiss misses his set shot as the Dockers continue to waste their chances.
Andrew McQualter shares his thoughts on the half
“The game is not entirely on our terms, the ball has been stuck in our back half,” he says.
“The stoppage game is a bit difficult for us, but we’ve had some we’ve had some moments where we’re able to hit the scoreboard pretty efficiently.
“The players are pretty good sometimes you just have to hang around and give yourselves a chance.”
HALFTIME: Fremantle 52, West Coast 30
Fremantle will be disappointed with their second term.
They created plenty of chances but could not split the big sticks, sitting at seven goals 10.
Meanwhile, the Eagles found some fight after a pitiful 10 minutes to end the first term and got a few goals to stay in touching distance.
Brayshaw and Young are dominating but Kelly has found some form for the Eagles and leads the way in their midfield with 14 disposals and a goal.
Maric also has 12 while Jackson has been strong for Freo with 13.
Staying alive
With the Dockers giving up their opportunities the Eagles finally get one and Cripps makes the most of it.
They one the turnover in their forward half and despite Baker nearly getting caught they had enough players free to find Cripps who dobs it through on the run.
West Coast have kicked five straight but Shanahan did kick a set shot out on the full.
FRE 52, WCE 30
Hard work
The Dockers are making hard work of the second quarter.
They’ve missed three chances in a row as they continue to win free kicks inside 50.
Brayshaw is thriving in the contest with 16 disposals and four clearances.
West Coast have improved their efforts but Fremantle are keeping them in the game.
FRE 51, WCE 24
Harley responds!
Reid has been copping it from O’Meara, Voss and the purple Army but he finally gets loose and makes no mistake.
The ball came out the side of the wing contest and found three Eagles who worked the ball out and handballed to Reid with space.
He burst away, took a bounce, and nailed a much-needed Eagles goal.
West Coast get the next centre bounce clearance through Reid who is finding his way on to Jackson who does not have the pace.
Kelly finds Brockman on the entry but the forward misses everything and doesn’t make the distance.
FRE 47, WCE 18
McCarthy found out?
The mid-season rookie has made a sensational start to life in the AFL but McCarthy is being hurt by the pace of Freo’s forwards today.
He has twice missed tackles and then been out sprinted back to goal.
In his defence, he has been left one-out on the last line more times than he should have been but it’s a skill he will get a lot of practise at with this team.
The Dockers meanwhile look switched on and prepared to earn the percentage boost they need.
FRE 47, WCE 12
QUARTER TIME: Fremantle 40, West Coast 12
Young has made an inbelievable start in his first full match back from a hamstring injury.
He has double digit disposals and has two big goals.
Brayshaw is making up for Serong struggling under the tag but the Eagles barely touched the footy in the final 10 minutes of the quarter.
After being all square, the Dockers double the clearances and end up with seven extra inside 50s.
West Coast’s midfield need to find a way to get first touch and at least slow the purple tide down.
The flex
The Dockers have flexed their muscles to end the term.
Their midfield just cranked the pressure and used their speed to spread from the contest and leave the Eagles in their wake.
Frederick deadeyed one from the boundary before scoring the next on the run after a nice feed from Serong.
Young gets the third from a holding free kick inside 50 and the scoreline is suddenly blown out.
FRE 34, WCE 12
Neck a neck
Both sides are even for inside 50s and clearances in what has been a fairly tense start to the day.
Voss missed his first set shot but turned Bazzo around nicely to take the mark.
Hough is running with Serong and it is working well to start.
West Coast suffering from turnovers as usual.
FRE 16, WCE 12
