Geelong’s minor premiership hopes take a big hit after loss to Fremantle
Geelong’s hold on a top-two finish is in huge danger as Fremantle produced a stunning upset that will relieve the pressure on coach Ross Lyon.
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By the time the final siren sounded the rain had stopped.
It would have been purple rain anyway on a day when, for one day at least, purple reigned.
Two of the greatest wins of the Dockers’ history were already against Geelong and now we have the trifecta.
It was no grand stage like the famous 2013 qualifying final or the shock upset in the 2012 elimination final.
Yet it will already have its own special place in the hearts of fans.
With up to eight first-choice players missing, a patched-up Fremantle delivered a dose of hope.
If the 133-point drubbing the Dockers copped the last time these two times met can shake a coach’s future in the space of just four quarters of footy, then Saturday’s masterpiece of guts, application and belief from Fremantle might stabilise it.
The Dockers’ 34-point victory over ladder leaders Geelong at Perth Stadium, 14.11 (95) to 9.7 (61), wasn’t just heaven sent for Ross Lyon.
The ramifications are seismic and will echo around the competition.
The Cats have lost four of their past seven and their premiership credentials are under question.
They spent all week in Perth preparing but couldn’t disappear quick enough after this, having kicked just four goals after quarter-time.
But Cats coach Chris Scott defended the decision to travel early, saying suggestions that the week in Perth had led to a lethargic performance was “really superficial and cheap analysis”.
“You open yourself up to those accusations, but no one has got more information than us. We were really confident in our preparation and we don’t make excuses,” he said.
Scott said the Cats had opened themselves up to the accusation they assumed it was going to be easy after Tom Hawkins kicked three first-quarter goals to send them to the first break 15 points clear.
“We had control of the game in the first quarter and the disturbing thing is that it looked … like we opened ourselves up to the accusation that it might be an easy game,” Scott said.
“We had control, went away from the way we wanted to play. The key indicators really turned around after quarter-time and we had a lot of individuals who have been really good this year who were down — 33 entries after quarter-time is just not enough to put pressure on the opposition.
“Of the 44 entries that we had, just too many were with the opposition’s defences set.
“It was just a poor performance for the last three quarters and the challenge for us is to make sure we address that without completely disregarding the fact we have been a really good team for the majority of the year.
“The things in my mind that we need to work on are pretty easy fixes.”
Madly, Fremantle is alive in the finals race.
Each of the Dockers’ last quarter goals were celebrated by the crowd as if they were the one that had put Fremantle in front.
It was part elation, part disbelief — keep kicking them just to make sure this is real.
Nat Fyfe was superb, finishing with 27 clearances, 11 clearances and two defining third-term goals to take the points in an on-and-off duel with Patrick Dangerfield.
Michael Walters and Bradley Hill were immense as well, as the Dockers ultimately dominated the inside 50 count 58-43 to create enough opportunities.
Going in without anything resembling a natural key forward, Fremantle unveiled what might have been the least intimidating forward line in their 25-year history at the opening bounce.
Veteran David Mundy started in the goalsquare, supported by an unlikely troop of Sean Darcy, Lachie Schultz, Sam Switkowski, Bailey Banfield and Mitch Crowden.
Two quarters of footy later, the undermanned Dockers came from the ground to a standing ovation after two that motley forward crew combined to give the home side the unlikeliest of halftime leads.
When it was all over, there was another standing ovation around the players’ race for Lyon, who acknowledged it with a couple of waves.
There were hugs for Lyon on the field from assistant coaches. Maybe the hint of a tear in some of the embraces.
Crowden’s apparent missed shot on goal late in the second term became a pass as Darcy rescued it on the behind line, before playing on and kicking Fremantle three points clear at the major break.
The Dockers didn’t lack inspiration in attack, with Ed Langdon providing the goal of the day in the early going with a second consecutive soccer to find the opening.
But they did lack the ability to finish what they needed to finish, with Matera (twice), Darcy and Walters all missing gettable chances.
The Cats had what the Dockers lacked in a strong focal point, with Tom Hawkins kicking all three of his goals by quarter-time and dragging down five marks in the first half.
Hawkins wasn’t fussed about kicking a bag, dishing off to Dangerfield and Gary Ablett instead of taking set shots himself.
A run of free kicks against Fremantle entering time-on in the second term prompted an even longer run of boos from the small but enthusiastic crowd, but three consecutive goals for the Dockers running into halftime changed the atmosphere.
The match appeared to revert to the expected script when Tim Kelly landed a set shot from the boundary line and Gary Rohan followed it up, but again the Dockers hit back as Fyfe took a strong mark inside 50 and converted.
Freo lead once again when the excellent Walters snapped truly and the Dockers defence withstood a sustained spell of pressure before Fyfe struck again with an even bigger contested clunk and again kicked truly.
The final term began with a sense of tension and cautious expectation as Fremantle clung to an eight-point lead.
Clever snapped goals to Mundy and Matera fuelled belief and when Langdon and Taylin Duman joined the party, the Dockers had kicked seven consecutive goals and the dream was reality.
SCOREBOARD
FREMANTLE 2.4 6.7 9.8 14.11 (95)
GEELONG 5.1 6.4 8.6 9.7 (61)
GOALS
Fremantle: Crowden 2, Fyfe 2, Langdon 2, Mundy 2, Brayshaw, Banfield, Darcy, Walters, Matera, Duman
Geelong: Hawkins 3, C.Guthrie 2, Clark, Ablett, Kelly, Rohan
BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Walters, Hill, Langdon, Hughes, Sandilands
Geelong: Kelly, Stewart, Ablett, Guthrie, Hawkins, Duncan
INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Geelong: Luke Dahlhaus (rested) replaced in selected side by Sam Menegola, Mark O’Connor (injured) replaced in selected side by Lachie Henderson, Rohan (leg)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Power, Nicholls, Mollison
Official crowd: 36,310 at Perth Stadium
VOTES
3 — Nat Fyfe (Frem)
2 — Michael Walters (Frem)
1 — Tim Kelly (Geel)
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