10 things we learnt: Jackson Macrae ready to step up, Aaron Sandilands is fantasy gold

AARON Sandilands looks set to regain the mantle as the No.1 fantasy ruckman while the Bulldogs win the battle but lose the war.

Matthew Pavlich marks in front of Dale Morris. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

AARON Sandilands proves his fantasy worth, Adam Cooney back to his best and the Bulldogs win the battle but lose the war.

10 THINGS WE LEARNT FROM THE DOCKERS WIN OVER THE BULLDOGS.

AARON SANDILANDS STANDS TALL

As if a price tag of $310,700k wasn’t juicy enough, Fremantle’s giant ruckman guaranteed himself a place in 100 per cent of teams with his performance against the Western Bulldogs. Sandilands scored a massive 156 SuperCoach points as he dominated the ruck battle, winning 47 hitouts. He did plenty around the ground and in the clinches as well, finishing with 16 disposals, four marks, five tackles and a goal. After two seasons plagued by injury, Sandilands looks ready to regain the mantle as the AFL’s No.1 fantasy ruckman. The big score backs up his 91 against West Coast last week. Lock him in people!

News_Rich_Media: More heartbreak for Gumbleton

DOGS WIN THE BATTLE BUT LOSE THE WAR

The Bulldogs are fast becoming known as contested football specialists. Fremantle are no mugs when it comes to winning the hard ball but the Dockers were no match for Brendon McCartney’s men at Etihad Stadium. The Dogs won the contested ball (146-129), the clearances (38-30) and the inside 50s (42-37) yet still lost by five goals. Ross Lyon’s team have clearly added another string to their bow as the Dockers burned the Bulldogs on the outside with their run and spread. Fremantle scored a number of coast-to-coast goals and took advantage of their chances in front of goal.

SUPERCOACH SCORES: BULLDOGS v DOCKERS

DOCKERS EASE PAST BULLDOGS

PAV ON THE RISE...AGAIN

If there was any doubt about Matthew Pavlich reclaiming his best after a torrid run with injuries in 2013, the inspirational Fremantle skipper put it to bed last night. Pavlich kicked two goals - three behinds - to go with 15 disposals and 11 marks in the Dockers’ come-from-behind victory at Etihad Stadium. The skipper’s best came in the third term, taking a classic contested mark outpointing Bulldogs Dale Morris while Jordan Roughead. Pavlich managed just 13 games last year - his worst result in 15 seasons - plagued by soft tissue injuries.

ADAM COONEY BACK TO HIS BEST?

The biggest positive for Adam Cooney and Western Bulldogs fans was the lack of strapping. Cooney’s troublesome knee was strapping free as he erased any doubt over his injury troubles, looking ready to return to his Brownlow Medal-winning best at Etihad Stadium. With no Ryan Griffen and Ryan Crowley attempting to stop Tom Liberatore, Cooney was free to roam as he wished. By the end of the night, Cooney was the Bulldogs best player with 26 touches, four marks, four clearances, six tackles and eight inside 50s. The Bulldogs are excellent at winning the ball and it is imperative Cooney remains on the park to provide outside run and carry.News_Image_File: Adam Cooney tackled by Clancee Pearce. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

MICHAEL WALTERS MOVING ON UP

After spending a small amount of time in the midfield last year, Walters could be about to move up the field permanently. Silky skilled with an ability to find his way out of traffic and deliver, Walters was dominant against the Bulldogs. He finished with only 15 touches (nine contested), six marks, five tackles and four goals, two behinds. The Dockers have a fleet of small forward-midfield types with the arrival of Colin Sylvia, Hayden Ballantyne and Chris Mayne but Walters might be the best of the bunch.

A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK

Tom Liberatore sent a scare through the Bulldogs camp on Wednesday night, limping off after being crushed by Aaron Sandilands’ 122kg frame on the wing. But the hard-nosed extractor was quick to return to the field and continue his stirring battle with elite Dockers tagger Ryan Crowley. Liberatore finished with 20 disposals including a game-high equalling seven clearances.

The 2010 father-son selection also laid six tackles in a mouth-watering display for SuperCoaches. Get on!

JACKSON MACRAE STEPS UP

He’s only played 13 AFL games but Jackson Macrae is putting his hand up as a key cog in the Bulldogs midfield. The No.6 draft pick had added considerable muscle to his frame during the off-season and looked like he had the ball on a string at times at Etihad Stadium. The 19-year-old gathered 30 possessions (10 contested) at 76 per cent efficiency, 10 marks, five tackles, two rebound 50s and three inside 50s. The pacy winger showed he can win his own ball as well as deliver on the outside.

News_Image_File: Michael Walters celebrates one of his four goals. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

GUMBY’S ROTTEN LUCK

Scott Gumbleton wretched run with injury continued at Etihad Stadium with the Fremantle forward subbed out after just 26 minutes with a hamstring injury. The injury is expected to sideline Gumbleton for 3-4 weeks. The 25-year-old has played 35 games in seven seasons ruined by back and hamstring injuries. Dockers coach Ross Lyon was rocked by Gumbleton’s latest setback. “We are really disappointed for him. He will be really flat because of his history of backs and hamstrings and he hasn’t missed a session and if anything we had lightened off this week,” Lyon said after the match. “I feel for him because he’s worked his hardest and shown strong character. He needs to be resilient from here and not drop his bundle.”

DOG SHOW PLENTY OF BARK

They’re tough, skilful and a barking good chance of taking a bite out of several AFL premiership contenders in 2014. The Bulldogs looked every bit a finalist taking it up to Fremantle for three quarters on Wednesday night. While the young squad faltered when it mattered most, the signs are good. The grunt-loaded midfield works wonders at the feet of All Australian ruckman Will Minson, Jordan Roughead has a mighty mentor in Dale Morris, while Stewart Crameri and Daniel Giansiracusa can give opposition backlines plenty of headaches.

FREO HERE WE GO!

When the chips were down, Fremantle raised the bar to sink a defiant Western Bulldogs outfit.

The Grand Finalists made the Doggies pay for their mistakes in the second half. David Mundy was a cut above in the midfield, while the likes of Nick Suban, Tendai Mzungu and Cameron Sutcliffe provided plenty of run and carry. Add Michael Walters - the best small forward in the game - and sharpshooter Chris Mayne and the Dockers look primed for big things in 2014. This mob will be crazy good this season, especially if Ross Lyon can manufacture an extra 12-15 points per game to take Fremantle’s average score to about 100.