New-found forward efficiency gets Fremantle’s finals hopes back on track

Nothing like two weeks as Walyalup to get a season back on track. A dominant win over the Power has Freo’s finals hopes alive again and one new wrinkle is making all the difference.

Nothing like two weeks as Walyalup to get a season back on track.

With a 49-point win over Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide), the Dockers can dare to dream of a return to finals. And it’s thanks to their new-found efficiency up forward.

On a wet night at Optus Stadium, Walyalup (Fremantle) made it rain goals.

The Dockers kicked their third-highest score so far this season to move to 6-5 and within touching distance of the top eight. They had to do things differently in attack due to the conditions and will be thrilled with a return of 15.10 (100).

Freo’s season is back on track. Picture: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos via Getty Images

So how did they do it?

Efficiency, work rate and talent.

At half-time when the margin was just two points, there were two contrasting styles at play.

The Power came to play and gave themselves repeat opportunities through pressure and keeping the ball in motion from contest to contest. A few times, they were able to split their opponents open with handball and they dominated the first quarter.

The Dockers got the contest largely on their terms and led contested possession by 14 and clearances by six at the main break. But they trailed inside 50s 34-24.

The only reason Walyalup led is because they finally have a forward line capable of taking its chances.

A fortnight ago against Collingwood, the Dockers went too top-heavy, naming two ruckmen and three tall forwards. Against Port, Walyalup’s small forwards kicked 10 of the team’s 15 goals.

How Murphy Reid slipped to pick 17 in the draft last year will be the ultimate case study in hindsight. The 18-year-old is mounting a serious case to be this year’s Rising Star after kicking his second four-goal bag of the season.

Reid is always one step ahead. He reads the fall of the footy like a book and paired with insatiable skill, evident in his checkside snap on his right in the final term, he is compiling one of the most promising Dockers’ debut seasons in recent memory.

Reid has been a revelation. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Sam Switkowski can be an easy target for Walyalup fans given that before Saturday night, he’d only kicked two goals in seven games. But as the most experienced forward on the park, Switkowski should be judged on what he offers as opposed to what he doesn’t.

With two goals, five score involvements and 24 pressure acts, this was Switkowski’s best game this season and if he can continue to contribute on the scoreboard, it’ll be easier to appreciate the work he does without the ball.

In Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round, Isaiah Dudley did his culture proud with two crafty goals. Shai Bolton added one late after an injury scare. And Michael Frederick’s major was overshadowed by an opportunistic rundown tackle on Jeremy Finlayson in the final term.

Once considered Walyalup’s most important player, Josh Treacy didn’t even need to hit the scoreboard for the Dockers to enjoy a sizeable win.

Jye Amiss was Walyalup’s lowest accumulator with nine disposals. But the sum of his stats sheet fails to capture the new-found intensity he played with.

At times this season, the 21-year-old has been guilty of going missing in games and shirking a few contests. It’s hard when his direct comparison is Josh Treacy, a man who’s made a habit of leaving dents in defenders around the competition.

Jye Amiss (R) was strong for the home side. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Against Yartapuulti, Amiss played with a hard edge. He tackled, chased and crashed his way back into the consciousness of Dockers fans who dared to write him off.

There was just one inside 50 between the two teams at full-time. But the Dockers have clearly gotten the mix right.

“It’s a sign of our contest work maturing,” Justin Longmuir said post-match. “Our pressure in the front half has gone to another level.”

As the youngest side in it in round 11, do not undersell this Walyalup win.

The Dockers haven’t always performed in the wet. They haven’t always been able to steady after being challenged. They haven’t always had a forward line capable of converting a 50/50 opportunity.

So long as they do it consistently, we may just be able to start believing in the Dockers again.

Originally published as New-found forward efficiency gets Fremantle’s finals hopes back on track