AFL: Fremantle pulls off upset win over GWS in Canberra
Fremantle recruit Rory Lobb revealed he copped some verbal stick from GWS ruckman Shane Mumford, but the former Giant had the last laugh as his side produced a remarkable come-from-behind upset road win.
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Fremantle recruit Rory Lobb revealed he copped some verbal stick from GWS ruckman Shane Mumford, but the former Giant had the last laugh as his side produced a remarkable come-from-behind upset road win.
Giants’ coach Leon Cameron had labelled the Dockers one of the competition’s form teams and it was proved correct, his men beaten 16.10 (106) to 11.16 (82) on their Canberra fortress.
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Former Giant Lobb, returning to face his former side for the first time since a deadline-day trade made him a Docker at the end of 2018, said Mumford was chirpy.
“(I copped a) Fair bit from Mummy (Mumford), but not too much from the other boys, they looked after me,” Lobb told Fox Footy after the match.
The 207cm tower let out a primal roar after booting the Dockers’ last goal of the game, putting them ahead by five goals.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon was full of praise for Lobb and his midfield unit after their crucial wins in the centre square tilted the match in their favour.
“We got on top in the last quarter and Rory Lobb was significant in the centre bounce with Fyfe, Mundy, Walters and Conca, and we got it forward,” Lyon said.
“All day we fought hard and in the end we got an edge in that area and we took our opportunities.
“It was really pleasing.
“I feel like our effort has been consistent all year and that’s been reflective of our consistent preparation over summer and each week.
“If you prepare consistently to a high level, generally you’ll get an outcome that is commensurate with that on game day.
“We’ve just got to keep that focus on preparing well.
“They’re hard to come by, wins against quality teams, and every game is tough in the AFL.
“We’ll enjoy the win, do a sharp review and clean it up really quickly.”
GWS was an unbackable favourite heading into the contest and could have gone top with a win, but it was the Dockers who, instead, climbed into second spot.
Returning skipper Nat Fyfe finished with 31 disposals for Fremantle, while Brandon Matera kicked four goals in front of 11,277 fans at Manuka Oval.
Michael Walters was at his brilliant best, amassing 25 disposals to go with three goals in a best on ground performance.
The Dockers wasted chances with some point-blank misses and poor set shots in the first half but delivered when it mattered in the final quarter.
GWS were left to rue missed opportunities as wayward kicking and a lacklustre fourth term cost them in the capital, where they had won nine in a row.
Three-goal hero Matt Taberner said the Dockers were focused on being a better road team and stopping GWS’ classy ball users.
“We’re a young team, we haven’t really performed on the road for the last two seasons, there was a real focus coming over here on the business of getting the four points,” Taberner told Fox Footy.
“They’ve got stars all over the field, so (to) nullify those guys like Whitfield that give them that bounce out of the backline it makes it a lot easier for our defenders to play on the likes of (Jeremy) Cameron.”
Giants star midfielder Stephen Coniglio topped the charts with 37 disposals, while Cameron booted four goals in the absence of injured star Callan Ward.
In a potentially sour note to the win, Fremantle defender Taylin Duman is sure to come under scrutiny from the AFL match review officer for a high strike to Lachie Whitfield’s face during third quarter.
The incident occurred about 40m off the ball as Matt Tabener lined up a set shot and was later likened to the Andrew Gaff-Andrew Brayshaw incident by Fox Footy commentator Jonathon Brown.
Whitfield was sore but did not sustain any serious damage from the incident and played out the match.
Michael Walters will also be looked at for a kick to Sam Reid’s stomach in a marking contest that left the Giants defender sore with a nasty wound.
Replays showed Walters appeared to keep his eyes on the ball before pulling down the mark.
He will likely avoid sanction, as Brisbane forward Eric Hipwood did when he accidentally kicked Essendon’s David Myers in the face last week.
Greater Wester Sydney co-captain Phil Davis rolled his left ankle late in the match and was on crutches after game.
He will be monitored over the next 48 hours by Giants medical staff.
— With AAP
SCOREBOARD
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 3.6 7.9 10.13 11.16 (82)
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FREMANTLE 4.4 8.7 10.9 16.10 (106)
GOALS
GWS: Cameron 4, Finlayson 3, Daniels, Himmelberg, Coniglio, Buntine
Fremantle: Matera 4, Taberner 3, Walters 3, Hogan 3, Switkowski, Colyer, Lobb
BEST
GWS: Coniglio, Kelly, Williams, Cameron, Reid
Fremantle: Walters, Fyfe, Langdon, Taberner, Matera, Hogan, Tucker, Mundy
VOTES
3 — Michael Walters
2 — Nat Fyfe
1 — Stephen Coniglio
INJURIES
GWS: Davis (broken nose, left ankle)
Fremantle: Cam McCarthy (illness) replaced in selected side by Brennan Cox, Cox (left leg)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Hosking, Glouftsis
Crowd: 11,277 at UNSW Canberra Oval
Originally published as AFL: Fremantle pulls off upset win over GWS in Canberra
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