AFL round 15 2023: All the news and analysis from Fremantle v Essendon

Essendon became the latest club to succumb to a trend taking over the AFL — and it’s certainly no coincidence.

The Bombers’ winning streak is over. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

It’s difficult to tell whether Essendon’s four-game winning streak was stopped in Perth on Saturday night by a bizarre trend hitting the AFL or a Fremantle side welcoming back their most important player.

The Bombers became the eighth side to lose in the round immediately after having a bye, when they went down to Fremantle by 32 points, at Optus Stadium.

They joined Brisbane, Fremantle, Geelong, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney and West Coast to lose after their week’s rest.

So far, only St Kilda has won when coming off a bye, in round 13, but the Saints beat the Sydney Swans who were also coming back from a week off.

It’s too big a coincidence to brush it off as not having something in it.

Fremantle welcomed back ruckman Sean Darcy from injury on Saturday night, who is crucial to its chances of grabbing a spot in the top eight.

The Bombers became the eighth side this year to lose in the round immediately aftre their bye. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Caleb Serong enjoyed having the big man back, picking up 32 possession, 10 clearances and having 12 score involvements.

Saturday’s 14.9 (93) to 9.7 (61) victory now leaves them only percentage away from pinching a spot inside the eight, with a massive game against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium next Saturday.

THE DARCY FACTOR

Essendon also welcomed a Darcy back from injury for Saturday’s clash, Darcy Parish playing his first game since round 8, sidelined with a calf injury.

He started like he hadn’t missed a day, winning the first two centre clearances and getting the Bombers off to a strong start

He had nine touches in the opening term, seven of those contested.

He finished with 24 possessions, while Zach Merrett picked up 29.

But the return of Fremantle’s ruckman had a bigger impact on the outcome.

Darcy missed the past two games, both losses, because of a hamstring injury.

YOU'RE KIDDING.

Stringer with the half volley! #AFLFreoDonspic.twitter.com/8tmAHM7ydb

— AFL (@AFL) June 24, 2023

His return meant Luke Jackson could spend a lot more time in attack. Jackson and Jye Amiss were a headache for the Bombers defence, each kicking two goals in the second term when the Dockers took control of the game.

Jackson finished with three.

A week ago, Fremantle managed only five goals during the entire 70-point drubbing at the hands of Greater Western Sydney.

No easy goals this week

As good as Serong, Darcy and Jackson were, Fremantle defence would have been celebrated by coach Justin Longmuir.

After kicking five goals a week ago against Carlton, Peter Wright was kept goalless and to just seven touches by Alex Pearce.

The Bombers leading goalkicker this season, Kyle Langford, booted the first of the game, but was kept to that one by Luke Ryan, who took an incredible 18 marks and had 31 disposals.

Jake Stringer looked dangerous, but had an almost night, finishing with 1.3, his one goal a lucky kick off the ground early in the third term after Fremantle had started the term with two goals in less than two minutes.

IN TROUBLE EARLY

Essendon had the job ahead of it after wasting opportunities to hit the scoreboard in the opening term.

The Bombers controlled the play at the start of the opening term, and kicked the first two goals of the game.

They led by 14 points, but should have kicked further ahead.

This was not unfamiliar territory for Fremantle though. The Dockers had been consistently terrible in opening terms this season, having been 12-1 and down by a total of 116 points after first quarters before Saturday night.

It looked like going that way again, before a careless turnover at half-back by Andrew Phillips handed Luke Jackson a goal, that was quickly followed by a big mark and goal from Michael Walters.

These gave the Dockers a six-point lead at the first change.

Luke Jackson booted three goals. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

SCOREBOARD

DOCKERS 3.3 8.7 12.8 14.9 (93)

BOMBERS 2.3 5.3 6.5 9.7 (61)

BEST

Dockers: Serong, Jackson, Ryan, Pearce, O’Meara, Henry.

Bombers: Merrett, Martin, McGrath, Parish, Ridley, Hobbs.

GOALS

Dockers: Jackson 3; Walters 2, Amiss 2, Frederick 2; Switkowski, Schultz, Johnson, Brayshaw, Serong.

Bombers: Parish, Stringer, Martin, Langford, Hobbs, Guelfi, Caldwell, Manzie, Merrett.

VOTES

3 Caleb Serong (DOCKERS)

2 Luke Jackson (DOCKERS)

1 Luke Ryan (DOCKERS

Scott: The real reason why we lost

Brad Scott says Fremantle’s ability to score from stoppages was the reason for Essendon’s loss on Saturday night, not the anomaly of teams losing after the bye.

Scott said the Dockers were a completely different team to the one that lost to Greater Western Sydney a week earlier.

He said the stoppage work of the likes of Caleb Serong and Luke Jackson caused the Bombers headaches.

Scott said the Bombers did focus on being in the right mindset after having a week off, to make sure it wouldn’t be a reason for any loss.

“We talked a fair bit about our attitude,” Scott said about the lead up.

“We haven’t shy away from the way teams have are performing post-bye.

“It’s just strange (the losses)..

“You think you’d have the physical preparation but there’s something to be said for continuity. And, there’s also something to be said for randomness.

“If you want weird, I mean, how does a team 15 on a ladder kick over 200 points in a game.

“We came to Perth knowing that Fremantle is a good side, though they were sat 13th prior to tonight, so I think that’s just a reflection of the competition and it could come down to something that’s just mere coincidence.

“We’re not going to cop out, we really focus on it. The first 20-25 minutes of the game, I couldn’t fault the players’ attitude.”

Essendon missed ruckman Scott Draper in the midfield on Saturday night, especially considering Fremantle welcomes back Sean Darcy.

But Scott said it was his choice to sit him out, preferring to have him 100 per cent fit, rather than just getting through.

He would not guarantee he would play against Port Adelaide next weekend.

“There’s no time frame on it,” he said.

“He could play, but he’d be struggling with it at round 15. Do we play him and have him fall off a cliff?

“We could push him and he could play. I want to get him right.”