David Mundy and Fremantle’s smalls help Dockers get over Western Bulldogs

On a night when Freo’s big boys couldn’t impose themselves, it was the small men — and the man of the moment — who helped the Dockers overcome a tenacious Bulldogs outfit and climb to second on the AFL ladder.

David Mundy celebrates kicking a goal. Pic: AAP

The big boys might have come in handy for chairing David Mundy off the ground, but it was the smalls who ensured his milestone night went to script at Optus Stadium last night.

Specifically reborn forward Brandon Matera, who starred with five goals on a night tall trio Matt Taberner, Jesse Hogan and Cam McCarthy struggled to make an impact in front of goal.

Matera kicked three of his goals in the final term to ensure the Dockers got home by 19 points, 13.10 (88) to 9.15 (69), over the Western Bulldogs at Perth Stadium.

SCORES, STATS: KEY NUMBERS FROM FREO v BULLDOGS

Mundy had a fair impact himself. From the moment the champion veteran entered the game in a big way with his first goal as the Dockers trailed midway through the third term, Fremantle kicked seven of the next eight goals to decide the contest.

Mundy finished with 28 touches, six clearances and two goals, on top of a game-high seven tackles, to vie for best on ground honours and continue his excellent season.

The Dockers had a one-point lead to show for their efforts in an entertaining first half that featured a string of spot fires as the pre-match Anzac reverence gave way.

The Last Post would be a common theme though as both sides hit the woodwork throughout the night with shots on goal.

Michael Walters and Nat Fyfe led from the front early, but the Dogs kicked four goals to two in the second stanza to loom large.

Fyfe looks well placed to escape sanction from the match review officer for his high bump on Ed Richards in the second term, but the Fremantle skipper did pay a price for his bump on teammate Ethan Hughes shortly after.

Fyfe inadvertently spoiled Hughes’ marking attempt after crashing into him and the ball found its way to Mitch Wallis who dragged the Bulldogs level.

Tory Dickson and Bailey Smith celebrate a goal. Pic: Getty Images

The third term was an arm-wrestle and Tory Dickson’s raking set shot for the Bulldogs ended nine goalless minutes.

The visitors had kicked five of the past seven goals and there was a genuine risk at that point Mundy’s big occasion would end with the emptiness of defeat and it took the man himself to make a stand with a dominant third term.

Moments later the Dockers were able to answer with the moment the crowd of 43,732 had waited for as Mundy found himself on the end of a handball strolling into the 50m arc.

It was typical Mundy — the poise, the balance and of course the deadly finish we’ve come to know across 300 games.

LISTEN TO THE ROAR!#Mundy3Hundy pic.twitter.com/juF0N6EKnq

— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 27, 2019

Five minutes later he followed it up with a set shot from outside the arc. Of course, the crowd urged him to take the shot and ignore the various leads of his teammates.

But Mundy has always had some length to his kicking at even at 33 he decided it was still there. It was, just, with the video review required to determine whether the outstretched hand of Bulldogs ruckman Tim English — who was playing one of the best games of his young career — had reached the ball in time.

Tim English showed plenty against the Dockers. Pic: Getty Images

It didn’t and Mundy had two and the Dockers had three in a row.

Marcus Bontempelli had an answer with a long set shot of his own just before the final change as the Dogs drew to within a kick.

Mundy’s moments were vital, coming in a quarter where the Dockers were smashed 13-4 in the clearances as a sore looking Walters was confined to the forward line.

Walters had looked like breaking the game apart in the first half, when he led the game for clearances, contested possessions and goals.

Not for the first time this season though, Matera was ready to step up with the game on the line.

Nat Fyfe had his usual influence. Pic: AAP

He strolled in to kick a couple of his goals from the goalsquare but he finished with five, after four last week, to underline the fact the Dockers look to have a new player running around in the No.3 guernsey this season.

At the other end, Fremantle speedster Travis Colyer’s run-down tackle on Billy Gowers was also instrumental.

This wasn’t a night for Fremantle’s tall forwards, with Hogan spraying a series of chances, but when Taberner got his first major 14 minutes into the final term the Dockers were out by 23 points and all but home.

28 disposals and two goals.

Not a bad way to celebrate your 300th game 👏#Mundy3Hundy pic.twitter.com/Fq5tg13O5l

— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 27, 2019

FREMANTLE 4.3 6.7 9.9 13.10 (88)

WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.2 6.6 8.9 9.15 (69)

Goals: Fremantle: B Matera 5 D Mundy 2 M Walters 2A Brayshaw J Hogan M Taberner N Fyfe. Western Bulldogs: S Lloyd 2 B Gowers B Smith L Hunter M Bontempelli M Wallis T Dickson W Hayes

Best: Fremantle: Mundy, Fyfe, Matera, Hill, Hamling, Walters

Western Bulldogs: Hunter, Daniel, Macrae, English, Bontempelli, Johannisen

Umpires: Jeff Dalgleish, Nicholas Brown, Alex Whetton

Crowd: 43,732 at Optus Stadium

BRADEN QUARTERMAINE’S VOTES:

3 — David Mundy (Frem)

2 — Lachie Hunter (WB)

1 — Nat Fyfe (Frem)

Mundy is drenched after playing his 300th game. Pic: AAP

Originally published as David Mundy and Fremantle’s smalls help Dockers get over Western Bulldogs