Docker’s scoreboard sledge tells the story on humbling night for Bombers

Luke Jackson produced yet another rucking masterclass and Josh Treacy broke his run of ducks to lift Fremantle to a 41-point win over injury-hit Essendon at Optus Stadium.

Jackson tallied 21 disposals to go with 48 hitouts, 10 clearances and three goals in the 16.8 (104) to 9.9 (63) win in front of 37,570 fans on Thursday night. Treacy, who entered the match on the back of a three-game goalless run, finished with three majors to go with crashing pack after pack.

The Bombers challenged Freo in the second quarter, but Shai Bolton let his opponents know who was on top by signalling to the scoreboard when he clashed with Jayden Laverde and Archie Roberts after kicking a goal late in the first half.

Docker Shai Bolton points to the scoreboard.Credit: Getty Images

Fremantle’s fifth win on the trot improved their record to 9-5 ahead of next week’s home clash with St Kilda.

Essendon (6-8) face a major battle to turn around their fortunes, with their fourth consecutive loss leaving them well adrift of the top eight.

Jackson dominated his contest against Essendon debutant Vigo Visentini, who battled hard for 15 disposals and 17 hitouts but was outclassed by Fremantle’s star big man.

It continued a rich vein of form for Jackson, who has thrived in the lead ruck role this season, especially in the games when Sean Darcy isn’t playing.

“He’s a special player. We love having him. He’s not going anywhere,” star Fremantle midfielder Caleb Serong told Fox Footy.

Nate Caddy soars over the back of the pack at Optus Stadium.Credit: Channel Seven

Serong also had a big night with 35 possessions, seven clearances and two goals.

Dockers veteran Nat Fyfe, who spent the previous two matches as the sub, was given a start but tallied just three first-half disposals on the way to a total of 11 for the game before being subbed out early in the final quarter.

Jye Caldwell (32 disposals, eight clearances) and Darcy Parish (31 disposals, six clearances) racked up big numbers for Essendon, while Nate Caddy showed flashes of brilliance – including a spectacular grab in the second quarter – on the way to 15 disposals and a goal.

There were two critical moments in the third quarter that shaped the contest.

First, Essendon’s Archie Perkins took his eyes off the ball and fumbled what should have been an uncontested mark for him inside 50m while running with the flight of the ball.

A few minutes later, Fremantle’s Nathan O’Driscoll put his body on the line to make a key spoil while running with the flight of the ball himself.

O’Driscoll’s bravery led to a Serong goal, sparking a run of three straight majors for Fremantle as the lead blew out to 37 points by the final change.

Visentini was Essendon’s 11th debutant of the year, and the Bombers fielded seven first-year players against the Dockers.

AAP

Channel Seven’s hard-hitting special comments man Kane Cornes singled out Zach Merrett for criticism over the Bomber captain’s apparent ‘flopping’ in a contest in the first quarter.

“Just didn’t love this from Zach Merrett,” the Seven pundit said during Thursday night’s broadcast, referencing a moment when the experienced Essendon player went to ground.

“I think you stand up and go at the footy.

“I don’t want him flopping like that. You [the Bombers} have just kicked the first goal of the game, you’ve started really strong, young side on the road - stand up as the skipper.

“Assert your authority. You don’t need to go to ground that easily.”

Later, Essendon coach Brad Scott moved to reject criticism that Merrett was spending too much time out of the midfield coalface, as the Bombers turned to other players at centre-bounce formations.

“Merrett played a lot of midfield today,” Scott said in his media conference.

In relation to Essendon blooding players, including their 11th debutant for 2025 on Thursday night, Scott said: “I said during the week the silver lining to all this [our injury crisis] is that we think there are some players who have come into our team who won’t go out regardless of who comes back.

“By definition that should make us stronger.”

On Fox Footy, pundit David King was critical of Essendon’s choices over player positions.

“[Nic] Martin on the wing for 40% of the game, Merrett on the wing for 25% of the game – to me they’re low-disposal positions, they’re your best two players.

“You put them where the footy is.”

Chris Scott has never made any secret of his belief that recruiting Patrick Dangerfield in 2016 transformed the Cats.

On the field, he helped restore a superb team into being a great team once again, leading a new generation into a new way.

Off the field, he set a tone that allowed the people within the club to be themselves. Surfing could be part of a player’s routine, or fishing, or herding cows. They could shrug after a loss, and laugh heading into a match.

A competitive beast, Dangerfield recognises that winning all the time is impossible, while still chasing a premiership as hard as the most steely eyed AFL players.

READ MORE

Fremantle star Caleb Serong was overjoyed that the Dockers picked up two wins at Optus Stadium within a five-day period, rapt that the club performed well on the Thursday night stage.

“Eight points in five days ... there’s not that much better than that,” enthused Serong in the rooms after the Dockers’ comfortable win.

The elite midfielder, arguably best on ground tonight, was delighted to notch a win for Fremantle’s “hard-working” fans.

“I love our fans. They’re a passionate bunch, and they’ve been starved of success for a long time, and we’re just trying to put a product out there that they’re proud of,” Serong told Channel Seven.

“A big part of that is consistency, backing up week after week.

“They’re a hard-working town and a hard-working community. We want to replicate that and be a bit of a beacon of hope for those guys that are battling away and want a team to support.”

Fremantle will enjoy a 10-day break, basking in the glory of five straight wins and an excellent 9-5 record.

“We don’t often get Thursday night games. To get a win on a Thursday night and get a 10-day break, Freo don’t often get that,” he said.

“We usually have the Sunday arvo shift. It’s nice, it’s really nice.”

And that’s FIVE wins on the trot for Fremantle. There’s a bit of hype around Freo now after a more-than-solid block of footy. At 9-5, the season is their oyster. This match went as expected but, as for one truism, you can only beat who is in front of you.

FINAL: Fremantle 16.8 (104) d. Essendon 9.9 (63)

That was classy. The margin hovers around the 40-point mark. Some genuine junk time footy now but, hey, that happens every now and again. You can’t have a Thursday night classic every week. It’s been a better game than last week’s Western Bulldogs versus St Kilda mismatch anyway.

Fremantle 16.7 (103) lead Essendon 9.9 (63)