The Dockers and Eagles began their 2024 campaigns yesterday with vastly different results.
Fremantle’s pulsating victory over last year’s grand finalists Brisbane had many highlights, the greatest act coming from an unheralded player who continues to find various ways to have a major impact.
Luke Jackson celebrates after scoring a goal against Brisbane at Optus Stadium on Sunday.Credit: Getty
Meanwhile, West Coast were comprehensively beaten by Port Adelaide, with Adam Simpson’s men given a reminder of the workrate required to match it with the top teams in the competition.
We break down the highs and lows from WA teams’ round one efforts.
Fremantle: How one play turned the Dockers’ fortunes around
A 20-metre sprint which helped spark Fremantle’s comeback victory over Brisbane will see Sam Switkowski praised and applauded in the Dockers’ team review.
Switkowski’s gut-busting effort to smother Joe Daniher’s attacking foray will be played over and over and is the exact standard setting Justin Longmuir would have wanted in round one.
When Daniher received the ball, no less than six players stood between Switkowski and the Brisbane forward.
Through intent, Switkowski was able to burn around the congestion.
His desire was enough to easily pass Jarrod Berry’s outstretched arm in somewhat of a shepherding attempt, while his pure will ensured he made an impact on the Daniher kick, executing the perfect smother.
Fremantle’s Sam Switkowski closes the gap for a smother against Joe Daniher that helped the Dockers turn the tide against Brisbane. Credit: Fox Sports
The high-half forward role is one of the toughest and potentially most unrewarding roles in the game.
You’re required to provide pressure in attack and lock the ball in, then run hard back to assist the defence, before then aiding the transition into attack.
Many call it footy’s graveyard – maximum effort for minimal reward.
Internally, it’s one of the most valued roles in a side.
That was clear on Sunday as Switkowski’s teammates immediately made their way to him in a show of mass appreciation.
His effort was part of the Dockers match-winning eight unanswered goals, while his game-high three inside-50s and six score involvements was crucial to the result.
West Coast: Lessons from a brutally familiar season opener
Not many, if any, expected the Eagles to return to Perth from their Port Adelaide assignment with four points in hand.
But an 18-second passage of play in the second quarter showed they needed to be better defensively and work harder without the ball in hand.
West Coast were down by 19 following a Bailey Williams point.
His set shot provided the Eagles with ample time to set up defensively, should their ruckman miss.
Failing to do so sparked the perfect coast-to-coast transition from Kane Farrell’s kick-in.
From a short 20-metre pass, Connor Rozee marked before immediately giving the ball back to Farrell, whose penetrating kick was read best by Todd Marshall approaching the wing.
Once this occurred, the Eagles were on the back foot.
Port Adelaide’s Travis Boak and Ollie Wines combined, bringing the ball through the middle of Adelaide Oval, offloading to Ryan Burton, who had five metres on the chasing Jack Petrucelle.
With time and no pressure, Burton assessed three one-on-one options, all inside their forward 50.
Avoiding the Eagles’ key defenders, Jason Horne-Francis duly accepted the uncontested mark and slotted the goal.
Not one West Coast player touched the ball or at any stage looked like influencing any contest in the passage of play.
As defenders, there’s very little you can do to stop quick, fast ball movement when pressure up the ground is not applied.
The Horne-Francis major was one of six Port kicked for the term – and one that the Eagles must learn from.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.