Dockers earn bragging rights out west
At the risk of being groaned at we can still respect other codes...
Dockers earn bragging rights out west
April 05, 2008
FREMANTLE have broken their 2008 duck and continued their recent dominance over fiercest rivals West Coast, prevailing 12.15 (87) to 10.13 (73) at a soggy Subiaco Oval.
In the 27th home and away meeting between the two teams, there had seemed little doubt that the Dockers would get up, breaking out to a near five-goal lead before half time after three second-quarter goals from Matthew Pavlich.
But three goals from Eagles' second gamer Ben McKinley's hauled the lead back to ten at the final change, and a Beau Waters goal around the body set up a classic finale.
With the Eagles hammering on the door, Quinten Lynch, Brent Staker and Shannon Hurn all missed chances to give the Eagles the lead - and Pavlich made them pay with an audacious leap for his fifth.
Although Lynch was handed his second after a 50m penalty in the goal square, the Dockers repelled the challenge - and Aaron Sandilands late goal confirmed the Dockers' first win of the year.
Following a torrential downpour in Perth all morning, the grudge match looked likely to be replaced with a sludge match - until the sun broke through 40 minutes before bouncedown.
However, the dark clouds remained over the Dockers camp with the news key defender and handy forward Luke McPharlin had been ruled out with a bruised hip.
With struggling forward Chris Tarrant and youngster Garrick Ibbotson also replaced late by Ryan Murphy and Heath Black, the Dockers' pre-game favouritism appeared to look shaky - with West Coast slamming on two goals in the first two minutes.
With David Mundy and Ryan Crowley evening up the tally, the Eagles fans fell silent when Dean Cox jarred his foot against David Wirrpanda attempting an inside 50m.
But of more concern as the half wore one was Eagles below par ball use - with the Dockers' newest star Rhys Palmer stamping himself on the city's biggest game as West Coast fumbled.
In just his second game, Palmer belied his 19 years with 13 touches in the term - providing the gusto for Pavlich's triple in the term.
With Fremantle's authority established it was the Eagles own second gamer McKinley who kept his team in it with two late goals.
As the arm wrestle intensified, so did the controversy - with Des Headland handed the softest of free kicks for in the back which led directly to Jeff Farmer's second.
With the Eagles running on empty, it was McKinley effort to run that gave him his third and put the margin at ten at the final change.
But after the Eagles spurned a series of chances to bring it level, Pavlich's aerobatics was followed by Sandilands' effort to give the Dockers their fourth win in five attempts against the 2006 premiers.
AAP
