TonyK
CibbuanoDockers crush Crows
March 28th 2010 11:49
FREMANTLE has opened its season with a crushing 56-point win over Adelaide at Subiaco Oval on Sunday night.
The Dockers set up the win with a dominant second term before running out 17.16 (118) to 9.8 (62) victors.
It was Fremantle's first victory in a season opener since 2005.
Dockers midfielder Michael Barlow starred on debut with a game-high 33 possessions and two goals.
The 22-year-old - who was elevated off the rookie list less than two weeks ago - was particularly damaging in the second quarter with 13 disposals and a goal.
Greg Broughton and Paul Duffield finished with 32 touches apiece while Aaron Sandilands was dominant in the ruck with 33 hitouts.
Skipper Matthew Pavlich and Des Headland booted three goals each.
For the Crows, young gun Taylor Walker was impressive with four goals while veterans Tyson Edwards and Simon Goodwin won plenty of the football.
Both sides were guilty of being wasteful in front of goal in what was a hotly contested first term before Chris Mayne kicked truly for the first major of the match at the 21-minute mark.
Adelaide responded with quick-fire goals from Patrick Dangerfield and Walker but a goal on the run from Pavlich saw Fremantle go into quarter-time with a two-point buffer.
The Dockers suffocated the life out of the Crows in the second term with relentless pressure.
Fremantle’s willingness to pressure their opposotion paid handsome dividends as they slammed on the first six goals of the quarter to set up a commanding 36-point break at half-time.
Adelaide lifted their rating in the third term and kicked four of the first five goals of the second half, including two from Scott Thompson to close to within 17 points.
The Crows were threatening to run over the top of Fremantle but a 60m goal from debutant Anthony Morabito and a major from Michael Johnson steadied the ship for the Dockers.
Walker’s fourth gave Adelaide a glimmer of hope heading into the final change with the Fremantle holding a 25-point lead.
But it was all one-way traffic in the final stanza as the Dockers banged on five goals without reply to cap off an impressive performance.
FREMANTLE: 2.5, 9.9, 21.11, 17.16 (118)
ADELAIDE: 2.3, 4.3, 9.4, 9.8 (62)
GOALS: Fremantle: Headland 3, Pavlich 3, Mayne 2, Barlow 2, Ballantyne, Ibbotson, Silvagni, Morabito, Johnson, Crowley, Mundy
Adelaide: Walker 4, Thompson 2, Dangerfield, Bock, Tippett,
BEST: Fremantle: Barlow, Duffield, Broughton, Sandilands, Ballantyne, Hill
Adelaide: Walker, Edwards, Goodwin, Thompson, McLeod
INJURIES: Fremantle: Crowley (shoulder)
Adelaide: Sloan (ankle), Walker (concussion)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Kennedy, Nicholls, Keating
CROWD: 30,976 at Subiaco Oval
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