This was a game that Fremantle really had to win, if they were to have any chance at the finals. And for once, Fremantle responded pretty positively. Of course, there is something of a question as to the extent to which Fremantle won this game by being good, as opposed to Brisbane being bad.
The highlight, or lowlight more correctly, of the first quarter was Michael Voss breaking his leg. A high ball was kicked on to the outer wing. Our man Parker was backing back with the flight of the ball when Voss decided to launch himself at the ball, leaping over Parker to try and get at the ball before it landed safely on Parker's chest. As he went up, Voss clipped Shane's hip area with his leg, and when he landed he had to be stretchered off, with what was apparently a fracture to his lower leg. The slow motion replay clearly showed that the leg was already broken before he hit the ground. And thus the legend of the Buns of Steel was born.
The game was tight up until half time, with the Dockers leading by just 5 points going in to the break, but after half time it was a different story. The Lions just could not find a way to goal, and Fremantle, for once, could. The Dockers put on 11 goals to one after half time, to pretty much Brisbane out of the water.
For Brisbane this loss sent them back to the bottom of the ladder (just below Carlton on percentage) which wasn't real popular with the Brisbane board. On Wednesday they sacked their coach John Northey, and appointed Roger Merret as a care-taker for the rest of the season. In interviews afterwards, Northey looked relieved that it was all over.
Final Score : Fremantle 17.19-121 walloped Brisbane 7.8-50
timnfromoz
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