Because of the fixturing this year, this was the first Dockers game of the year that I was able to attend in person. Even worse is the fact that Freo will not be back in Melbourne until their Round 10 game against Collingwood at Victoria Park. My brother and I managed to find a posse of locals to go to the game with, only of whom had actually been to the AFL before. Nevertheless, they were all very impressed by Spider. Not by his skill, I grant you, but impressed nevertheless.
Fremantle lined up with Spider Burton in the ruck, Bandy playing across half-forward, and Mann at full-forward. Essendon were without Hird, but most of their other big names were present, in body at least. Shane played at fullback on Lloyd, and Daniel didn't play at all.
Essendon started the game reasonably well, and had the first two scoring shots on the board before Fremantle had even crossed their attacking 50. When Freo finally did go over the 50, Essendon were able to rebound easily, but the next attacking move saw them find Clement, who was able to goal. From then on Fremantle led all day, and Essendon seldom looked like serious challengers.
Essendon improved at the start of the third quarter, as the Freo backline struggled to match up with Ryan O'Connor, who added two of Essendon's five goals for the quarter. Just as Essendon were getting a run on, though, Clement popped up with three successive goals, one from an extreme doubtful mark, to steady Freo.
All in all, on the form of the day, Fremantle may or may not have deserved to win, but Essendon certainly deserved to lose. Essendon's play was seldom convincing - their backs failed to pick up their men, and their play up forward was startling indirect, even for a Fremantle fan.
Final Score : Essendon 11.10-76 lost to Fremantle 14.16-100
timnfromoz
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