Unusually for a Fremantle-Port game, we did get some TV coverage of this game, and live coverage at that. Granted, it was only for half of the game, and only began at 11:30pm or so, but something is always better than nothing. The game was moved from its originally scheduled venue at the WACA and was played under lights at Subiaco, after Port requested that the game not be played on the hard cricket wickets of the WACA.
Both teams played at less than full strength for this game. Port coach Mark Williams spent some time before the game emphasising that Port weren't under-estimating the Dockers, but they played without Darren Mead, Che Cockatoo-Collins, Michael Wilson, Brett Montgomery and Josh Francou, and the likes of Gavin Wanganeen and Brayden Lyle were not exactly over-used. Fremantle went in without Dale Kickett, Tony Modra, Clive Waterhouse
So what did this result prove? Well, it showed the evenness of the Fremantle squad - even with Fremantle having traded away a good portion of the experience in the club, and a dozen of the remaining top players out of the side, the team that Freo fielded was a competitive one. Very few clubs in the AFL could say that their second 18 would give their first 18 a run for their money, but for Freo it looks to be true. Sadly, that is probably more a measure of the lack of quality in the first 18 than of the skills of the second 18.
The other important thing is that the players can take a win away. They've had that winning feeling, and hopefully they want another taste of it. The result should be a boost to their confidence, without over-inflating their egos. Oh, and finally, it leaves Freo with a slim chance of making the semi finals of the Ansett Cup, providing they can thrash Collingwood at Waverley, and Port manage to beat Carlton reasonably convincingly. A pretty unlikely scenario, but cricket's a funny game.
Final Score : Fremantle 10.18-78 defeated Port Adelaide 10.9-69
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