Dockers anchor Kangaroos

Fremantle 13. 6 (84) def. Kangaroos   6.13 (49)

Fremantle has battled through a hard-fought contest and defeated the Kangaroos by 35 points at Subiaco Oval this afternoon.

The game early resembled that of the first match today between Richmond and Adelaide, flooding reigned which saw goals scored at a premium in the first half.

However, the shackles were broken in the third quarter when Fremantle found free space in their forward zone. Ryan Murphy booted two of his three goals late in the third term that had the local faithful cheering at their loudest all day.

Matthew Pavlich capped off a great day for the Fremantle side, with his six goals the best effort ever for a Docker against the Kangaroos. He led the Dockers to just its fourth win over the Kangaroos from 14 attempts.

Others amongst the Dockers best were brothers Matthew and Josh Carr, skipper Peter Bell, David Mundy and Brett Peake, while the Kangaroos were well served by Jess Sinclair, Adam Simpson, Corey Jones and Daniel Wells.

Both teams entered the Round Eight clash on the back of a hefty loss, the Dockers knocked off cloud nine by Melbourne to the tune of 59 points, while the Kangaroos had a similar margin against Adelaide, fighting back briefly in the second quarter only to fade away to a 56-point thrashing.

Fremantle snared the first goal through Murphy, who was playing just his second match this season. Brent Harvey put the Kangaroos ahead after 23 minutes only for Matthew Carr to reply with the third and final goal of a dour struggle in the first term.

Pavlich dominated the second quarter with all of the Dockers three goals, however the Kangaroos won the term by seven points with Corey Jones booting a double, Shannon Grant snap near the goals, and Leigh Harding from outside 50.

The Kangaroos took a three-point lead into half time but were blown away after the break with four unanswered goals from Murphy (2), Paul Hasleby and Pavlich.

Fremantle reign of goals continued in the last quarter with a further four goals slotted through. Pavlich added his fifth in the second minute, while Justin Longmuir officially ended any hope the Roos had of snatching victory with his eighth minute goal.

Harding added some respectability to the scoreline by nabbing the lone goal in the dismal Kangaroo second half, outscored eight goals to one.

Next week, Fremantle venture into the Lions den for the first time in four years, if anyone has a map of Brisbane the Dockers will surely appreciate it. The Kangaroos take on the injury riddled Saints at the Telstra Dome. Both matches scheduled for next Sunday afternoon.

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