Walyalup’s winning ways have continued, with the Fremantle Dockers claiming arguably their biggest scalp yet in an impressive win over Geelong, which lost its second straight game.
Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong ran riot against the reigning premiers, combining for 61 possessions in a 29-point win at Optus Stadium.
The Dockers had 11 goalkickers, led by Michael Walters and Jye Amiss, with three each in the 16.10 (106) to 11.11 (77) win.
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Geelong Cats press conference | 12:48
QUARTER-BY-QUARTER MATCH REPORT
It took a moment to forget for Docker Nathan O’Driscoll for the Cats to open the scoring.
O’Driscoll opted to step over the boundary line under limited pressure, and was pinged for insufficient attempt.
Isaac Smith took full advantage from the free kick to snap the first.
“He’s either got to let it bounce again or he’s got to keep it in and allow himself to be taken over the boundary line in a tackle,” Fox Footy’s Jason Dunstall lamented.
It took almost 15 minutes for Walyalup to get on the board through Andrew Brayshaw, and when Michael Frederick streamed forward and hit Jye Amiss with a precision pass between two Cats’ defenders, suddenly the home side was in front.
“This is a terrific, penetrating kick to the advantage of the one forward in between two defenders,” Dunstall praised.
“That kick you talk about, it’s the fact he doesn’t have to break stride,” commentator Matthew Pavlich added.
“A little bit more air and the Cats would have been able to come across.
“He had to slice it in between those two Cats defenders.”
Sean Darcy showed why he’s considered one of the best rucks in the competition when he snapped a goal to open up Walyalup’s nine point advantage.
But a big 50m penalty against Docker Bailey Banfield left coach Justin Longmuir shaking his head.
Umpires deemed Banfield too late coming in against Tanner Bruhn, and he was marched.
“It’s a big penalty to pay,” commentator Adam Papalia said.
“It’s probably a touch late but it wasn’t overly vigorous. It’s just unnecessary,” Dunstall added.
“You can’t do anything but stand on the mark.
“There’s virtually no contact there at all!”
By quarter time, it was the Cats leading 22-20 – kicking all three of their goals from free kicks.
Smith got his second for the match before Walyalup completely turned the match in their favour.
With the footy locked in their front half, the home side just continued to find avenues to goal.
First through Caleb Serong, then Lachie Schultz, Sam Switkowski and Michael Walters.
“They just continue to compete at ground level and continue to put pressure on the opposition. Playing territory here and it’s really encouraging,” Dunstall praised.
Geelong just couldn’t find a way forward as the Dockers owned the term.
Some late brilliance from Jeremy Cameron saw Tom Hawkins get his first for the day, while Tyson Stengle got on the board late.
By half time, it was Walyalup leading 52-43.
The Dockers exploded in the third term, slamming on three consecutive goals as they made the most of their opportunities forward of centre and exposed a weakened Geelong backline. Walters was doing the damage, kicking two goals in 10 minutes.
Fyfe was subbed out halfway through the third term, but that was always the plan according to the Dockers.
The returning Jack Henry kept the Cats in the game, kicking two consecutive goals to cut Fremantle’s lead to 10 points, before Jye Amiss responded for the Dockers.
A late goal to Mark Blicavs ensured the Cats only trailed Freo by 10 points at the final change.
The Dockers kicked ahead at the start of the fourth term, with James Aish nailing a set-shot goal to make it a three-goal game.
And when Amiss kicked his third and Frederick snapped his second, the Dockers were home.
“A very professional performance from Fremantle. They’re growing,” Fox Footy’s Jason Dunstall said.
THE 3-2-1 …
3. COPYCAT WALYALUP BEAT CATS AT THEIR OWN GAME
The Cats are one of the best stoppage teams in the competition, but Walyalup beat them at their own game on Saturday.
It was the Dockers who were able to score at will from the contest as their smalls carved the Cats up.
“The pressure Walyalup have been able to apply – and it’s resulted in stoppage goals,” Fox Footy’s Matthew Pavlich praised.
“When the ball hits the deck, Freo look the most likely and the most lively.
“They are attacking Geelong at their game right now.”
Fellow commentator Will Schofield said he was impressed by Walyalup’s 6.2 (38) scored from stoppages to half-time.
“They work together to free up space – three in a row (from stoppage) in the first half,” he said.
“It’s based off this hard work, contested brand.
“It’s remarkable.
“They’ve missed it a little bit this year. But this is what we’re used to seeing.
“Their handball and their chain and their workrate – it’s really impressive.”
Even star Cat Tom Hawkins said Walyalup’s carry game was cutting Geelong apart.
“We’re probably just allowing them to run with a bit of freedom in attack – they’re very much a run and gun side. They’ve got some real speed,” he told Fox Footy at half-time.
“Although not big marking talls, they bring it to ground and create contests.”
2. FREO’S FORWARD FUTURE ON DISPLAY
Fremantle’s biggest woe has been its inability to lock down a forward line that regularly performs, essentially since star Matthew Pavlich retired a decade ago.
But with Matt Taberner sidelined by injury and the Nat Fyfe forward experiment seemingly forgotten after just nine rounds, it seems Walyalup may have finally settled on a combination that works.
Young Jye Amiss is only improving each game, and he showed brilliant hands early to give the Dockers faithful something to cheer about.
Josh Treacy continued to provide a contest, but it was the running smalls of Lachie Schultz, Michae Walters Bailey Banfield, Sam Switkowski and Michael Frederick who really got the side moving on the scoreboard.
“Is that the future of the forward line? Amiss and Treacy?” Fox Footy’s Jason Dunstall asked.
“Certainly Amiss I think he’s the one – as a high draft pick a couple of years ago,” Matthew Pavlich replied.
“(He) missed a lot of footy last year with a significant injury.
“He’s the one the hopes go to towards the next 10 to 15 years.”
It was fitting the man dubbed “dead-eye Jye” was the one to ensure Walyalup would take home the four points after he stood tall and copped a late shot from Cat Tom Stewart.
Marched to the 50m arc, Amiss went back and slotted the ripping goal, opening up a then-game high 24-point lead.
There was plenty of early criticism about Freo’s forward line this season, following the loss of Rory Lobb to the Bulldogs last off-season.
Scoring just 10 goals or less in five of their opening seven games left many critics questioning where the scores would come.
But since they’ve found avenues to goal, the wins have come – with 18.9 and 16.7 kicked in the past fortnight.
1. CATS STAR GOES MISSING WHEN NEEDED MOST
Jeremy Cameron has been in outstanding form this season, leading the Coleman Medal race heading into Round 10 with 34 goals to his name.
But against Walyalup in Perth on Saturday, Cameron just couldn’t get near it in worrying signs for the Cats.
The star forward was lively early but couldn’t convert with three behinds to his name at half time.
And from there, the star was barely sighted as he tried to get involved further up the ground.
“Just saw Jeremy Cameron competing there – we haven’t seen much of him today,” Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall said.
“He was lively early but he’s only had the eight possessions (to three quarter-time) and just the three behinds to his name.”
Matthew Pavlich said Cameron was coming up the ground to try and shake the Luke Ryan match up.
“He’s playing much higher now as well,” he said.
“He’s trying to get Ryan up the ground and back to goal.
“His ability to get up the ground, create some chaos and then use the ball effectively, it’s just brilliant to watch.”
Will Schofield praised Cameron’s endurance to be able to get up and back, but it just didn’t happen in the second half.
“Luke Ryan has been the match up on Jeremy Cameron all day – but when (Cameron) is high, he sits behind the ball as a loose,” Schofield explained.
“They’ve got Hawkins matched up, Stengle matched up. I’ve loved how they’ve defended behind the footy.”
Cameron finished with 0.4 from 10 disposals.
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