Clanger count
Following the loss to West Coast, Fremantle defender Garrick Ibbotson said it was the simple mistakes that cost Freo the most. This was reflected in the clanger numbers, as Freo had five players with more than five disposal errors in the game. Comparatively, the Eagles only had one player reach that mark (Andrew Gaff).
Giant difference
While not the sole reason for the result, the loss of Aaron Sandilands in the second quarter greatly affected the game. While the effort put forward in the ruck by Alex Pearce and other Freo players was gallant, the difference in output was evident once Sandilands left the field. Freo were leading the hit out count 11 to 5 at quarter time with a healthy Sandilands, but West Coast won the final hit out count 47 to 23. Freo had six different players register a ruck tap, while Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett had 46 of the Eagles 47 ruck hit outs between them.
Sandilands suffers punctured lung
Inside 50 dominance
While West Coast didn’t take advantage on the scoreboard as much as they would have liked – kicking 12 goals and 20 behinds – they were constantly in a scoring position, finishing the game with 63 inside 50’s compared to Freo’s 37. The amount of time in the Eagles forward half was also reflected in the statistics of Freo’s defenders. Both Garrick Ibbotson and Cam Sutcliffe had eight defensive rebounds and Tommy Sheridan and Lee Spurr also had five each.
Fyfe leads by example
With David Mundy sidelined with a calf strain, Nat Fyfe captained Freo in Saturday’s game. The reigning Brownlow medallist led by example with 26 disposals and a goal but it was his physicality and pressure that was most impressive. Fyfe displayed his usual tenacity with 14 contested possessions and also led all players on the ground with 10 tackles.
Stats that mattered
The Eagles clearly won three decisive statistical areas, which helped them secure the win on Saturday. They won the free kick count 27-18, Hit outs 47-23 and Inside 50’s 63-37.
Stats that lied
Fremantle had nine marks inside 50, which is a solid return from only 37 entries inside 50. But given how sparse the entries into the forward were, no matter how many marks were taken, there simply weren’t enough opportunities to compete with the potency of West Coasts scoring ability.
