A youthful Fremantle outfit were handed a tough lesson by Collingwood in a 61-point loss at the MCG on Sunday.
As well as starting two debutants in Stefan Giro and Scott Jones, Fremantle fielded 13 players with 50 games or less experience.
Will Hoskin-Elliott did the most damage for Collingwood with six goals, while midfielders Steele Sidebottom and Adam Treloar leading the way for the Pies.
A blowout was mitigated by Fremantle’s efforts in the final term, kicking seven goals, including singles to debutants Stefan Giro and Scott Jones and another to Michael Apeness – who was playing his first game of AFL football in 645 days.
Michael Walters put in his best efforts in the Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash, racking up 29 disposals with 12 contested – playing the bulk of the game in the midfield.
With usual spearhead Aaron Sandilands out due to concussion, Fremantle’s two rucks in Apeness and Jones faced a stiff test against Collingwood star Brodie Grundy, with Apeness contributing 17 hitouts and Jones 8.
Senior coach Ross Lyon tested Freo players in new positions, with Darcy Tucker moving into the midfield for the bulk of the day while Shane Kersten collected 9 marks and 18 touches in his first game since making a switch to the backline.
Up front, David Mundy, Darcy Tucker and Lachie Neale were Freo’s multiple goalkickers with two goals each, while Bailey Banfield, Tommy Sheridan, and Brennan Cox kicked singles alongside Apeness, Jones and Giro.
COLLINGWOOD 3.6 8.8 14.9 21.12 (138)
FREMANTLE 2.3 3.4 5.4 12.5 (77)
GOALS
Collingwood: Hoskin-Elliott 6, Mihocek 4, Thomas 3, Phillips 2, Cox, Maynard, Stephenson, Pendlebury, De Goey, Daicos
Fremantle: Mundy 2, Neale 2, Tucker 2, Sheridan, Banfield, Apeness, Cox, Giro, Jones
BEST
Collingwood: Hoskin-Elliott, Phillips, Sidebottom, Treloar, Pendlebury, Mihocek, Grundy
Fremantle: Walters, Sheridan, Neale, Hamling
INJURIES
Collingwood: TBC
Fremantle: Pearce (ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Haussen, Ryan, McInerney
Official crowd: 34,542 at the MCG
