Fremantle played their final scratch match on Friday morning before next week’s AFL pre-season practice match against West Coast at Optus Stadium on 25 February.

It was the longest match sim of the pre-season, with the two sides split evenly into Team Purple and Team White, with White holding on for a seven-point win, outlasting a fast-finishing Purple outfit.

A dominant five-goal-to-one second quarter set up the win for White, although Purple came home strong with seven goals in the second half compared to White’s three.

The regular midfield battle throughout the match featured David Mundy, Caleb Serong and Neil Erasmus (White) against Andy Brayshaw, Nathan O’Driscoll and Mitch Crowden (Purple) with Sean Darcy, Rory Lobb, Lloyd Meek and Peel’s Riley Smith rotating through the ruck.

Read about all the key moments below and see all the photos here.

COX DOMINANT IN DEFENCE
Brennan Cox was easily the standout in defence for White, with multiple intercept possessions and creative rebound off half-back, denying Purple of clean entry at times into their F50.

Cox’s first half was particularly impressive with countless intercept marks, while also saving a certain goal on the last line of defence after an attempted Sam Sturt soccer.

Conversely, Hayden Young and Alex Pearce were the noticeable defensive combination for Purple, with Young finding himself involved in everything. The 20-year-old provided strong attacking drive off half-back and consistently found a target in Purple’s front-half. An impressive goal on the run with three minutes to play made for a tight finish, bringing Purple within a straight kick.

Luke Ryan also contributed for Purple with some strong spoils and defensive efforts, while Heath Chapman provided some big spoils and clean possession for White. 

TABERNER KICKS FOUR OFF LIMITED MINUTES
Matt Taberner did his part to try and help get Purple over the line in Friday’s match sim, booting two last-quarter goals to finish with four for the day off limited minutes.

Taberner has the hard work of Sturt to thank for his first two majors with a smart handball over the top from Sturt resulting in the Taberner’s first. However, it was the second link-up of the pair that was most impressive, with a dashing run from Sturt through the middle of the ground before a perfectly weighted kick in the path of Taberner, which saw the big man easily soccer through Purple’s third goal for the second half.

LOBB PRESENTING STRONGLY & CRASHING PACKS
Rory Lobb used his presence well at the contest, leading up at the football and hitting packs throughout the match. The tall target provided a dominant option in White’s F50.

In the second term, Lobb found himself on the end of a chain of handballs originating from Purple’s D50, that led to a smart kick from Joel Western over the top to Travis Colyer in space, before Colyer turned and hit a leading Lobb streaming out of the F50.

Lobb played across all areas of the ground, switching to White’s backline late in the game, while also featuring heavily in the ruck.

WHO IMPRESSED FREDDY?
Michael Frederick performed well kicking two goals for Purple, while also applying some great pressure in his side’s front half.

Here’s who impressed him.

“Brennan Cox had the ball on a string down there, and it seemed like every time we kicked it into our forward line he would take a mark,” Frederick said.

“That is how Coxy plays, he is so good around the footy and I think that will give him some confidence going into the season.

“Neil Erasmus has been pretty good (this pre-season), he was saying yesterday that he was pretty nervous, but I think he went alright today.

“Both Neil and Caleb Serong always stand out to me, and then Dave as well was just so consistent, I enjoyed watching those boys today.”

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
O’Driscoll was a mainstay in the midfield for Purple, with his composure and contested work on display, linking up well with Brayshaw to lead Purple’s midfield all day.

Lachie Schultz tackled all day long providing multiple pressure acts all over the ground. The highlight came in the first quarter with a strong chase down tackle on the wing.

Liam Henry worked his way into the match, playing out on the wing. Henry’s highlight came when a handball was fired out to him from a contest resulting in the crafty forward streaming into the F50 to slot truly from 40 metres out.

Clark was a steady contributor off half back, with clean possession and poise for White, while Colyer provided his usual dash, finishing with a goal and moving into the middle at times throughout.

Switkowski was impressive, and rarely lost a one-on-one battle, while key forward Josh Treacy returned to the track for his first match sim minutes of the summer playing limited minutes and applied good forward pressure.

Serong executed well in tight and led the way for White with David Mundy. Serong’s highlight came as he fired off a bullet kick for goal from the 50m arc to give White their fifth goal of the second term. Meanwhile, Mundy was explosive with his bursts out of the packs and showed his ability to resist a tackle and hold his ground to fire off a handball accurately to a target.

GOAL KICKERS:
Purple
Taberner (four goals)
Frederick (two goals)
Banfield
Acres
Cullen (Peel)
Young

White
Serong (two goals)
Colyer (two goals)
Lobb
Sears (Peel)
Western
Henry
Clark

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