Fremantle had just come off a bad second quarter performance that allowed GWS back into the contest at Patersons Stadium on Sunday. Just when the crowd had become a little quiet, up bobbed Hayden Ballantyne to send them into a frenzy with a gem of a goal. The livewire marked the football on the wing and decided to take on his opponent, Zac Williams. ‘Ballaz’ clicked into top gear, bounced the ball twice, and calmly finished off his great run with an inspiring goal. Williams had given everything he had to catch the pocket-rocket, but he was left floundering on all fours. Could this be Ballantyne’s second goal of the year win, following a similar gut-busting effort in round 2, 2011, against Geelong at Patersons Stadium that won him the prize.
Sheedy’s parting shot
This was the last time Kevin Sheedy coached against Fremantle, but the AFL great couldn’t depart Perth without a parting shot at Ross Lyon’s side. Sheedy said Freo had benefitted from one of the ‘easiest draws ever’ and compared the club’s 2013 fixture to winning lotto. Ross Lyon’s response was, well, Ross Lyon-like.
Lachie picks himself
Lachie Neale has been one of Freo’s most consistent performers in the past month. Following on from his two goals in a row that helped the club beat Carlton last week, the young South Australian was at it again on Sunday against GWS. Neale kicked three brilliant goals, all from inside 50 stoppages. Senior coach Ross Lyon said the 20-year-old has been picking himself lately because of his form.
Sandi’s value
Champion ruckman Aaron Sandilands may have had a very quiet day on the stats sheet, with just six handballs and no marks or goals, but his value to the side was highlighted by his ruckwork, particularly at stoppages inside the attacking 50. Lachie Neale will be one of the first to acknowledge ‘Sandi’s’ importance to Freo, kicking two of his three goals because of the ruckman’s handy stoppage work.
Scully the surprise tag
Most thought Fremantle’s master tagger Ryan Crowley would tag GWS captain Callan Ward, who was coming off a 31-disposal, four-goal game the week before. But Ross Lyon had other ideas, sending the stopper to Tom Scully. The former number one draft pick had just 18 disposals, with just six by foot.
‘Freo footy at its best’
Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson summed it up best: “Freo Footy at its best”. It began with five pressure acts by Chris Mayne and Matt de Boer from the wing to the half-forward flank that caused the Giants to turn the footy over. As the ball rolled towards the boundary line, Mayne slapped it further up field into the path of Nick Suban, who did the same for de Boer. De Boer then performed a brilliant pick up and 360-degree turn under pressure. Lachie Neale ran through for the handball receive and gave it off to Nat Fyfe to slam through the stunning team goal.
Mayne’s 100th
Earlier in the week, Chris Mayne had told journalists he’d much rather have 10 tackles than kick five goals. He wasn’t lying. ‘Mayney’ had 11 tackles against the Giants and applied a staggering 38 pressure acts. The 24-year-old embodies what Ross Lyon’s Fremantle is all about.
