Young Fremantle forwards Liam Henry and Josh Treacy were among the highlights of Fremantle’s intraclub match, kicking three goals each on Friday at Victor George Kailis Oval.
The pair led a team made up primarily of Fremantle’s younger players to a 'win' against their senior teammates, with excellent performances from prized youngsters Heath Chapman, Adam Cerra and Caleb Serong.
Henry was strong early, snapping two goals on the outside of his right boot from crumbing opportunities and a third moments before the final siren after marking in the goalsquare.
He has added strength and running power ahead of his second season, started forward but also pushed up the ground where he won possession and used the ball well inside 50.
Treacy, a strong-bodied rookie key forward, has shot into calculations for selection on the back of an impressive block of training.
The 18-year-old was beaten early by teammate Joel Hamling but responded to kick three goals, including two from marks and set shots and a snap in general play.
The early form of his opponent, Hamling, was equally encouraging. Fremantle’s coaches managed the premiership-winning defender's game time but would now be confident of his availability for round one.
Backline teammate Alex Pearce played limited minutes in the first half before sitting out the remainder of the hitout, which lasted four 25-minute quarters, with one short break halfway through each term.
Captain Nat Fyfe was managed for the hitout, midfield coach Josh Carr said, with his absence unrelated to a head knock that left him with a black eye last week.
"He had a good hitout last week in the scrimmage that we had and it's about managing him through the season," Carr said of the dual Brownlow medallist.
"He's obviously a bit older than the younger guys, so we want him there for 22 games."
Be a part of the future with a 2021 membership! Click here for more information.
Third-year midfielder Luke Valente also missed and was completing rope work on the sidelines during the match as he pushes to make his debut in 2021.
Carr said the reason for pitting the team's younger players against more hardened teammates was to create competition among the group.
Exciting trio Serong, Cerra and Andrew Brayshaw started every centre bounce alongside each other in the midfield until late in the game when Cerra was rotated off the ground.
Cerra was the most impressive of the midfielders, with his hard tackling a feature, while Serong grew in prominence with his inside ball-winning and clean hands at stoppages.
The trio took on veteran David Mundy, hardened onballer Connor Blakely and Darcy Tucker at centre bounces in an entertaining battle that saw both groups enjoy periods on top.
Ruckman Lloyd Meek got his opportunity to lead the ruck in the absence of injured No.1 big man Sean Darcy (knee), with retired club champion and ruck coach Aaron Sandilands his opponent.
Chapman was excellent in defence with his ability to intercept and use the ball well, while fellow draftee Joel Western showed his pace and kicked a classy running goal.
Hayden Young enjoyed some strong moments as the designated kick-in player for the young Dockers, while club champion Luke Ryan played the same role at the other end of the ground.
Ryan copped a head knock and left the ground for a period but was able to return and run out the match.
Half-forward Mitch Crowden was eye-catching when rotating into the middle, winning plenty of the ball.
"It was a really good hitout, especially for the young boys to get the win. I think we're pretty pumped about that, with an average age of around 21," Crowden said.
"Josh Treacy played really well, Joel Western played really well as well. These 19-year-olds are really pushing up for selection and it's going to make it difficult.
"Our draft group this year was just really, really good. Heath (Chapman) looks like he's been there for three years. He marks, he wins his own ball, he's really confident and he'll go a long way into our future."
