Fremantle were dealt more than just a 22-point loss to Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday with injuries to two of their returning players.
Playing his first game in 658 days after an ankle injury, key defender Alex Pearce sustained a knee injury, coming off the ground to be replaced by medical sub Stefan Giro.
Pearce was already filling a void in the forward line playing as a makeshift forward, leaving Matt Taberner as the lone target up front.
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To add to the pain, fellow key defender Joel Hamling came off late with a leg injury.
Taberner performed admirably, especially considering he was battling a back issue mid-week, kicking three goals while playing 100 per cent game time.
Youngsters Andrew Brayshaw (29 disposals), Caleb Serong (26 disposals) and Adam Cerra (24 disposals) were shining lights for Freo in the middle alongside captain Nat Fyfe.
The midfield worked well with debutant ruck Lloyd Meek, winning the clearances 35-27.
It was Melbourne’s intercept marking, led by Steven May and Jake Lever, that did the damage, winning the marks 104-69 for the game.
Both Giro and Sam Switkowski performed well after returning after more than a year out of the game, with Switkowski impressive with his tackling and second quarter goal.
Freo have an eight day break to recover from the bruising clash, facing GWS on Sunday 28 March at Optus Stadium.
MELBOURNE 4.4 7.6 9.8 11.14 (80)
FREMANTLE 0.4 3.8 6.9 8.10 (58)
GOALS
Melbourne: Fritsch 2, Petracca 2, McDonald 2, Pickett, Langdon, Jordon, Harmes, Spargo
Fremantle: Taberner 3, Switkowski, Henry, Schultz, Blakely, Brayshaw
BEST
Melbourne: May, Langdon, Lever, Petracca, Oliver, McDonald
Fremantle: Brayshaw, Cerra, Serong, Ryan, Aish
INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
Fremantle: Pearce (knee), Hamling (leg)
SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Chandler (unused)
Fremantle: Giro (replaced Pearce)
Crowd: TBC at the MCG
