A sub-par opening term left Fremantle with too much work to do in a 46-point loss to Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Fremantle kicked 9.15 (69) to Port’s 18.7 (115) to have only one less scoring shot than their opponent to continue a worrying trend of inaccuracy in the 2021 season.
Freo were dominate in all aspects of the game early and were left a 40-point deficit to overcome after quarter time.
It was a 12-4 advantage at the clearances in the first quarter that set the tone for Port Adelaide, with Charlie Dixon, Sam Powell-Pepper and Karl Amon dominating at the stoppages to help setup the early ascendancy.
Despite the Power’s dominance, Fremantle still had their chances to keep the game alive but kicked 0.7 for the term.
The lead stretched out to 50 points during the second term before Fremantle switched on with the first six-goal quarter under senior coach Justin Longmuir.
A brilliant captain’s goal in the final term, Nat Fyfe’s second of the night, gave Fremantle hope as the margin was cut to 21 points but that was as close as Freo could get as Port Adelaide kicked the final three goals.
Experienced duo Ollie Wines (35 disposals and eight clearances) and Travis Boak (31 and seven) were the leading ball winners for Port Adelaide, while Dixon and Powell-Pepper (three goals each) were the main beneficiaries in front of goal.
Young gun midfielders Adam Cerra and Andrew Brayshaw led the way with 27 disposals and seven inside 50s each, while Fyfe toiled with 14 contested possessions.
Sean Darcy continued to impose himself in the ruck with 11 contested possessions and an equal team-high six clearances to go with his 25 hitouts.
Freo also were hit on the injury front with forward Sam Switkowski coming off with a hamstring injury and replaced by medical sub Connor Blakely.
Fremantle have seven days to regroup, facing the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium next Sunday night, the day before the WA Day public holiday.
Same old story giving Freo the heave-ho
Fremantle has kicked more goals than behinds just once this season and it was inaccuracy in front of goal that again proved the difference against Port Adelaide, with skipper Nat Fyfe again a major culprit. Fyfe pulled down a massive contested mark into time on in the third quarter and could have brought his team within four goals with an accurate kick. Instead he shot wide as Port Adelaide regained the momentum late to close out the win.
Port lacking the killer instinct
When you are leading by 40 points at quarter-time and playing in front of a vocal home crowd, you really should be putting the pedal down and cruising to a percentage-boosting victory. But while Port Adelaide played some excellent football at times against the Dockers, they also lost their way during other periods and the home fans certainly let them know. Ken Hinkley will be happy to have banked another four points, but he knows his side still has plenty of work to do if they want to be holding up the premiership cup on the last Saturday in September.
Karl has the detonators...he's on fire!
Underrated midfielder Karl Amon's first term had to be seen to be believed as the left-footer picked up 16 disposals to eclipse fan favourite Kane Cornes (15) for the most disposals in an opening quarter by a Port Adelaide player. Amon certainly slowed down after his hot start, but the 25-year-old has been one of Port's big improvers this year and his 27-disposal game shows he has the makings of a bonafide midfield star.
PORT ADELAIDE 7.5 12.5 14.5 18.7 (115)
FREMANTLE 0.7 6.10 8.13 9.15 (69)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Dixon 3, Powell-Pepper 3, Ladhams 2, Fantasia 2, Gray 2, Marshall 2, Farrell, Georgiades, Bergman, Amon
Fremantle: Fyfe 2, Colyer, Crowden, Henry, Lobb, Mundy, Schultz, Walters
BEST
Port Adelaide: Dixon, Wines, Boak, Amon, Houston, Powell-Pepper
Fremantle: Cerra, Brayshaw, Ryan, Aish, Lobb, Fyfe
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Burton (knee)
Fremantle: Switkowski (hamstring)
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Bergman (replaced Burton)
Fremantle: Blakely (replaced Switkowski)
CHANGES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Fremantle: Logue replaced in selected side by Duman
Crowd: TBC at Adelaide Oval
