Todd Goldstein is a quality ruckman in his own right, but at Etihad Stadium yesterday he was basically reduced to the role of a spectator as Aaron Sandilands gave him a ruck master-class. Granted, the North big man was sick, but the stats show a domination rarely seen in any AFL match-up. ‘Sandi’ had 49 hitouts to his opponent’s eight and 15 disposals to two.
Thanks Gold Coast, but we’ll do it on our own
Gold Coast’s massive upset over Carlton meant Freo needed just one more win to make the eight. Many ‘experts’ had favoured the in-form Kangaroos to win yesterday’s game and predicted Freo would confirm September action with an expected victory over Melbourne in the last round. Ross Lyon’s men weren’t interested in results the day before or a week later and duly cemented a top eight position with a clinical display.
No Pav, no worries
The fact Freo kicked its equal-highest score of the year (132 points) without its leading goal kicker Matthew Pavlich would have left Ross Lyon a very happy man. To do it away, and with so much at stake against a team that had won nine of its past 10 matches was even more pleasing.
Defence wins matches
While Freo scored 20 goals, it was the club’s vaunted defence that again laid the foundations for the win. The Kangaroos were the second-highest scoring team in the AFL going into Sunday’s game, but the Freo back six were simply brilliant, holding them to just 79 points. Leading the way was Luke McPharlin, who kept Drew Petrie goalless in a performance that screamed All-Australian full-back.
Five in six
Freo took complete control of the game in the fourth quarter, at one stage kicking five goals in a remarkable six minute period to crush the Roos’ spirits. Amazingly, North did not register a single kick in this time.
Watch Fremantle’s five goals in six minutes.
