Fremantle Dockers report card: Pressure on to back up stunning win as Luke Jackson produces best game in purple

Not only did Fremantle comprehensively defeat Hawthorn to secure its third win of the season, but the Dockers did it in style and in the name of Starlight.

We take a look at the distinctions, passes, fails and what confronts them next in Fremantle’s Monday Report Card.

Distinctions

Andrew Brayshaw: Finally on the other side of a niggling knee injury, Brayshaw is back to his explosive best. The 2022 Doig Medallist finished with a game-high 34 disposals but some of his stat-less runs into defence were even more important. Hawthorn finally directed some attention his way in the final quarter when the game was won and done but he’d already kicked two goals by that point, a gift from one of the best midfielders in the competition.

Luke Jackson: This was his best game in purple and up there with one of the best outings of his career. Whenever he was around the footy, he made something good happen for Fremantle. He did the flashy things, kicked two goals, took a season-high six marks, and got his hands dirty as well. His pressure was elite. Sixteen of his 24 touches were contested and a decent chunk of them came from collecting ground balls, something you rarely see a man of his stature do.

The forward line: Not only was Fremantle’s 18.9 (117) its highest score of the season, it was also the Dockers’ best tally under Justin Longmuir’s coaching tenure. The Dockers did the basics well and used the footy even better with clean skills paving the way for less pressure and better decision making. And didn’t the avenues open up in attack. Jye Amiss kicked three goals but could’ve had five, unselfishly passing off two, Michael Frederick had three from running in waves, while Andrew Brayshaw, Bailey Banfield and Luke Jackson also kicked multiple. The supply was there, Fremantle winning 54 inside 50s. And the forwards worked for each other, leading in and out of space, resulting in 12 marks inside 50. This should be the benchmark.

Passes

Nat Fyfe: Did he get through unscathed? Check. And did he have an impact? Check. Optus Stadium erupted when the champion entered the game late in the third quarter. Fyfe had to work end-to-end before eventually winning his first touch on the halfback flank, a neat kick to Hayden Young. The Dockers went looking for him too, sending the ball Fyfe’s way when he ventured forward. The two-time Brownlow medallist finished with 10 touches, two clearances and a neat crumbing goal in the last quarter in a performance to build on next week. A return to the midfield was also a brave change in strategy from when Fyfe was first injured, his bigger-body blocking out for his younger teammates.

Neil Erasmus: Playing his first full game in almost a year, Erasmus made the most of his opportunity. As one of the club’s strongest runners, Erasmus willed himself from contest to contest and laid an equal game-high eight tackles, applying plenty of pressure to the plucky Hawks. His disposals will become more effective in time but seven contested touches from 16 and four clearances should see him keep his spot.

Fails

The centre bounce: Hawthorn’s midfield mix is unconventional but it’s working. And an unlikely on ball mix of James Worpel, Will Day, Jai Newcombe and Conor Nash made Fremantle’s guns look second rate in the first half. At the main break, the Hawks were leading the centre clearances 12-3.

Dominant at stages this season, Sean Darcy was struggling to get his hand to the ball in the ruck. And the Dockers’ struggled to adapt and find a structure that could quell the onslaught. While Fremantle was able to even out in the second half, finishing 15-10 down in centre clearances, it’s daunting to think what a more polished team could achieve with the same domination. And you have to feel for the Dockers defenders who, despite being caught out at times due to the rapid entries, did their best to minimise the damage.

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The focus this week

Backing it up. Sydney have been up and down this year but are generally a stronger outfit at home, while the Dockers are yet to win back-to-back games this year and have only won once interstate this year, against Gold Coast in Gather Round. Given the Swans’ defence is undermanned, the Dockers new-found confidence up forward will be crucial.

Forward Lachie Schultz will be one to watch this week after copping multiple hits to his AC joint. He bravely played out the game but you’d expect him to spend a fair chunk of this week in an ice bath. Sam Switkowski (heel) and Alex Pearce (ankle) also came from the ground for treatment but managed to play out the game.