Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
A huge question mark over their ability to go all the way in September.
Fremantle have failed the ultimate MCG test, falling to home deck specialists Melbourne in a Saturday afternoon goalfest.
The Demons trailed by more than two goals with just over half of the final quarter remaining, but timely goals from Harrison Petty, Bailey Fritsch and a brilliant soccer-like finish from Harry Sharp propelled them home to a four-point win in front of more than 40,000 fans.
The sides combined for a total goal count of 34, with 21 of those majors all coming before the major break.
Former West Coast head coach Adam Simpson described the first half as “the best half we’ve seen this year” on SEN.
Major question marks now fall over the Dockers ability to win at the MCG after what will likely be their final appearance at the ground before the Grand Final should they compete.
The Dockers had appeared just once at the ‘G this season prior to Saturday afternoon, beating 18th placed Essendon by 43 points in Round 10.
On the flip side, the Demons now have just 10 wins from 11 games at the ‘G this season coming into Saturday’s clash, with their only loss coming in Round 20 falling to Geelong by 20 points.
KEYS ARE KING
If the Dockers do go on to lift the elusive premiership cup on the final Saturday of September, massive credit will go to the best key forward group in the competition.
Their tall trio of Jye Amiss, Josh Treacy and Patrick Voss combined for 11 goals, with Amiss accounting for 5 of those majors alone.
Fremantle’s very own unicorn, Voss, was quick out of the blocks, snagging four majors by halftime, including a goal of the year contender just before halftime.
With all the momentum swinging against the Dockers on the stroke of the big break, Voss collected the ball about 65m from goal, spotted an open goalsquare and flushed it home for his fourth.
CAPTAINLESS CHAOS
The Dockers conceded more than 60 points in a half for the first time this season, dropping 65 points before the long break against a ferocious Dees side.
The Dees exploded to finish on 113 points, the most any side has scored against the Dockers this season.
Failing to make the trip from Perth was Dockers captain and premier key defender Alex Pearce, with Fremantle’s remaining key defenders failing to stand up.
Pearce missed his third game of the season, after the Dockers opted to rest him for the clash, a decision which proved costly.
Mason Cox was the Dockers’ equal best interceptor with four intercept possessions with less than 50 per cent of time on the ground.
Demons key forward Harrison Petty had one of his best games of the season, kicking three goals, and he could’ve had a fourth after missing from 30m out, directly in front.
Longmuir; ‘We will learn’
Justin Longmuir said his group “will learn a lot out of” their failed MCG audition, falling to a fast-finishing Melbourne side in their final chance to play at the venue before a potential Grand Final.
Despite Saturday’s loss, Longmuir’s side are still all but mathematically locked in to take home this season’s minor premiership, but question marks still surround their ability to win at the MCG against a quality opposition, a hurdle they will have to overcome to win their first flag.
Longmuir said his group “didn’t show the composure (they) needed” in a close contest.
“We haven’t been in that situation much over the last 12 weeks so we’ll learn a lot out of that.”
“We’ve obviously been practicising those situations, but it’s different, you’re away from home, then the opposition crowd gets into it, the scoreboard is real,” he said.
Justin Longmuir has conceded that Alex Pearce’s omission from his side’s Melbourne trip “probably” cost them the game but maintains it was the right call to make.
“Clearly he would’ve helped. If he saves us a goal, it probably wins us the game,” Longmuir said.
“We probably lacked a bit of leadership (in defence).
“We were average behind the ball, our back six.”
Longmuir however did point to Pearce’s loaded injury history as fair reason to manage him, claiming they still “might have if (they) were 6th on the ladder”.
“Everyone knows his injury history,” he said.
“We’d thought we’d manage him a travel, an away trip before the back end of the season.
“We might’ve done that if we were 6th on the ladder.”
Fremantle will take on two top ten sides in Adelaide and Carlton to round out their home and away season, before opening their September campaign hosting their first home qualifying final since 2015.
King calls ‘demon time’
Steven King has accidentally coined a new name for his surging team in a cheeky nod to the Dockers, labelling his Melbourne side’s comeback as their “demon-time”.
The Demons stormed home against the ladder-leading Dockers at the MCG to snatch a 4-point win from the jaws of defeat in what was the biggest win of head coach Steven King’s career so far.
The Saturday afternoon spectacle saw standout performances from superstar Kysaiah Pickett, Charlie Sparrow and key forward Harrison Petty.
King said the unlikely victory against the league’s best was a step his side “needed to take”.
“We needed to signify to our opposition that ‘yeah we’re here’,” King told reporters post-game.
“We’re not just shooting to play a final, we want to make it count and we’ve got as much right as every other team in the competition to have a crack at this.”
“Not saying (the players) didn’t believe beforehand, but it just builds more belief the way the game was played, (especially) here where grand finals are played against (Fremantle), they’re the best team in it, make no mistake about that.”
King was in awe of the blistering final quarter surge from his side, coining a new name for his side’s fast finishes.
“I’m just glad and thrilled we had that sort of demon time at the end of the game.”
When asked if the term “demon-time” was a new term he was creating, King said it was just “something (he) threw out at the start of the game when (he) was challenged about wharfie time”.
“I think ultimately what we want to do is play a brand of footy that makes our members and supporters proud, so I’m thrilled that we can do that.
