February 27, 2010

Fremantle vs Melbourne, NAB Cup round one...

AFTER an exciting day at the footy with my Almanac friends (Josh, Damo, Michael and Adam) there is nothing better than coming home to hear the Dees play Freo on the radio. Well, there might be, but on this occasion this game seemed like a Sunday night fixture was the best option.
I get off the train at Darling station. I realise that I only have 15 minutes to get home, or I’ll miss the start of the game. I make it home with two minutes to spare, grab my scoresheet, my radio and sit down on the dining table. (I’m not allowed in my room because my 12 year old brother is apparently trying to get to sleep).
The game begins, the Dees are kicking to the left of the radio dial. The sun is still shining at Subiaco. Martin contests the ruck contest with Sandilands; the Dees steam forward, Jurrah snaps one out of bounds. Not a good start. But it’s a slow start. The Dees fumble in defence, and concede a goal to Des Headland. Bradley snaps a point for the Dockers. Bennell kicks in for the Dees, and plays on by running around the post, conceding another behind. Trengove and Scully come on simultaneously, a moment that has the few Demons at Subiaco off their seats in anticipation. They both make an early influence with a couple of possessions each, Trengove receives a free kick and misses to put the Dees on the board after 13 minutes. Pick 50 Jack Fitzpatrick plays a cameo, receiving one kick before going off the ground to probably not return. The Dockers answer with goals from young gun Hayden Ballantyne, and rejuvenated forward Michael Johnson. The onslaught continues. Pavlich marks on the lead and kicks a goal, and the margin is 27 points. I’m wondering whether our season is over. Rivers adds another point to our score as the quarter time siren sounds. It’s 0.4.4 (28) to 0.0.2 (2). There are no real good signs for the Dees so far, apart from Trengove and Scully, along with Joel MacDonald, who is making an early influence.
The second quarter starts and Ballantyne kicks his second in an influence, he’s a little runt Ballantyne, he is the new Stephen Milne or Jake King. I consider pulling the ear phones out, but I know I don’t really because I love footy. Brad Green answers my prayers with a trademark goal on the run from outside 50, and the margin is back to 24 points. Johnson answers for the Dockers, but Davey picks up the ball with an open forward line in front of him, and bounces home a long super goal. Go Dees! 41-20.
The play of the quarter follows - Trengove taps the ball back into play; Maric receives it and hits Miller on the lead. He kicks a goal. Our future looks sure - Trengove with the class, Scully with the quick hands at stoppages. The quarter finishes with a touch-and-go super goal to Clancee Pearce right on the siren, which appeared to be after the buzzer. It really dampens my spirit. It’s 1.6.6 (51) to 2.1.3 (27). The Dees are still a chance, but the Dockers have the answers. Joel MacDonald has picked up 16 possessions for the Dees, while former Werribee player Michael Barlow for the Dockers has really excelled, giving the hint that Freo have the nailed the mature age rookie thing for two consecutive years. It’s time for left over take away pizza, yum. I’ve already eaten a lot at the footy so I’m stuffed when I finish it.
The third quarter starts, and the Dees can’t back up their second quarter form. Pavlich drills his second home, Jurrah, who was lively but really having a shocker, misses an easy shot. Johnson kicks his third for the Dockers; Mayne runs through and kicks a goal, Sandilands marks on the tip of the square on consecutive occasions, on the first he inexcusably misses, the second he kicks straight through. It looks like Sandilands is set for another big season. The margin is at 49 points, but a little bit of relief comes when Broughton smashes Petterd, and he goes back and kicks a goal. The siren sounds to end the quarter - the Dees trail 1.10.9 (78) to 2.2.5 (35). It’s not pretty even though the Dees are showing little glimpses.
The last quarter begins and all I can hope for is a competitive last term. Miller kicks his second goal, and a couple of behinds give a bit of substance on the scoreboard. Morton kicks one. Pavlich kicks his third for the Dockers, and Pearce and Headland kick goals to blow the margin back out. Jordie McKenzie kicks a point for the Dees and the junk time ends as the siren sounds. The Dees lose 1.13.10 (97) to 2.4.8 (50).
I turn my radio off and head for bed. I try and convince myself that this competition means nothing.

Fremantle 0.4.4  1.6.6 1.10.9 1.13.10 (97)
Melbourne 0.0.2 2.1.3 2.2.5 2.4.8 (50)

SUPER GOALS – Fremantle: Pearce. Melbourne: Green, Davey.

GOALS – Fremantle: Pavlich 3, Johnson 3, Headland 2, Ballantyne 2, Pearce, Mayne, Sandilands. Melbourne: Miller 2, Petterd, Morton.

BEST – Fremantle: Duffield, Barlow, Pavlich, Hayden, Broughton, Pearce, Hasleby, Johnson. Melbourne: MacDonald, McDonald, Green.
My Votes: 3. Paul Duffield (FRE), 2. Michael Barlow (FRE), 1. Matthew Pavlich (FRE).
Umpires: Margetts, Dalgleish, McInerney, Keating.   
Crowd: 11,031 at Subiaco


• Fremantle's Stephen Hill runs the ball out of defence at Subiaco. Photo by Daniel Wilkins. The Slattery Media Group.

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