Jack Hannath will remember his third AFL game. With Jonathon Griffin subbed off with a knee injury in the opening term, it left the 21-year-old South Australian to carry the load in the ruck. It also means the Dockers are now down to their fifth and possibly their sixth-choice ruckman. No.1 Aaron Sandilands is expected to miss at least another month with a serious hamstring injury, Griffin's season looks in jeopardy, Zac Clarke is still out with a calf injury, Kepler Bradley (knee) is out for the year and even young prospect Craig Moller is out of action with a quad strain. The Dockers were forced to use Zac Dawson in the ruck at stages against the Pies.
2. Breaking the drought
Before Saturday night's victory, Fremantle hadn't beaten the Pies since round 22, 2008. To put that in some perspective, Mark Harvey was Dockers coach, Mick Malthouse was in charge at the Magpies and Jeff Farmer booted three goals for the winners.
3. Balla does it again
He could annoy opponents for Australia at the Olympics but Fremantle fans love Hayden Ballantyne almost as much as other teams don't. And Heath Shaw was his latest victim, suckered in to punching Balla in the midriff at a stoppage just before half-time. Of course, Ballantyne went back and slotted the set shot from a tight angle to help the Dockers skip away by 36 points at the long break.
4. How I love you, Swannie
Dane Swan loves the Dockers, there is no two ways about it. He averaged almost 30 possessions a game in his previous 10 matches against them and was at it again at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night. He hung tight with 16 first-half disposals as the Pies struggled before dragging his mates back into the game with two third-quarter goals. Swan ended the night with 27 disposals and two goals. His returns since 2009 have been exceptional: 41 possessions, two goals in '09; 31 and one in 2010; 35 and two in 2011 and 43 and two goals last year.
5. Cool hand Ross
As Freo fans panicked at three-quarter time after the Pies surged back with a six-goal third term, Ross Lyon was the coolest cat in town, The Dockers coach spent two minutes juggling names around his whiteboard before emerging to the huddle at the last change with a new plan. And it worked as Freo fought back from two points down early in the final term to claim the points.
