Fremantle spent more time on practising ball movement in the pre-season than stoppages and defensive aspects of the game. Results of that hard work were on display in the second quarter when the team went coast-to-coast and Danyle Pearce goaled. Stephen Hill carved Collingwood up with his sweeping runs through the middle and the overlap handball was precise. It kicked two coast-to-coast goals and if Ryan Crowley had not dropped a mark in attack it would have kicked three. Fremantle aim to average two more goals a game this season and were on target in round one after averaging 91 points in 2013.
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2. Ross Lyon might be a round one specialist
It's probably no surprise given his strong winning record but Ross Lyon coached teams have now won seven of the past eight seasons in round one. This season he faced more challenges than ever with the team coming back from a Grand Final and the pre-season shortened. However Lyon was confident pre-game that they had made the most of every available minute. Twenty of the 2013 Grand Final team played for the Dockers in round one while Collingwood had just 14 players in the team that were also part of its elimination final loss to Port Adelaide last season.
3. The Gentle Giant Sandilands is a huge weapon
The hype surrounding the 211cm Sandilands has been somewhat muted until now because of injury. However, following his outstanding finals series in 2013 and an uninterrupted pre-season, the expectations were as high as he looks when he stands at the back of a team photo. Collingwood's Brodie Grundy tried hard but he was soon overwhelmed and Sandilands began to feed his on-ballers, as well as standing tall to mark. He took seven marks and gave off a certain goal to Crowley.
4. Collingwood appear a long way off the best teams
Things are often never as bad as they might appear after a round one shellacking but few teams with top eight pretensions have been so easily dismantled as the Magpies were against the Dockers. Fremantle kicked 12 unanswered goals from 18 minutes into the first quarter to the 21-minute mark of the third quarter. Conventional wisdom says good sides don't allow that to happen. Collingwood was beaten at the basics and outworked after an initial burst of pressure. Its disposal was poor. The Magpies can only hope they won't be the only team that cops a hiding from Fremantle and they perform better against teams in their class. It was the Magpies' lowest score against the Dockers.
5. Nathan Fyfe had three Brownlow medal votes in bag…then he was subbed
It will be interesting on Brownlow medal night to see whether Nathan Fyfe manages to earn three votes for his three-quarter performance in the opening round. After getting a knock late in the third quarter Lyon made the prudent decision to take him off. Given Fyfe had been a doubtful starter at one stage during the week it was a no-brainer, but at the time he had 15 contested possessions and 20 disposals as well as one magical snap goal. He had got to work underneath the packs in the second quarter and pushed momentum Fremantle's way.
2. Ross Lyon might be a round one specialist
It's probably no surprise given his strong winning record but Ross Lyon coached teams have now won seven of the past eight seasons in round one. This season he faced more challenges than ever with the team coming back from a Grand Final and the pre-season shortened. However Lyon was confident pre-game that they had made the most of every available minute. Twenty of the 2013 Grand Final team played for the Dockers in round one while Collingwood had just 14 players in the team that were also part of its elimination final loss to Port Adelaide last season.
3. The Gentle Giant Sandilands is a huge weapon
The hype surrounding the 211cm Sandilands has been somewhat muted until now because of injury. However, following his outstanding finals series in 2013 and an uninterrupted pre-season, the expectations were as high as he looks when he stands at the back of a team photo. Collingwood's Brodie Grundy tried hard but he was soon overwhelmed and Sandilands began to feed his on-ballers, as well as standing tall to mark. He took seven marks and gave off a certain goal to Crowley.
4. Collingwood appear a long way off the best teams
Things are often never as bad as they might appear after a round one shellacking but few teams with top eight pretensions have been so easily dismantled as the Magpies were against the Dockers. Fremantle kicked 12 unanswered goals from 18 minutes into the first quarter to the 21-minute mark of the third quarter. Conventional wisdom says good sides don't allow that to happen. Collingwood was beaten at the basics and outworked after an initial burst of pressure. Its disposal was poor. The Magpies can only hope they won't be the only team that cops a hiding from Fremantle and they perform better against teams in their class. It was the Magpies' lowest score against the Dockers.
5. Nathan Fyfe had three Brownlow medal votes in bag…then he was subbed
It will be interesting on Brownlow medal night to see whether Nathan Fyfe manages to earn three votes for his three-quarter performance in the opening round. After getting a knock late in the third quarter Lyon made the prudent decision to take him off. Given Fyfe had been a doubtful starter at one stage during the week it was a no-brainer, but at the time he had 15 contested possessions and 20 disposals as well as one magical snap goal. He had got to work underneath the packs in the second quarter and pushed momentum Fremantle's way.
