1. Robinson, the midfielder’s worst enemy.
Unexpected things happen when Mitch Robinson goes near the ball. Best and fairest in 2015, Robinson has cemented his place as one of the AFL’s best taggers this year. He held Bryce Gibbs to a season-low 12 disposals last week, and was at his hassling best taking on Lachie Neale on Saturday afternoon. Neale came into the round with the highest number of disposals in the league, and averages 34.8 per match, but Robinson kept him to just 18, while finishing with 26 of his own (including 12 in the first quarter).
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2. Who needs Matt Pav when you have Matt Tab?
With Matthew Pavlich likely in his last season, Fremantle have been desperately searching far and wide for a dominant key forward to take the star’s spot. The answer may have been under their noses the whole time. Matthew Taberner has been steadily plugging away as the Dockers’ second forward for the past few years. The 22 year-old took advantage of an inexperienced Lions defence to kick five goals in his 38th game, four before half-time, in easily the best game of his short career. He was well supported by Chris Mayne, Lachie Weller and Hayden Ballantyne (four goals each).
GAMEBREAKER: Pav's apprentice produces the goods
3. “Get off the bus”, Fremantle.
When interviewed at quarter-time, Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said he thought “we were still getting off the bus” during the Lions’ dominant first quarter, where they kicked the first three goals of the match and controlled most of the play. The Dockers must have found the bus stop by the second quarter, kicking nine goals to one to go into half-time with a 45-point lead. The Lions’ midfield pressure dropped off dramatically, allowing the ball to enter Fremantle’s forward 50 with ease. The Dockers were incredibly efficient with their ball use, and actually finished the first half with eight less disposals than the Lions.
That's the start the @brisbanelions wanted! #AFLLionsFreo https://t.co/fFC69H6pDH
— AFL (@AFL) June 11, 2016
4. Dockers’ young guns.
Fremantle went into the round with the biggest injury list in the competition, with well over half in their best 22. Missing names such as Fyfe, Sandilands, Silvagni, Ibbotson, Pavlich, Griffin, Johnson, Bennell and two Pearces, they were replaced by the less-familiar Connor Blakely, Lachie Weller, Tommy Sheridan and Darcy Tucker. Last round’s rising star nomination Blakely finished with a team and career-high 29 disposals, and was instrumental in their second quarter turnaround. Lachie Weller played the best game of his career, kicking four goals and having an equal career-high 22 disposals.
Lachie Weller reads the play beautifully to slot another goal for the @freodockers. #AFLLionsFreo https://t.co/qs07ASPUae
— AFL (@AFL) June 11, 2016
5. Justin Leppitsch comes out swinging.
Justin Leppitsch has been under considerable pressure this year, and came into this match with a 12-43 win-loss record and a 21.82% win rate in his two-and-a-half seasons at the club. When asked at his post-match press conference if his job was in jeopardy, Leppitsch clearly had enough of "silly" questions. He said suggesting someone's job was on the line was "a disgusting thing to say" to an average person on the street, and told journalists they should be asking "someone who decides it". "I've got a job for 18 months to do, and I'm doing it. Can we finish that right now? Done. Thank you. Next question." And when the next question came, this time about the game itself and his team's effort, Leppitsch still had a few punches to throw. The Lions went "into our shells", and didn't fight back. He said losing a game because of a "lack of effort" or when "you didn't decide to put your head over the footy" are poor reasons, but that was the case in this match. It would be interesting to hear what was said to the players themselves, if this was the response the media got.