A SUBLIME performance from Nat Fyfe inspired Fremantle to a 19-point win over West Coast in the final NAB Challenge clash of the pre-season at Domain Stadium.

The reigning AFL Players' Association MVP gathered 29 touches and kicked a goal to help the Dockers to a 1.13.17 (104) to 1.11.10 (85) win in front of 16,032 fans.

The victory was soured however with a suspected hamstring injury to defender Nick Suban. Midfielder Stephen Hill rolled his ankle in the third term but he returned in the last quarter. Hayden Crozier also rolled his ankle but it does not appear serious.

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The Dockers led by 35 points late in the third term before the Eagles kicked five goals in a row to cut the margin to just four points during the last quarter. But the Dockers steadied with a supergoal to Cameron Sutcliffe, snuffing out the Eagles’ challenge. 

Matthew Pavlich, Zac Clarke, Michael Walters and Chris Mayne each kicked two goals for the Dockers.

Key Dockers in doubt for round one 

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon was concerned about the injury issues but he was positive about his side's performance.

"I thought we were pretty solid," Lyon said.

"Obviously conversion, … if we convert, it's quite convincing probably, it would be fair to say.

"(The Eagles) fought on at the end. I thought we responded."

Josh Kennedy kicked three goals in a strong performance up forward for West Coast while Chris Masten racked up 32 disposals in the midfield. Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis gathered 26 touches, including 14 contested possessions, but could not quell the influence of Fyfe.  

West Coast sweats on defenders' fitness

Eagles coach Adam Simpson said it was the perfect preparation for round one despite the result.

"It was a really good game for preparing for round one because we hit a top-four side that brought a lot of pressure after the first 10 minutes," Simpson said.

"We did some things well and we did some things poorly. I think the best thing about our night is I think we're injury-free."

West Coast started brightly in the opening term. Masten kicked the opening goal of the match and gathered 11 touches for the quarter. The Eagles jumped out to a 13-point lead but Fremantle lifted its intensity. Mayne kicked the Dockers' first goal and then produced a brilliant tackle and turnover to set up Sutcliffe for the Dockers' fifth and a 12-point lead at quarter-time.

Nick Suban was subbed out early in the first quarter and immediately had ice applied to his right hamstring.

Fyfe took control of the game in the second. He gathered 11 touches for the quarter but he did kick two behinds from set shots. The Dockers' lead hit 20 points when Mayne kicked his second.

The Eagles fought back. Tom Lamb ran into an open goal after some slick ball movement around the outer side and then Matt Rosa bombed a supergoal from a standing start to cut the margin to seven.

But Walters sharked his second goal after two Eagles spoilt each other in a marking contest to ensure the Dockers led by 13 points at half-time. 

The Dockers midfield took over in the third, led by Fyfe. He drifted forward to mark and goal and set up a couple of others. The Dockers had a number of options pushing inside 50 as the Eagles' undermanned defence looked under pressure.

The Eagles rallied at the start of the last. Kennedy kicked goals either side of three quarter-time and Mark LeCras bagged two in the last quarter to give the Dockers a brief scare.

The Dockers now set themselves for a round one blockbuster clash with Port Adelaide, while the Eagles will face the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.  

WHAT WE LEARNED

Fremantle: The Dockers looked very potent up forward even without the services of Hayden Ballantyne and Matt Taberner. The Dockers had nine different goalkickers and cracked the 100-point barrier. Had they kicked more accurately they could have racked up a huge score.

West Coast: The Eagles look depleted in defence following the loss of Eric Mackenzie to a knee reconstruction. Mitch Brown and Will Schofield also did not play against Fremantle and Elliot Yeo was forced to play on Matthew Pavlich for the majority of the match. They can ill afford any more injuries to defenders.

NEW FACES

Fremantle: Connor Blakely came on early in the first term after Nick Suban was subbed out with a hamstring problem. He gathered 11 possessions and did not look out of place in his third NAB Challenge match. He will be in the frame for round one if key Dockers don't return from injury,

West Coast: Tom Lamb looked lively up forward again. He gathered 13 touches and kicked a goal. He might have been robbed of another when the goal umpire ruled his soccer was touched late. It looks like he may play round one. Jackson Nelson earned more valuable experience playing in a depleted defence and also looks a chance to debut in round one.

 

 

FREMANTLE             0.5.2   0.7.9   0.11.15   1.13.17    (104) 
WEST COAST          0.3.2   1.4.5   1.6.7       1.11.10     (85)           

SUPERGOALS
Fremantle: Sutcliffe
West Coast: Rosa 

GOALS
Fremantle: Walters 2, Mayne 2, Clarke 2, Pavlich 2, Hannath, Crozier, Sutcliffe, Fyfe, Sheridan
West Coast: Kennedy 3, LeCras 2, Masten, Wellingham, Lamb, Shuey, Selwood, McGinnity

BEST 
Fremantle: Fyfe, Sutcliffe, Pavlich, Johnson, Sheridan, Neale
West Coast: Masten, Kennedy, Priddis, Gaff, Sheed, McGovern 

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nick Suban (right hamstring), Stephen Hill (rolled ankle), Hayden Crozier (rolled ankle)
West Coast: Nil  

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Blakely replaced Suban in the first quarter; Smith replaced Sandilands at three quarter-time
West Coast: Tunbridge replaced McGovern in the fourth quarter; McInnes replaced Lycett in the fourth quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Farmer, Hosking, Donlon

Official crowd: 16,032 at Domain Stadium