Melbourne is a spent force for 2003 and Fremantle may finally have arrived as a genuine AFL finals contender.

That is the only conclusion that can be drawn from the Dockers’ 16.5 (101) to 10.11 (71) victory over the disappointing Demons at the MCG on Saturday.

The Dockers victory was only their second at the MCG in 16 attempts; the previous win also coming against the Demons back in 1999 on a night when Tony Modra kicked 10 goals. On this occasion, Justin Longmuir was the star with six goals.

But even more significantly it was the first time the Dockers had won four games in a row since joining the competition in 1995 and was the second successive time they had won in Victoria this season – following their 83 point mauling of the Bulldogs a fortnight ago.

The victory lifts the Dockers to an impressive 6-3 win/loss record and with struggling Carlton to come at their Subiaco fortress next week, Fremantle is poised to finally make the finals for the first time.

In contrast Melbourne now find themselves with an unflattering 3-6 win/loss record and their already slim finals hopes could be extinguished in the next three weeks when they take on Brisbane at the Gabba, Collingwood in the traditional Queen’s Birthday clash at the MCG and Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

With their 2003 season fast fizzling out following last year’s semi-final appearance - the Demons are showing signs of repeating the slides of 1999 and 2001 which followed on from a preliminary final appearance in 1998 and a grand final appearance in 2000.

And on this dismal display the pressure is sure to increase on coach Neale Daniher, who in his sixth season shows no signs of curing his team’s “Jekkyl and Hyde” personality.

The Dockers – after years of mediocrity since joining the competition in 1995 – look to finally be on the right track under impressive second year coach Chris Connolly.

Last year the club improved from just two wins and the wooden spoon in 2001 to nine wins in Connolly’s first year as coach – entirely on the back of their home form in Perth.

However Connolly now looks to have finally solved the club’s long-running travel bogy.

This was an even more significant win than their breakthrough victory in Melbourne against the Bulldogs.

On that occasion the Dockers simply flogged an undermanned opposition but this time they really had to work for victory against a side whose season was on the line and despite a few setbacks of their own.

Not only did their best player in Matthew Pavlich look hampered by an ankle injury for most of the game but star forward Jeff Farmer was carried off with a leg injury in the second term and promising young defender Roger Hayden left the ground in the last term after suffering a heavy knock.

And after Melbourne got to within 13 points early in the last quarter it was hard not to feel the Dockers would surrender yet another winnable game in Melbourne.

But these days the Dockers are made of far tougher stuff with the brilliant Longmuir promptly ensuring victory for his side with three quick goals in the final term to finish with six for the match.

The Dockers had plenty of other heroes also including classy young defenders Dion Woods and Hayden while Byron Schammer made a big impact when he came on and set up the all-important first goal for Longmuir in the final term after the Dees had closed to within 13 points.

And the much-underrated Matthew Carr with 27 touches and skipper Peter Bell with 26 dominated in midfield.

In contrast few Demons could walk off with their heads high apart from skipper David Neitz (four goals), Russell Robertson (two goals) and hard-working midfielders Nathan Brown (32 touches) and Matthew Whelan (24 touches).


MELBOURNE: 1.4 6.5 9.6 10.11 (71)
FREMANTLE: 4.2 7.2 13.2 16.5 (101)

GOALS: Melbourne: Neitz 4, Brown 2, Robertson 2, Green, Heffernan
Fremantle: J.Longmuir 6, Farmer 2, Koops 2, Carr, Croad, Sandilands, Schammer, Simmonds, Waterhouse
BEST: Melbourne: Brown, Ward, Neitz, Robertson, Yze, Whelan
Fremantle: J.Longmuir, Carr, Hayden, Grover, Polak, McManus, Bell, Woods
INJURIES: Melbourne: Nil. Fremantle: Pavlich (shin), Farmer (groin).
CHANGES: Melbourne: White (knee) replaced in selected side by Jamar. Fremantle: Nil.
REPORTS: Nil.
UMPIRES: Kennedy, Nicholls, Jeffrey
CROWD: 17,009 at the MCG