FREMANTLE has moved two games clear inside the top four with a 57-point win over Port Adelaide at Subiaco Oval on Saturday afternoon, but has lost star midfielder Michael Barlow to a broken left leg.
Late in the fourth quarter, with Fremantle cruising to its 10th win of the season and a 17.13 (115) to 8.10 (58) result, Barlow collided with teammate Rhys Palmer when running with the flight of the ball.
The 22-year-old rookie sensation, who is among the top three Brownlow Medal fancies, tried to stand up but couldn't support himself and was taken from the ground on a stretcher.
It took the sting out of an important win for Fremantle, which is now in a great position to earn a double chance in its first finals series since 2006.
Fremantle entered half time with a shaky 10-point lead and already missing Antoni Grover (hamstring) and Nat Fyfe (concussion), as well as late withdrawal Chris Tarrant, who was replaced by Alex Silvagni.
However, Ryan Crowley emerged as an unlikely game-breaker, booting five second-half goals as Freo defied a mounting injury toll to kick nine of the last 10 majors.
Aaron Sandilands (22 hit-outs and 18 disposals) was dominant in the ruck, while Palmer (31 possessions, six clearances and five inside 50s) played his best game since returning from a knee reconstruction.
Coach Mark Harvey said it was a hollow victory given the injury to Barlow, who was among Fremantle’s best players yet again with 25 possessions, five inside 50s and a goal.
“When you look at Michael and his character, the way he went to stand up and all of a sudden his leg gave way, that’s the strength of the guy,” Harvey said after the match.
“We had a number of guys, particularly some of our younger players, that were involved in collisions (and) haven’t come off too well. We’re going to have to monitor those guys on top of Michael.
“It’s indicative of the way we’ve been playing with that spirit, putting it all on the line. We’re going to have to show a resolve amongst the group.”
Fremantle, who welcomed back Michael Johnson from a six-week club suspension, kicked the first five goals of the game and appeared destined for a big win as its midfielders did as they pleased.
The home side moved the ball quickly and precisely, and when it didn't have possession its zone defence held Port scoreless for the first 20 minutes.
Matthew Pavlich, who was generally well held by Troy Chaplin, was quick to extend the 27-point quarter-time lead, but a more committed Port responded with six of the next eight goals.
Mitch Banner (23 possessions) and Dom Cassisi (26), who were strong performers for the visitors, made sure the Power were getting their fair share of clearances, and there was a clear directive to move the ball quicker.
When Danyle Pearce kicked a superb running goal from the boundary, Port was just 10 points behind and had a golden opportunity to overrun an undermanned Fremantle in the second half.
However, the side folded catastrophically for its seventh straight defeat, the worst losing run in Port Adelaide history.
“You play enough games and you put yourself in line to get the negative records and the positive ones,” coach Mark Williams said after the game.
“We’re in a situation where everyone’s aware of it and the only thing that will fix it is a win.
“Obviously our confidence is not there because we haven’t won for a long time so, we were mindful and hopeful that we could win at half time. To Fremantle’s credit they took it away.”
Fremantle 5.4 8.7 12.11 17.13 (115)
Port Adelaide 1.1 7.3 7.7 8.10 (58)
GOALS
Fremantle: Crowley 5, Hill 2, Haselby 2, Morabito, Barlow, Grover, Sandilands, Pavlich, Mundy, Ballantyne, Roberton
Port Adelaide: Schulz 2, Pearce 2, Carlile, Banner, Thomas, Ebert
BEST
Fremantle: Sandilands, Palmer, Crowley, Barlow, Ballantyne, de Boer
Port Adelaide: Banner, Cassisi, Rodan, Pearce, Broadbent, Carlile
INJURIES
Fremantle: Grover (hamstring), Fyfe (concussion), Barlow (leg), Tarrant (achilles) replaced in selected side by Silvagni
Port Adelaide: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Jennings, Pannell
Official crowd: 32,442 at Subiaco Oval
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
