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Jaiden Sciberras • April 7th, 2025 4:54 pm
Fremantle have willed their season back on track, standing firm against a storming Western Bulldogs side to claim a 16-point win at Optus Stadium.
Only two points ahead at quarter-time and falling behind during the second term, the Dockers flipped the game on its head, booting six straight goals to close the half and enter the break with an insurmountable five-goal advantage.
With two wins under their belt in 2025, AFL legend Nathan Buckley believes that Freo's second-quarter burst was enough to suggest that Justin Longmuir's side has all the pieces necessary to compete at the top level.
From Caleb Serong in Brownlow form to Josh Treacy in Coleman contention, Buckley was a big advocate for the brand Fremantle delivered, albeit in a short block.
“They did it in a 15-minute burst,” Buckley told SEN’s Whateley.
“Obviously they gave up 63 inside 50s again, so that speaks to ‘how to we defend the ground, are we winning clearance?’
“They are the two things that largely indicate whether you’ve had to play in your back half or not.
“The Dogs actually asked a serious question of their back half and the team structures to defend the back 50 and they did it relatively well, but the blitz at the end of the second quarter was the thing that stuck out for me.
“That was their brand. Nine insides to three from the 16-minute mark of the second quarter, to the end of that quarter, when the Bulldogs had them on the ropes for a bit, they held up and then we went whooshka!
“Nine insides to three, scored every time we went inside 50, six goals three to one point.
“They went end to end for a point at the 16-minute mark and then went from defensive mid and kicked a goal. A couple of centre bounce goals in that mix, a kick-in goal in that mix.
“It was all there. Turnovers in the front half to score, centre-bounce goal and then ball movement that really tore the Dogs to shreds for that little period.
“The fact that there was 16 points in the game and the game was in the balance for that arm wrestle in the end there and you held on, that’s great because you needed to win the game there and then, but the game was won in that brilliant burst of footy of 15 minutes at the end of the second quarter.
“If you can do that when you’ve been on the back foot for 45 minutes, that’s the type of hurt factor that can really put fear into the opposition and that you can build belief around.
“There is a lot to like about what they have got. It’s just a matter of putting it all together.”
The Dockers will look to continue their charge up the ladder as they face Richmond in a Gather Round clash at Barossa Park on Sunday.
