Fremantle has avoided an unwanted repeat of its Round 1 fadeout, impressively palming off Melbourne 17.16 (118) to 10.10 (70) on Saturday night in its home opener.
The Dockers kicked 8.4 in the opening term against Geelong last week only to lose at Kardinia Park, but they wouldn’t be denied against the Demons after booting 7.7 in the first stanza at Optus Stadium.
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After conceding the first four goals of the second quarter, a rampant Fremantle responded by booting the next six goals to put itself in a commanding position that it didn’t relent, as both sides squared their ledgers at 1-1.
With Koltyn Tholstrup assigned to constrict Caleb Serong, Andy Brayshaw got off the chain with 39 disposals and 10 score involvements.
Josh Treacy, meanwhile, was the power forward force with four goals.
“I think this guy … I think he has the greatest presence inside 50 in the competition, Treacy,” two-time premiership winner David King said on Fox Footy.
“He just plays with an anger, and you just know what you’re going to get from him – 100 per cent effort, 100 per cent of the time.”
Fremantle flexed an attractive brand of free-flowing ball movement on Saturday night, which wasn’t lost on Fox Footy’s Will Schofield, who said it’s exactly what the fans are after.
“The Freo fanbase has been desperate for this sort of footy — it’s exciting, it’s fast, it’s high-scoring, and it’s something we haven’t really seen at a consistent level under Justin Longmuir … it’s really good to watch,” he said at three-quarter-time.
THE 3-2-1 (what we learned) via Cat Healey at Optus Stadium …
3. THE DOCKER ELEVATED TO ‘FREO’S MOST IMPORTANT’
We saw Josh Treacy the leader in Fremantle’s pre-season, leading premiership Eagle Will Schofield to label the forward a captain in waiting.
Now we’ve seen Treacy the forward superstar who Fox Footy’s experts believe could turn this competition on its head.
Two-time premiership Roo David King described Treacy as the player with the “greatest presence inside 50 in the competition”, while triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt joined in the praise.
“You could make a case for season 2026 that that man there (Treacy) might be Fremantle’s most important player to where they go in September – if they are to be a player,” he said.
Treacy was everywhere in the win over the Demons, bobbing up with a team-high four goals in an impressive outing.
“He just plays with an anger,” King said.
“And you just know what you’re going to get from him 100% effort, 100% of the time.
“That first term, he was everywhere helping his teammates just get an easier shot at goal or an opportunity in front of goal.
“Then when it’s his time, he just revs up.
“He’s one grab – there’s no fumbles about this guy. I love the attitude that he brings.”
Describing Treacy as Freo’s “number one banana”, Riewoldt said the 195cm forward was “nearly undefendable” when he goes aerial.
“He straightens them up so much,” he said.
“He’s that beacon down there.
“He just makes sure that they do have a bailout. He is an excellent player who marks on the lead.”
Heading into Saturday night’s contest averaging 7.5 score involvements per game against the Dees, Schofield said 2026 could be Treacy’s year.
“I think he can even challenge for a Coleman Medal,” he said.
First milestone in his sights? No Docker has kicked more than 50 goals in a season since Matthew Pavlich way back in 2012.
2. FIRST QUARTER RIOT STARTS DEE WOES
Just as they did at the Cattery last week, the Dockers were out of the blocks with a bang.
They had seven goals on the board to quarter time as the Demons looked shellshocked in defence – and were made to pay dearly.
Premiership winners David King and Jack Riewoldt were scathing in their assessment of the Melbourne back six – who then lost Daniel Turner in the second term to a finger injury.
In four of those first term goals, Melbourne’s inability to pick the ball up and clear the congestion resulted in them paying a hefty price.
“Just look jittery down back at ground level Melbourne,” Riewoldt said.
“You’ve got to go in and pick it up! You can’t just soccer it like that.
“And then the Dockers smell blood.”
King laments slow start against Freo | 06:16
“Got to handle the heat on the road. They just look jittery,” King added.
“They are all panicking. Quick handballs – they don’t want to take the responsibility.
“Make it someone else’s issue.”
Riewoldt described the pressure on the Dees defenders as “immense”.
“They are not helping themselves,” he said.
“The ball hits the ground and they just look all at sea.
“Just pick the ball up! Keep your feet.
“They are not handling the pressure at the moment.
“Their own worst enemies at the moment Melbourne.”
While Freo almost suffered déjà vu with an early second quarter fade out, the Dockers managed to regroup before piling on the pain in the third quarter.
With a 67-point lead at the final change, Fremantle stamped their authority on the match.
Star Luke Jackson said Fremantle’s hot starts – which have now garnered a combined 101 points in two games – was a sign of the team’s maturity.
“I felt like even though we lost last week, we really built on the Geelong loss,” he told foxfooty.com.au
“I think it shows great growth and maturity. We know (the starts) needed work last year – to see it in the first two games is amazing.
“I think our next step is really putting it in for four quarters – that’s what the best teams do.”
Longmuir in the dark over Voss v Petty | 04:16
1. MAX CAN’T CARRY MANTLE SOLO
Max Gawn will go down as one of the AFL’s greats – but against Fremantle on Saturday night the Dees ruckman showed he is human after all.
After his Round 1 heroics in the win over St Kilda, Gawn had to take on Freo’s one-two ruck combo of Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy.
And it was a task too great for a player two-time premiership Roo David King said was “clearly playing sore”.
“He’s playing impacted after what was an unbelievable week last week – but he’s out there,” King said.
“Darcy’s trying to be physical with him which is obviously the plan when you’ve got the two rucks working over Max.”
While Riewoldt praised Gawn’s ability to “save” Melbourne multiple times on Saturday night, he can’t do it on his own.
Gawn’s former Melbourne protege, now Docker Jackson, was still in awe of his former mentor.
“I watched Max even before I was drafted!” he told foxfooty.com.au
“To see him going the way he is now is really motivating.
“I look up to him a lot. It’s great to see him playing great footy.
“If I can be playing footy at that age, I’ll be very lucky!
“He puts a lot of work into his body – he’s just an amazing player.”
By quarter time, the Dees were under siege.
A 25 to seven inside 50 count against them, just six clearances and only seven points on the board, Melbourne needed someone in the middle to get hands on the ball.
Koltyn Tholstrup could hold his head high as his tagging role on Caleb Serong shut down the Freo mid.
But with Serong blanketed, Andrew Brayshaw stepped up with a masterclass – racking up 14 first quarter touches when he had 14 for the entire game against the Cats last week.
“You’re just trying to fight a reasonable fight,” King said of the Tholstrup tag.
“Tholstrup has done the job on Serong – it’s not necessarily that matchup in isolation that’s hurting them.
“They haven’t been prepared to take on this and they’ve paid a heavy price on turnover.”
King described the Dees midfield as “in transition” following the off-season losses of Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver.
But he wants to see more of Kysaiah Pickett (14 disposals, one clearance and one goal) through the middle.
“He’s only gotten better as the package,” he said.
“We know how good he is – are they going to recognise how good he is? You want your best players ball in hand as often as you can.
“There’s a reason why Collingwood give it to Nick Daicos as regularly with handball receives.”
Stats show Pickett is ranked 143rd in the AFL for handball receives in the first two rounds.
“He needs to be 12, 13, (or) 14 for handball receives a game. He’s turning up – they are just not giving it to him.
“Demons, give him the ball – let him go to work.”
Recap Fremantle vs. Melbourne in our blog below!
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