Brisbane is hoping to avoid joining Collingwood in an 0-2 hole to start the 2024 season, making the longest road trip in footy to face Fremantle in Round 1’s finale.
The Dockers (last year 14th, 10-13, 96.7%) tried to ease the pressure on coach Justin Longmuir during the week by signing him to a mere one-year contract extension, but will still be desperate to return to the finals after a disappointing 2023.
The Lions (0-1, 98.8%) copped a heartbreaking loss to Carlton in Opening Round, despite leading by as much as 46 points.
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MATCH CENTRE: Dockers vs Lions teams, live scores, stats and more
Making matters worse for the trip west they’re without gun defender Keidean Coleman, who’s done for the year, and superstar mid/ex-Docker Lachie Neale.
The match gets underway at 6:50pm AEDT/3:50pm AWST from Optus Stadium.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504) or streaming on Kayo from 6:50pm AEDT.
LIVE MATCH REPORT
The Lions were forced into an early reshuffle with Jarryd Lyons coming from the field bleeding after a first centre bounce collision with Nat Fyfe.
But it did little to slow the side as Eric Hipwood nailed the first of the match in under two minutes.
When Matt Johnson rushed a behind from outside the goalsquare, he gifted the Lions their second in a horror start for Fremantle.
“That one really hurts,” commentator Adam Papalia said.
“There was no need to do it. They’d folded back well,” fellow commentator Matthew Pavlich added.
“They outnumbered Brisbane at the fall of the ball. There’s five Dockers to two – he is outside and that is a free kick.
“They had all the numbers there to clean it up and mop it up.”
Commentator Will Schofield said it was an obvious free kick.
“This is the pressure factor that comes in here. You think there’s something coming when there’s not,” he said.
“It’s an easy goal to Brisbane that you can’t give up against a great side like these guys.”
And it only got worse for Fremantle when Hayden Young coughed up a 50m penalty from the next centre bounce, allowing Dayne Zorko to land Brisbane’s third.
“A sloppy start for Fremantle,” Pavlich said.
“It’s a bit of a brainfade from Hayden Young. He knew it straight away.”
Some Bailey Banfield brilliance late in the quarter got Fremantle on the scoreboard before Sam Switkowski snapped their second.
Brisbane headed into the first change leading 27-14.
It was a second term to forget for the Lions as they went goalless at Optus Stadium.
The Lions had eight inside 50s to 0 to open the term but couldn’t convert.
And after absorbing the pressure, it was Docker Luke Jackson who got the first goal against the tide as soon as Fremantle went forward exploiting Oscar McInerney out of position at full back.
“Luke Jackson has trained all pre-season as a forward so he knows what he’s doing back there,” Schofield praised.
When Cam Rayner didn’t stand when requested, James Aish couldn’t make him pay midway through the second when he hit the post from 40m directly in front.
Freo’s Josh Treacy threw his weight around with a bruising tackle on Connor McKenna to earn himself a free kick and level scores.
“Huge crunching tackle,” Pavlich praised.
“That’s the standard – he’s a key forward who is big and strong,” Schofield added.
Darcy Wilmot’s stray boot saw Michael Walters have a set shot on goal from the pocket – and he made no mistake as Fremantle hit the front for the first time.
Lions coach Chris Fagan was on his feet in the box as his side stalled, as Jye Amiss added two goals – to make it seven straight for Freo.
“They’ve certainly lost dominance this quarter,” Schofield said of the Lions.
At the main break it was Fremantle leading 47-29.
The Lions went a defender down when Darcy Gardiner was subbed out of the contest at half time after battling a knee injury throughout the match.
And Brennan Cox took advantage to extend Freo’s lead to 25 points. Only a big Harris Andrews tackle denied the Dockers another shot on goal as the Lions looked shaky – conceding eight straight goals for the second week in a row.
The wheels started to come off for Brisbane as McInerney dropped a mark inside 50 and Zac Bailey’s free kick got overturned when he lashed out at Docker Jordan Clark.
Joe Daniher broke Brisbane’s goal drought before the match was stopped when Docker Karl Worner was concussed in a sickening clash with Lincoln McCarthy late in the third term.
Worner bravely went with the flight and was met solidly by McCarthy coming the other way.
The Freo youngster was able to give the crowd a thumbs up as he was stretchered from the field.
“That’s a long break… it’s actually a challenge for the players to then start again – particularly if you’re a Fremantle player,” Pavlich said.
“It’s taken the sting out of the crowd … they are a bit silent, a bit flat.”
When play resumed it was Fremantle who found their spark with two quick goals.
But again play was stopped – this time for Dockers’ new recruit Oscar McDonald who went down with a knee injury.
“Fremantle’s medical staff have certainly got their hands full,” Kath Loughnan said from the boundary.
By the final change it was Fremantle holding firm with a 38-point margin.
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