Dockers thump Eagles by 44 points
Fremantle completed a hat-trick of successive NAB Cup victories over arch rival West Coast, exploiting a massive gulf in experience to cruise to a 44-point first round win at Subiaco Oval.
But the triumph came at a potentially huge cost, with midfielder Paul Hasleby leaving the ground on a stretcher in the third quarter after appearing to seriously injure his left knee.
Having ended their arch rivals' interest in the last two pre-season competitions, Fremantle completed the trifecta at a canter, eventually triumphing 2.12.14 (104) to 1.7.9 (60).
And while the Eagles will point to a line-up including only nine of their 2006 premiership players, Dockers fans will be gesturing at the scoreboard, at least until the rivals clash again in round three of the regular season.
With the likes of Daniel Kerr, Tyson Stenglein, Dean Cox, Andrew Embley, Adam Hunter, Beau Waters and Michael Braun all missing for West Coast, the Dockers boasted 1,400 more games experience - while also having no Chris Judd or Ben Cousins to counter.
Quicker to the contest, more effective in possession and with more attacking potency, the Dockers scored the first 19 points, registering a super goal and a goal before the Eagles had even been inside 50m.
And with the newly teetotal Des Headland (21 possessions) proving reports of an impressive pre-season right, older heads like Dean Solomon and Josh Carr also dominated.
David Mundy started the procession with a nine-pointer and, after young Eagle Jamie McNamara impressed early with a spoil on Jeff Farmer, Hasleby extended the early advantage.
It was old stager David Wirrpanda who broke the Eagles duck, but Fremantle's new boy Rhys Palmer then showed his potential with some silky touches.
Eight possessions, four clearances and four inside 50s was Headland's first quarter output and his nine-pointer midway through the second term took Fremantle's half time lead past six goals.
A team tally of 16 Fremantle hitouts to two in the first term clearly illustrated why the Eagles recently made Cox one of the AFL's highest paid players - with Aaron Sandilands finishing with 28 on the night compared to the Eagles 16.
With Eagle Matt Priddis not appearing after the break with calf niggle, high flying Darren Glass collided with Headland, leaving both bloodied.
But the damage moments later to Hasleby appeared a lot worse under pressure on the boundary line from Matt Spangher.
The pause to usher the midfielder into the rooms pricked some of the Docker's confidence, but the Eagles were unable to fully capitalise kicking six behinds in the third term.
Mark Seaby's clever fourth-quarter soccer restored some Eagles pride until Farmer's second - followed by the traditional arms-raised celebration - capped a comprehensive win.
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