AFL: Fremantle have done just enough to see off Port Adelaide in a cracking opening round contest in Perth.
Port's Angus Monfries after the loss. Source: News Corp Australia
IT'S ONLY Round 1 and it was only four premiership points but last night might as well have been a final and Port Adelaide will be shattered at letting it slip to Fremantle.
Without their ruckman, with five players having barely played all pre-season and facing a brutal opening month which includes playing both last year's grand finalists, the Power almost pinched a win in Perth first-up.
They had their chances but three-and-a-half quarters of hard work came undone in two minutes in the final term when a crucial turnover and clumsy free kick allowed the Dockers back-to-back goals and a seven-point victory.
HINKLEY:We couldn't quite handle the heat
The game was played at breakneck speed and for the most part, Port Adelaide's set the pace.
Their pressure was manic and tackling ruthless which appears the latest weapon in their arsenal.
Chad Wingard gets a desperate to get a handball away. Source: News Corp Australia
The Power had 32-11 tackles in the first half and finished with 73-41 led superbly by Robbie Gray, Ollie Wines and Paddy Ryder.
Wines in particular made two huge tackles in the second half and coolly slotted two goals in a brilliant performance.
Without a typically dominant performance from Travis Boak — who had to contend with Clancee Pearce as the tag for most of the night — or Robbie Gray, Port's attack came from half back.
Jared Polec and Ollie Wines hug after a Power goal. Source: Getty Images
Jack Hombsch, Tom Jonas, Jarman Impey, Jasper Pittard, Jackson Trengove and even Alipate Carlile turned defence into attack.
Carlile did a good job on Matthew Pavlich but when he was subbed out the Fremantle skipper turned match-winner with two final term goals while at the other end Port's talls didn't have the same impact.
Impey was outstanding on Hayden Ballantyne keeping him to one goal for the match and Kane Cornes blanketed Stephen Hill for most of the match.
Much of the pre-game focus was on Paddy Ryder's debut for Port Adelaide and it took a twist before the first bounce when Matthew Lobbe pulled out with a sore quad.
After a mostly underwhelming first half, Ryder came to live in the third quarter.
At one point he stood his ground, drew heavy contact from Lee Spurr but recovered, won the footy at ground level and got it to Chad Wingard who kicked the goal.
Ryder finished with 12 disposals but best to judge him when Lobbe is back in the side and after at least a month of footy with his new team.
Robbie Grey blasts the ball out of the centre. Source: News Corp Australia
A key to Port Adelaide's game was knowing when to attack and when to be patient.
If an option wasn't on they were prepared to back their field kicking and chip it around but if there was half a chance they were in position they played on without hesitation.
Wines' bullocking work combined with Matthew Broadbent, Jared Polec and Brad Ebert's run and creativity was a highlight, and Gray stood up in a frantic final term.
But they struggled to break through Fremantle's defence. Port had three talls in John Butcher, Jay Schulz and Justin Westhoff but they kicked only two goals between them while Pavlich was the difference at the other end.
Nat Fyfe also gave Port plenty of headaches with a strong body around the stoppages then a marking option up forward.
5 THINGS WE LEARNED FROM PORT vs FREMANTLE
1. Matthew Pavlich is 33 but he can keep kicking on for at least another season with a superb four-goal effort. The Fremantle skipper hurt Port at crucial junctures as the standout focal point in a knife-edge clash.
2. Fitness guru Darren Burgess hammered Port in another merciless pre-season but his side ran out of gas in Perth's Dubai-like heat. Port at half-time believed it would finish stronger than the Dockers but was consumed by the game's toughest road trip.
3. Rain, hail or shine Port and Fremantle will be certain top-four contenders after a breathtaking, unforgiving contest. Port and Freo are two well-coached rivals with stars and warriors who run to breaking point.
4. Chad Wingard can produce the goods in the trenches and slot goals against the run of play even when relying on a zero lead-in on return from injury. This kid has style and substance.
5. Star recruit Paddy Ryder worked into the game in the third quarter after Aaron Sandilands prevailed in the first half with Freo enjoying 21 hit-outs to eight. Port beat Fremantle without Matt Lobbe in round eight last year but overcoming the man mountain is not a journey you want to undertake without a tag team.
— Richard Earle
FREMANTLE 2.1 5.3 7.5 11.9 (75)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.5 5.5 7.8 10.8 (68)
BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Pavlich, D. Pearce, Spurr, McPharlin, Mundy.
Port Adelaide: Wines, Trengove, Ebert, Impey, Polec, Gray.
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Wines, Wingard 2, Butcher, White, Neade, Ebert, Schulz, Boak.
Fremantle: Pavlich 4, D. Pearce, Ballantyne 2, Walters, Fyfe, Neale.
UMPIRES — N. Foot, D. Margetts, S, Meredith.
CROWD — 34,099 at Subiaco Oval.
MERV AGARS VOTES
5: Wines, 4: Trengove, 3: Ebert 2: Impey, Polec 1: Gray.
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