Live chat: Fremantle Dockers intraclub game
Match Wrap: Fremantle midfielder David Mundy looks to have picked up where he left off in last year’s grand final with a star turn in the Dockers’ intra-club match at Patersons Stadium this afternoon.
The 28-year-old, who is out of contract this year and eligible for free agency, was a clear standout, dominating the stoppages and setting up attack after attack in a game featuring all but six of the side which suffered a 15-point loss to Hawthorn in last year’s decider.
Michael Johnson, Aaron Sandilands, Nat Fyfe and Michael Barlow were the best of the Dockers’ regular faces while Hayden Crozier emerged as a potential round-one bolter with a fantastic effort on a wing and half-forward.
Young forwards Matt Taberner and Max Duffy also showed potential.
New recruits Scott Gumbleton and Colin Sylvia both played but were quiet in their first competitive hit-out in for the club.
Gumbleton had one shot on goal, which drifted across the face, while Sylvia looked off the pace for most of the game after a pre-season spent mainly running laps.
The Dockers split into two teams for the intra-club match, with most of the club’s established stars wearing purple and the fringe players in white.
There were a few exceptions, with the club’s best defenders joining the white team and matching up on the best forwards, wearing purple.
Taberner kicked the purple side off to the perfect start when young defender Tanner Smith gave away a free kick in the goal square and the run of purple goals continued through the first quarter.
East Fremantle product Duffy impressed in purple, kicking two goals in the first quarter after pushing to find space in the forward 50 before being shut down by rookie Sam Menegola.
Club captain Matthew Pavlich started slowly before getting on top of his direct opponent, fellow veteran Luke McPharlin, eventually finishing with two goals.
There was a brief scare when Pavlich stayed on the ground after copping and accidental knee from McPharlin in a marking contest, but the 32-year-old stayed on the field and played out the game.
Players swapped sides throughout the game, with the team in purple eventually winning 64-26.
GOALS Pavlich, Taberner, Duffy 2; C.Pearce, Wood, Vandeleur, Mundy, Crozier, Sandilands.
Dockers prepare for the season ahead. Picture: Ben Crabtree/The West Australian
Fremantle’s preparations for season 2014 kicked off in earnest this afternoon with the club’s first intra-club match.
Competition for spots is white-hot and with Scott Gumbleton and Colin Sylvia also pressing their claims for NAB Challenge action, there’s sure to be plenty of interest.
Follow the action live from 4.45pm with The West Australian’s Mark Duffield, Dale Miller and Nick Rynne.
