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Dockers cut off the Power

Lachie Neale celebrates at goal in the Dockers win over the Power. Pic: Michael Wilson/WA News

A vintage display from captain Matthew Pavlich has led Fremantle to a seven-point opening-round win over Port Adelaide at Domain Stadium tonight.

The 33-year-old spearhead kicked four goals and was a dominant presence up forward in a win which saw the Dockers overcome the team which knocked them out of last year’s finals series by sheer determination.

The two sides shared the lead all night, with the margin rarely going into double figures.

However a running goal by midfielder Lachie Neale with six minutes remaining in the game broke the deadlock in the Dockers’ favour.

Pavlich followed up with his fourth moments later which, despite a late comeback from the Power, proved enough to seal the 11.9 (75) to 10.8 (68) win.

Reigning AFLPA MVP Nat Fyfe was at his best in the midfield with 31 touches and a goal, with Paul Duffield (20 disposals) and David Mundy (29) also influential.

Brad Ebert (34 disposals) was amongst the best for the Power along with Ollie Wines (27 disposals, two goals) and Robbie Gray (31 disposals)

Despite the newly-implemented pre-game fireworks, the Dockers failed to spark early in the first quarter as the Power out-worked them on the spread and were able to find possession in space.

John Butcher kicked the first goal of the game, with Matt White adding another moments later to give the visitors an early advantage and silence the home crowd.

Hayden Ballantyne got one back for Fremantle when he found himself in space over the back of the defence, with his goal seeming to put his side in a far come combative mood, and when Michael Walters converted a magnificent shot from outside 50 the game was back on even terms.

Pavlich put his side ahead for the first time in the game with a booming set shot on the other side of quarter-time, with Fyfe quickly adding another after fumbling and having his first attempt blocked.

With scores locked tight, tempers began to flare and it was Port Adelaide who managed to keep their minds on the football with two late goals giving them a two-point lead at the main break.

The Power’s long and direct game style proved a vast contrast to the home side’s ramshackle approach and saw them lead 80-38 in marks and 131-93 in kicks after the opening half.

The two sides continued to go toe to toe in the third quarter, with the Power punishing the home side for their mistakes.

Ollie Wines and Brad Ebert continued to dominate in the midfield, helping maintain a three-point lead for the visitors at the final change before Fremantle’s late surge sealed the result in their favour.

FREMANTLE

2.1

5.3

7.5

11.9

75

PORT ADELAIDE

2.5

5.5

7.8

10.8

68

GOALS – FREMANTLE: Pavlich 4; D Pearce, Ballantyne 2; Walters, Fyfe, Neale. PORT ADELAIDE: Wingard, Wines 2; Butcher, White, Neade, Ebert, Schulz, Boak

BEST – FREMANTLE: Pavlich, Fyfe, Mundy, Duffield, D Pearce, McPharlin. PORT ADELAIDE: Ebert, Wines, Gray, Polec, Jonas, Boak.
REPORTS: Ebert (PA) for tripping Sutcliffe (F) in the fourth quarter.
UMPIRES: N Foot, D Margetts, S Meredith
CROWD: 34,099 at Domain Stadium