Narrm’s bid for the top four has hit a mid-season stumble after lightning struck twice at the MCG for Walyalup, ensuring Luke Jackson had the last laugh in his first game against his former club.
Almost a year to the day the Dockers rocked the Demons’ premiership defence with a shock win on the road, Justin Longmuir’s side reprised the same trick with a stirring seven-point victory in an MCG dogfight.
Trailing by 15 points at the final change, the Dees closed within a kick after a goal to Kysaiah Pickett with three minutes and 40 seconds remaining, but Bailey Banfield held his nerve with a clutch shot a minute later for the sealer.
Fremantle’s Michael Frederick runs with the ball. Credit: Daniel Pockett, Getty Images
Missing Clayton Oliver, the Demons were beaten in clearances for the fourth week in a row, this time by a Freo side powered by Hayden Young’s run off half-back and three goals to rising star Jye Amiss.
Luke Jackson of the Dockers, left, and Max Gawn of the Demons contest the ball. Credit: Daniel Pockett, Getty Images
The crowd of 29,154 booed wholeheartedly when Jackson had the ball, but it had no impact on the young star, who turned in another strong performance for his new club with 19 disposals and a goal against Max Gawn and his replacement in the red and blue, Brodie Grundy.
Despite an injury to Sean Darcy, the Dockers outscored Narrm by two goals at the stoppage, a testament to the industry of Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Jaeger O’Meara in heavy traffic.
In a resounding tick for Longmuir’s coaching nous, his Dockers are in the eight for the first time after their fourth win in a row. This was by far their biggest scalp and more evidence they can make the finals for a second year running.
The Dees are a long way from the clinical machine they were in their premiership season two years ago.
