The Dockers have blown the season wide open with a stunning 38-point win over the reigning premiers Melbourne at the MCG.
After scrapping to kick just two goals in the opening half, a blitzing third quarter from Fremantle saw the flood gates open as they piled on eight goals to one in a remarkable 42-point turnaround.
Fremantle held Melbourne goalless for the last 50 minutes of the game to hand the Demons their first loss since round 19 last year – breaking a 17-match win streak.
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“The hunters have become the hunted here,” Dwayne Russell said in commentary for Fox Footy.
“It’s been phenomenal this comeback from Fremantle.
“They look lightning all over the ground.”
“It’s one of the great quarters in the club’s history,” fellow commentator Anthony Hudson added.
The match-up was the Dockers’ first and only scheduled game at the MCG for the 2022 season – that is unless they return in September. It is also their first victory at the ground in the three years and only their second win in their past seven games there.
Fremantle’s forwards were pivotal in the come-from-behind win, with Lachie Schultz bagging an equal career-high four goals and Rory Lobb brushing of an early blunder in front of goal to kick three.
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The visitors owned the territory in the opening 10 minutes, but struggling for accuracy so far in 2022, couldn’t strike the first blow as they squandered early scoring opportunities.
It was Lobb who slotted the opener when Travis Colyer lowered his eyes and hit up the key forward on a tight angle from 40m.
But the Demons came up with an immediate response through leading goal scorer, Bayley Fritsch, after a David Mundy missed tackle in the middle of the ground allowed Jack Viney to hit the target inside 50.
Despite showing glimmers of premiership promise across the season, remarkably, for the third week in a row, the Dockers could only manage two goals to the main break before starting their counterstrike
In another blow to Melbourne’s rout, Demons’ star defender Steven May was subbed out of the match at the first change after being cleaned up by teammate Jake Lever.
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Lever’s shoulder slammed into May’s face as he attempted a spoil before he flopped onto the turf prompting a concussion test.
Heading into the final term, the medical sub was also activated for Freo forward Matt Taberner as he was assessed for a back complaint.
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