Lobb sat in the shadow of Matt Taberner inlast week’s win over Essendon,but the former Giant was in all the right places on Saturday night. He kicked his first goal near quarter-time,and then his second and third goals early in the third term.
Denied a return to the Giants in the off-season,Lobb showed why the Dockers put such a high price on his head at the trade table,also contributing 24 hitouts as foil for Sean Darcy before his concussion.
Meanwhile,Walters - who is travelling well below his average for goals per game - bagged two goals late in the second term to make sure his side had a handy buffer going into the long break,and was lively throughout the second half.
Cerra against his old foe
There were no short memories among the Fremantle faithful,who reminded Cerra about where his career started at every opportunity.
Adam Cerra in action during round six.Credit:Getty Images
But the former Docker was one of Carlton’s best in his first game against his old side,collecting 32 disposals,seven clearances,five tackles,five intercepts and five score involvements.
Only Cripps had a bigger impact for the Blues,kicking three goals to go with 32 disposals and eight clearances.
To tag or not?
Justin Longmuir and his coaching staff would no doubt have had the discussion by quarter-time:do we run a tagger with Walsh?
The running machine had 12 disposals in the opening term,and that was from just 85 per cent time on ground. That included two inside-50s and two score involvements.
But the Dockers decided to go head-to-head with the star Blue,and despite accumulating a game-high 36 disposals,he wasn’t as damaging as his teammates Cripps and Cerra.
Big men go down
Carlton fear ruckman Marc Pittonet has suffered damage to his PCL after he made knee-on-knee contact with Dockers ruck Darcy in a centre-bounce ruck contest early in the first quarter.
Marc Pittonet of the Blues is assisted to the rooms.Credit:Getty Images
Pittonet reappeared on the bench late in the first term with his left knee strapped with tape,but a decision was made at quarter-time to substitute him out of the game.
Darcy was later subbed out for the Dockers,in the last quarter,with concussion.
Goal of the year?
It was undoubtedly the highlight of the night,a snap goal by Blake Acres deep in the forward pocket for Fremantle in the third term.
He hit a ball-up stoppage with speed,helped by a deft touch from Walters,and he snapped the goal from a tight angle running towards the boundary line.
Andrew Brayshaw (right) and the Dockers stood up to Patrick Cripps and the Blues.Credit:Getty Images
Goals
Fremantle: L. Schultz,R. Lobb 3,S. Switkowski,M. Walters 2,B. Acres,W. Brodie,S. Darcy,M. Taberner.
Carlton:P. Cripps 3,C. Curnow 2,H. McKay,J. Martin,M. Owies,L. Young.
Best
Fremantle: L. Schultz,A. Brayshaw,A. Pearce,L. Ryan,R. Lobb,G. Logue.
Carlton: P. Cripps,A. Cerra,S. Walsh,J. Weitering,G. Hewett.
Injuries
Fremantle: S. Darcy (concussion).
Carlton: M. Pittonet (knee)
Votes
Patrick Cripps (Carlton) 8
Lachie Schultz (Fremantle) 7
Adam Cerra (Carlton) 7
Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle) 7
Alex Pearce (Fremantle) 7