The Dockers swooned,then they steadied. Andrew Brayshaw and the ageless Mundy,as usual,were in the middle of it,Hayden Young and Luke Ryan creative from half back,Michael Frederick and Michael Walters hitting the scoreboard.
But Melbourne had more in reserve,and tightened the screws. Fritsch got out the back for a second goal just short of quarter time. In the second term,Viney raised his game to become the dominant player on the ground,his game equal parts brute force and silk.
The Demons were dominating Fremantle for contested ball,tackling with ferocity,and setting up too well behind the ball to allow them any territory. The Dockers couldn’t buy a mark inside 50,and soon they began to wilt.
Walters kept the Dockers in it with a second goal in the shadow of the half,keeping the margin to 27 points,and they went to the break knowing they’d come back from a similar position to steamroll the Demons in round 11.
But there would be no similar heroics this time. Lachie Schultz and Griffin Logue had rare opportunities,and failed to take them. Fritsch,on the other hand,sunk in a dagger from the boundary line;Weideman and Spargo made it 41 points.
If that wasn’t enough,the rain that began sheeting over Optus Stadium made sure it would be. Fremantle have been all at sea in the wet this year in previous losses to the Gold Coast and Collingwood,and the Demons weren’t about to cough up a big lead.
Best – Fremantle:. Aish Brayshaw Mundy Darcy Ryan Brodie.Melbourne: Viney Petracca Brayshaw Fritsch Hibberd Pickett.
Injuries – Fremantle: Nil.Melbourne: Salem (nose).
Umpires: Rosebury Hosking Williamson.
VOTES
J Viney (Melbourne) 8
J Aish (Fremantle) 8
A Brayshaw (Fremantle) 7
C Petracca (Melbourne) 7
A Brayshaw (Melbourne) 7