Fremantle’s AFLW finals dreams are hanging by a thread after they lost the match and a stack of percentage as a rampant Geelong made it 10 wins in a row on Saturday.
The Dockers were hoping to stay inside the eight for next week’s last round of the season but the gap between them and the Cats was evident during the 9.10 (64) to 5.4 (34) loss at GMHBA Stadium.
The 30-point loss resulted in the Dockers dropping out of the eight, losing seven percentage points and now they must beat Sydney at home next week and rely on other results from Adelaide and Hawthorn to have any chance of playing finals. Fremantle lost talented forward Noa McNaughton to an ankle injury late in the match.
Geelong hadn’t lost since round one and their talent was on show. George Prespakis was brilliant with 28 possessions, 11 clearances and one goal for the Cats.
The Dockers didn’t know what hit them early as Geelong piled on three goals in the first seven minutes. Chantal Mason was too big and powerful inside 50 for the Cats, Prespakis was giving them headaches and Nina Morrison just kept finding the footy.
But once the Dockers created deep forward entries, they looked dangerous. Bella Smith and Aisling McCarthy both kicked goals and the game was back on an even keel.
A bad mistake late proved costly though as Matilda Banfield’s chip kick sailed wide of Mim Strom and the Cats seized upon their chance.
Prespakis charged down the ground, got the ball to Mason, received it back and kicked a brilliant goal on the run to give the home team a 13-point lead at the first change.
The second term was tough, with neither team able to find space. A holding the ball free kick to Rachel Kearns gave Geelong their only goal for the quarter and Fremantle did well to deny them more opportunities.
But the Dockers couldn’t create chances. They were denied a shot for goal on the half-time siren when McNaughton’s pass to Megan Kauffman just happened too late which meant they faced a 20-point deficit at the long break.
And then the game totally got away from Fremantle. Geelong kicked three goals to none during the third term as the Dockers struggled to move the ball out of the backline, couldn’t find targets inside 50 and attempts to move the ball with speed didn’t work.
The final moments of the term summed up the game. Fremantle had half a chance but Hayley Miller fell over. The Geelong went forward, created half a chance and Kate Kenny nailed the snap on her left foot.
Fremantle’s goal drought finally ended four minutes into the final term when Miller snapped truly. That was their first goal since the 15 minute mark of the first quarter.
Geelong responded to open up a 43-point lead but the Dockers knew how much percentage will matter next week and kept persisting. They produced two more late goals to Ange Stannett and Kauffman to win the final term but the result was already beyond doubt.
SCOREBOARD
GEELONG 4.2 5.4 8.8 9.10 (64)
FREMANTLE 2.1 2.2 2.2 5.4 (34)
GOALS – GEELONG: C Mason 3, R Kearns 2, G Prespakis, J Stewart, C Scheer, K Kenny. FREMANTLE: B Smith, A McCarthy, A Stannett, H Miller, M Kauffman.
BEST – GEELONG: G Prespakis, N Morrison, C Mason, C Scheer, C Emonson, M Bowen. FREMANTLE: E O’Driscoll, K Bowers, G Newton, A McCarthy, M Kauffman
INJURIES - GEELONG: R Kearns (head). FREMANTLE: A Healy (face), N McNaughton (ankle)
UMPIRES: J Kerr, S Ritchie, L Porter.