Dockers steal thriller over Cats

Gary Ablett and Paul Chapman produced scintillating displays for Geelong but it
wasn't enough as Fremantle came from behind to steal a glorious seven-point AFL win
at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.
The Cats led by 21 points when midfield maestro Ablett kicked his fourth goal late
in the third quarter but the Dockers stormed back, sneaking out to a six-point lead
when Roger Hayden kicked truly 19 minutes into the last quarter.
Geelong debutant James Podsiadly put the Cats back in front by a point with just
five minutes remaining but a rushed behind to the Dockers, a point to Stephen Hill,
another rushed behind and a goal to Paul Duffield sealed the 18.17 (125) to 17.16
(118) win for the home side, their third victory on the trot.
Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich (26 possessions, five goals), Hill (23
possessions, two goals), Anthony Morabito and Aaron Sandilands (37 hit-outs) were
influential in the result.
Ablett had to deal with a tight tag from Ryan Crowley but was breathtaking at times,
continually breaking tackles and evading opponents to tally 33 possessions and four
goals for the premiers.
And his partner in crime Chapman (28 possessions, three goals) was just as
influential, although to no avail in the end.
But the win could come at a cost for Fremantle, with defender Nick Suban stretchered
off in the dying minutes with what appears to be a serious knee injury.
Fremantle goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne faces a nervous wait after being reported for
misconduct in the opening term for pinching his opponent.
Chris Tarrant failed to pass a late fitness test on his rolled ankle but his absence
was hardly felt by the home side as Geelong struggled to find open space in the
opening term.
But the Dockers' efforts around the ground went largely unrewarded on the
scoreboard, with two classy goals to Ablett and a magnificent left-foot snap from
Jimmy Bartel giving the Cats a slender four-point lead at quarter time.
Prime tagger Cameron Ling was reduced to a bit-time role in the forward line for
most of the first half after copping a heavy knock to the ribs in a marking contest
with Fremantle's Michael Johnson.
The second quarter was a goal-for-goal affair that featured a number of magnificent
plays sprinkled with the odd howler.
Ablett, Chapman, Morabito and Pavlich were responsible for the memorable moments
while upgraded Fremantle rookie Matt de Boer produced the howler; his running
attempt for goal from 8m out, and no opponent in sight, hit the base of the post.
Ablett and Chapman tallied 23 possessions and two goals between them for the term
but Morabito (two goals for the quarter) and Pavlich ensured the Dockers headed to
the long break with a four-point advantage.