Dockers sneak past Eagles at Subiaco

Fremantle continued their recent western derby dominance over West Coast with a
nail-biting five-point AFL win at Subiaco Oval on Saturday.
In a game blighted by continual turnovers and fumbles, Fremantle trailed by seven
points early in the final quarter before great snaps from debutant Jay van Berlo and
Tim Ruffles gave the Dockers a handy 12-point advantage.
Ashley Hansen closed the gap to five points with 65 seconds remaining but a
fantastic smother from Dockers defender Clancee Pearce on Shannon Hurn, just as the
Eagles looked set to launch a final attack, ensured the Dockers held on for the
10.11 (71) to 8.18 (66) win.
But the triumph was soured by a knee injury to Ruffles, who was stretchered off just
minutes after kicking his spectacular final-quarter snap from the boundary line.
It was the Dockers' fifth straight derby triumph and broke their nine-game losing
streak, lifting them off the bottom of the table.
West Coast's 13th loss of the season will only increase the tanking debate
surrounding John Worsfold's men, who along with Fremantle have registered only four
wins so far this season.
Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands won the Ross Glendinning medal for his dominant
performance in the ruck.
The 211cm Docker tallied 30 possessions, 31 hit-outs, eight clearances and kicked a
goal in his match-winning display.
Dockers skipper Matthew Pavlich (36 possessions) was also influential, while young
gun Nic Suban's precise delivery, Paul Hasleby's ball-winning ability and Chris
Tarrant's rock solid effort in defence were also crucial in the win.
West Coast were made to pay dearly for their wayward kicking on goal, with Andrew
Embley missing a sitter from 30m out directly in front in the final term and Hansen
also missed from point-blank range.
Eagles defender Shannon Hurn was effective across half-back while Darren Glass kept
Antoni Grover quiet.
In an error-riddled opening term, Sandilands' commanding display around the ground
proved the difference as the Dockers kicked three goals to one to take a handy
12-point break into quarter time.
Tempers threatened to boil over several times during the first half but it was Dean
Solomon's brain implosion midway through the second quarter that proved most costly.
After his push in the back on Adam Selwood gifted the Eagle a goal, Solomon
remonstrated with several West Coast players and conceded another free-kick just 30m
out when he put his hands on Matt Rosa's throat.
The 12-point play gave the Eagles the lead but a terrible kick-in from David
Wirrpanda late in the quarter, which resulted in a goal to Suban, gave the Dockers a
five-point edge at the long break.
The Dockers turned for home up by a single point and, led by Pavlich, Sandilands and
their talented bunch of first-year players, did enough in a final term highlighted
by ferocious attacks on the ball.