Akermanis boots five to snare victory

Five goals from Jason Akermanis ensured the Western Bulldogs a 31-point victory over
Fremantle to celebrate Dogs hero Brad Johnson breaking the AFL club's games record.
Johnson, playing his 342nd match for the club to eclipse the retired Chris Grant's
record, didn't kick a goal but it didn't matter.
Instead it was his forward line partner Akermanis who starred in the Bulldogs' 17.9
(111) to 11.14 (80) victory at Etihad Stadium.
Johnson was well held all day by Dockers defender Chris Tarrant, but Akermanis and
youngster Brennan Stack lit up for the Dogs with nine goals between them.
The Bulldogs looked set to cruise to victory with an emphatic first half display,
taking their lead out to 45 points at one stage.
Akermanis was in particularly irresistible form, booting goals reminiscent of his
feats in Brisbane's run of three premierships from 2001.
But the Dockers, led by the brilliant Matthew Pavlich and young defender Greg
Broughton, threatened to make things interesting with three successive third quarter
goals to close to within 26 points.
Fittingly Akermanis curtailed the Dockers' momentum with a timely fifth goal late in
the term to give his side a 31-point three-quarter-time lead.
Then goals to Callan Ward, Daniel Cross and Stack's fourth by midway through the
final quarter sealed the win to give Johnson reason to celebrate his milestone.
Pavlich booted two goals and collected 30 touches in midfield, while Broughton
continued an excellent debut season with 33 possessions and 11 marks - the pair
easily Fremantle's best.
The Bulldogs remain in the top four with a 12-6 win-loss record, while Fremantle
remain in wooden spoon contention at 4-14.