Fremantle has made history at their new home, Optus Stadium, after dispatching Essendon in front of 49,021 fans on Saturday night.
Nat Fyfe was back to his brilliant best under the new lights finishing with 29 disposals and a goal, while Matt Taberner jagged four majors to give his side a 16-point victory and put an early dent in the Bombers' confidence.
Despite a 22-point deficit at three-quarter time, Essendon were unable to pull off another miracle comeback like last week, despite kicking five goals in the final quarter.
The Dockers and Bombers were close to inseparable in the first term, both kicking majors in rapid succession to end the quarter with four goals apiece.
Freo began their new reign at Optus Stadium perfectly, with Taberner slotting his first just 20 seconds into the match and David Mundy snapping another only minutes later after a Michael Hurley dropped mark.
But three goals in a row from Josh Begley, Tom Bellchambers and Josh Green enabled the Dons to end the quarter only two points behind.
While the Dockers' run from the half-back line was skilful and sleek - driven by Connor Blakely (30 disposals) and Nathan Wilson (23 disposals) - the Bombers had early jitters, with spilled marks and poor turnovers at the forefront of their play.
Even though Essendon had ample opportunities to push the ball forward, their constant speed and playing on prevented their key forwards in Joe Daniher and Cale Hooker to get in position and provide a threat in their attacking half.
Similar proceedings carried through to the second quarter, and although the Bombers hit the lead early thanks to their sharpened ball movement and intensified tackling pressure, they were unable to break away from the Dockers.
Another four goals from each side in the second term kept the contest tight with only an eight points separating the two teams at half-time.
Blakely and Hurley starred at half-back for their respective sides and helped slingshot the ball back into their offensive halves, while Fyfe ruled the centre with 16 possessions at the main change, 13 of which were contested.
Refreshed after the main change, the Dockers came out firing and booted the first three goals of the term courtesy of Mundy, debutante Adam Cerra and Taberner.
While the Bombers only mustered the two goals for the term, Freo continued their forward assault, finishing the term with 4.4 opposed to Essendon's 2.2.
The Bombers looked to be in trouble with Adam Saad injuring his leg late in the quarter, but the new recruit made his way back to the field to run out the game.
Despite their injury concerns and low-scoring, the Dons still remained in the hunt as Freo began to falter.
In what could have been a costly blunder, returning star Stephen Hill kicked the ball straight into Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti from full back, allowing the dynamo to jag his first of the night.
Although the spark failed to result in any more goals for the term, the Bombers still looked dangerous with their leg-speed.
Fremantle looked set to miss some of their own crucial pace after Bradley Hill grabbed his knee and struggled to get up following a tackle, but like Saad, the speedster managed to hobble his way to the bench and return seemingly unaffected in the final term.
With the Bombers' rousing come-from-behind victory against the Crows last week undoubtedly on the Dockers' minds, the team came out strong in the final term to secure the historic win at their new home.
Kicking four goals in the term, the Dockers held the Bombers at bay, despite their spirited five-goal quarter, to run out as 16-point victors.
Despite three quickfire goals from Begley, Hooker and Conor McKenna in the final few minutes, they only served as a consolation as the Purple Army reigned supreme, putting their first win of 2018 on the board.
Fremantle fans won't have to wait long to see their team back in action at Optus Stadium, with the Dockers taking on Gold Coast in what will be a home game for the venue-less Suns due to the Commonweath Games commencing this week.
Essendon meanwhile will be seeking a speedy bounce back when they come up against the flailing Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
FREMANTLE 4.2 8.4 12.8 16.10 (106) ESSENDON 4.0 7.2 9.4 14.6 (90)
GOALS Fremantle: Taberner 4, Mundy 2, Cerra 2, Langdon 2, Fyfe, McCarthy, Ballantyne, Walters, Matera, S. Hill
Essendon: Begley 2, Stewart 2, Green 2, Bellchambers 2, Smith, Hooker, Heppell, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Langford, McKenna
BEST Fremantle: Fyfe, Neale, Wilson, Blakely, Taberner, Ryan, Hamling Fremantle: Hurley, Smith, Merrett, Parish, Green, Heppell
INJURIES Fremantle: B. Hill (knee) Essendon: Saad (leg)
TALKING POINTS
1. THE DOCKERS ARE ON THE UP
Despite showing glimpses of promise last week, many would have ruled Fremantle out of winning tonight following their 50-point loss to Port Adelaide, which was riddled with turnover footy and inconsistency.
But the Dockers turned it around, putting away Essendon and earning themselves their first win of the 2018 season.
With Fyfe mirroring his Brownlow form of 2015, Freo's four debutantes for the year flourishing and the team kicking over 100 points since round seven last year, the Dockers' efforts from tonight are to certainly be lauded.
Ross Lyon's rebuild will take time, but there's finally some hope for Freo fans.
2. SPEEDY BOMBERS NEED TO DIAL IT BACK
Essendon impressed last week with their blistering pace, but tonight their breakneck speed proved to be costly.
The Bombers' rapid ball movement and refusal to hold up play prevented key forwards Joe Daniher and Cale Hooker from getting in position, allowing Freo to eventually work the ball up the ground from defence.
Their speed will undoubtedly win them games - we saw this against Adelaide last week - but knowing when to apply the brakes will add polish to the already established side.
3. FYFE IS IN PEAK FORM
Nat Fyfe's importance to Fremantle can't be stated enough.
The Brownlow medallist is poised for a superb season following his 29-disposal game, declaring he is motivated to become to best player in the league once again.
Dominant throughout the midfield, the skipper produced classy act after classy act, including a crunching tackle on Joe Daniher to stop the big man in his tracks.
With Fyfe signed until the end of the 2023 season, the Purple Haze definitely have a lot to look forward to with the superstar back to his best.
4. OPTUS STADIUM IS WORLD-CLASS
We've already seen West Coast take to the new stadium last week, and the Fremantle Women's team months before that, but it needs to be said again that Optus Stadium is nothing short of spectacular.
Thanks to Channel 7's exclusive tour of the new ground, it is undeniable Optus Stadium offers state-of-the-art facilities and experiences for both players and spectators alike.
With incredible lights displays, purple player runways, close supporter access, premium seating all over the ground and a pristine surface, the trip to Perth from might be one opposition teams will now look forward to.
Comments