Danielle Laidley: What Fremantle Dockers are doing differently that can get them revenge over Geelong

Geelong coach Chris Scott labelled his team’s first quarter against Fremantle back in round one disgraceful. The reasons? Fremantle jumped out of the blocks with 12 scoring shots from 16 inside 50s and finished the term with 8.4 with a mix of scores from turnover and clearances. They lowered their eyes and kicked to leads inside 50, they used the forward handball to move the ball with speed from turnover and clearances. They averaged 232 metres gained by handball last year, they had 443 in this game. Luke Jackson was unbelievable, leading the ruck in the first quarter and finishing with a huge influence on the game. Fremantle’s first-quarter onslaught wasn’t a high-pressure term of footy all round, but Geelong’s pressure rating was terrible, with 163 for the quarter. So what happened? Geelong turned the game around and they are still the only team to beat Fremantle this season. Sean Darcy started in the ruck in the second quarter and Jackson started as a pure midfielder, which was perhaps an error, but was more than likely pre-planned. Geelong were able to even up the clearances and score multiple goals quickly from this source to close the gap. The game ebbed and flowed through different score sources across the quarter. The Cats kicked the last two goals to cut the lead at half time to 22 points. Watching the game back it stood out that the Fremantle we saw in the second half is not the same team that is going into round 15. The game fell a part for them for a number of reasons. To start with, their ball movement fell apart. They were stuck between a kick-mark method and the forward handball method. It looked exactly like it was their first game with a system they had learned in pre-season. This allowed the Cats to intercept and score and they struck that balance between kick-mark and handball much better. Fremantle’s kicks inside 50 weren’t to the forwards advantage like they were earlier in the game. Tom Stewart had eight intercepts and Sam De Koning had seven. Fremantle have allowed 68 points against on average per game this year. In that second half, Geelong kicked 58 points. It really is horrific looking back. The pressure may not have been at the highest in the midfield, but Shannon Neale, Jeremy Cameron and Jack Martin took a lot of marks inside 50. Fremantle’s system may have fallen short down back to allow them to intercept, with Heath Chapman’s six intercepts the most of any defender. I do feel there are very good reasons as to why. Alex Pearce was underdone and fatigued during the game, Oscar McDonald ran out of legs and couldn’t go with the forwards, Chapman gave too much space for Cameron. It was Brandon Walker’s first game in a long time and Judd McVee’s first time playing for the club. Importantly they were also missing Brennan Cox and Luke Ryan. On Thursday night, their defensive structure will look very different and be much better prepared. The midfield and forwards must bring pressure and heat on the ball to allow defenders to play their role. It’s now just past the midpoint of the year. The Dockers have put the anchor down and are rated first in all the important categories. They have improved their offense to be well and truly in the premiership window, but this game will be a real test. Where Fremantle was hurting teams on the scoreboard was through turnover for the first six weeks of the season and they struggled at clearances. That’s swung completely in the past six weeks. So what sort of game will we get? Which coach will get the game on their terms? Does Chris Scott tag Jackson with Mark Blicavs? Last time Oisin Mullin went to Caleb Serong? Is it Hayden Young this time? Or Shai Bolton or Murphy Reid? Do the Dockers runs with Bailey Smith to dull his running and scoring chain ability? Geelong may well decide to halt the stoppage damage of Fremantle and take them on in the turnover game. Justin Longmuir may use Patrick Voss to play on Tom Stewart to cut his marking and intercepting bringing the ball to ground where perhaps Geelong are vulnerable. It will be a fascinating game of chess on Thursday night. Do Fremantle enhance their reputation? Do the Cats go 2-0 against them in 2026 and carry a mental edge? This could even be a precursor to the last game of the year.