Fremantle have reclaimed their spot in the top eight after beating Richmond 49-103 at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
The Dockers grabbed the lead midway through the first term and wouldn’t relinquish it as their system worked to hold the Tigers at bay all game.
The gap was really put between the two sides in the second term as the Dockers kept Richmond to just 1.7 (13) until half-time - with that lone goal coming early in the first term - while they had scored 6.8 (44) themselves.
While Richmond began to show some genuine fight in the third term and even threatened to come close to the Dockers, Fremantle found a goal whenever they needed to throughout and kicked away even more late to win by 54 points.
Hayden Young keeps getting better and better ⭐#AFLTigersFreo pic.twitter.com/k6QH2uZxuj
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2024
The win was set up by a midfield thrashing as the Dockers claimed the clearance count 16-36.
That helped them have more contested possessions (97-112) as well while their centre dominance helped them go inside 50 on 59 occasions to Richmond’s 38.
With the midfield in fine form, it was Caleb Serong who really filled up his boots with 38 disposals and 11 score involvements, while Hayden Young (two goals, 30 disposals) and Andrew Brayshaw (31 disposals) also had plenty of it.
The Dockers also got plenty of bounce from their half-back line thanks to Luke Ryan (39 disposals, 15 marks) and Jordan Clark (25 disposals).
For the Tigers, Nick Vlaustin battled well in defence while usual types Jayden Short (28 disposals), Dustin Martin (23 disposals) and Daniel Rioli (22 disposals) had plenty of it.
The loss consigns Richmond to 1-7 on the season as they linger in 16th position.
The Dockers will hope to continue their winning ways when they face Sydney in a huge clash on Friday against Sydney at Optus Stadium.
Richmond will go in search of their second win when they host the Bulldogs at the MCG on Saturday night.
FULL SCORE
Richmond: 1.3, 1.7, 4.11, 6.13 (49)
Fremantle: 3.4, 6.8, 8.11, 15.13 (103)
GOALS
Richmond: Lefau 2, Ralphsmith, Mansell, McIntosh, Sonsie
Fremantle: Treacy 4, Darcy 2, Young 2, Amiss 2, Frederick, Johnson, Sharp, Walters, Banfield
BEST
Richmond: Jayden Short, Nick Vlastuin, Dustin Martin, Tylar Young, Daniel Rioli
Fremantle: Caleb Serong, Luke Ryan, Hayden Young, Andrew Brayshaw, Josh Treacy, Matthew Johnson
INJURIES
Fremantle: n/a
Richmond: n/a
