Fremantle Survive Crows Scare

James Borlase’s late shot slammed into the post as Fremantle held on for a dramatic two-point win over Adelaide in a Good Friday thriller.

Fremantle survived an almighty scare after a 25-point advantage at half-time, on the back of its first half-midfield dominance led by Andrew Brayshaw and Luke Jackson.

“The first half we got the footy and we were looking like we wanted to play,” said Brayshaw.

“To be able to fight like we did in that last quarter, scrap and come out with a win, I’m really happy with the group.”

For the Crows, it was similar to the last three games, Adelaide unable to put four quarters of football together again.

“It’s three weeks now,” said Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks.

“We can’t allow our oppo to have the game on their terms like we’re allowing in the first half.

“We got what we deserved.”

Jackson, Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and the rest of Fremantle’s midfield drove the ball from the centre square as the purple haze rolled over the Adelaide Oval in the first half.

“We really pride ourselves on our contest and our team defence,” said Brayshaw.

“We start that in the engine room.

“Caleb Serong was awesome in there, Luke Jackson, Murphy Reid coming through there as well was awesome.”

Fremantle’s trio of tall forwards, Jye Amiss, Patrick Voss, and Josh Treacy gave the Crows defence headaches.

“The contest in the air, and then their ability to follow up, pressure and tackle was awesome,” said Brayshaw.

The Crows weren’t willing to run two ways in the first half, and against a side like Fremantle, they were punished.

“We need to be running two ways,” said Adelaide youngster Brayden Cook.

“We fixed that up, the boys ran defensively and started getting the contest and that’s where it swung our way.”

The third quarter flipped the script, with Adelaide breaking even at the contest as the comeback began.

“We knew they were going to challenge us at some stage,” said Fremantle coach Justin Longmire.

“We’re really strong in the contest early, (but) their backline held up really well.”

James Peatling was the dominant force, with an 11 disposals, four clearance and one goal quarter.

“I really liked JP’s (Peatling’s) second half,” said Nicks.

“I think if you talk about the difference between the first and second half, our ability in there to compete and actually at least match it with our oppo (was better).”

The Crows’ reward was a five-goals-to-one third quarter, Peatling’s goal cut the margin to four points as Adelaide Oval went into raptures.

“It was a credit to the Crows,” said Brayshaw.

“They kicked really straight and made their entries count.”

“I think our backs were challenged so much today and it probably didn’t go their way in the third quarter, but then in the fourth they just scrapped.”

Early in the final stanza, Jaeger O’Meara let the Crows off the hook after yet another brilliant flash from Shai Bolton, before Taylor Walker kicked a goal at the other end to punish the mistake.

Midway through the last, Adelaide’s skipper, Jordan Dawson, stood up when it mattered, kicking the most crucial of goals as Adelaide’s lead stretched to nine.

Fremantle weren’t done yet, with Bolton kicking a goal to cap off his stellar night as the Crows lead was slashed.

Josh Treacy stood up for the visitors, rolling home a spectacular effort from the boundary as the Dockers regained the lead.

It was Caleb Serong who stood tallest in the win, hurting the Crows when it mattered most with 11 disposals, three inside 50s, and two clearances in the final quarter.

Finnbar Maley had a chance to put the Crows in front, but ended up putting the ball out on the full, before Borlase’s effort slammed into the post.

“In tight moments like that, you just have scrap like your life depends on it and I think we’re able to do that,” said Brayshaw.

Adelaide: 3.3 4.5 9.5 11.8.74

Fremantle: 4.3 8.6 9.9 11.12.78

Goalkickers:

Adelaide:

Dawson 2, Walker, Thilthorpe, Taylor, Rachele, Peatling, Neal-Bullen, Maley, Cook, Berry

Fremantle:

Amiss 4, Voss 2, Treacy 2, Dudley, Brayshaw, Bolton

Best, (alphabetical order):

Adelaide:

S. Berry, J. Dawson, J. Peatling

Fremantle:

J. Amiss, A. Brayshaw, C. Serong

Injuries:

Adelaide: Pedlar (Jaw)

Fremantle: Nil

Crowd: 48,627