A stunning performance from Hayden Young lifted Fremantle to a 54-point victory over Richmond at the MCG as the club’s midfield depth was on show.
The Dockers made it three wins from their last four games at the MCG with the 15.13 (103) to 6.13 (49) victory.
On a day where Fremantle played Nat Fyfe as the sub so he would be fresh for Friday night’s home game against Sydney, Young stepped up while working with Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw to give the Dockers supremacy in the midfield.
Young had 30 disposals, eight clearances and kicked two goals, Serong produced another 38 touches and five clearances while Brayshaw had 31 possessions and five clearances. Matthew Johnson was also prominent with 25 disposals and one goal.
Fremantle set up with the win thanks to a 35-16 clearance count.
Young relished the opportunity to be a key ball winner and it was evident early that he would have an impact. He had a superb first quarter with 12 disposals and while he’s built a reputation for being an elite kick, it was his work by hand that changed the game.
He had only three kicks for the term but he kept putting his teammates into space by hand. And then he produced a brilliant right foot kick to set up Luke Jackson who then found Michael Walters for a goal.
Both teams struggled with their goalkicking early. Richmond booted the first goal of the game and followed up with seven consecutive behinds.
Fremantle had their own challenges with 6.8 in the first half and Jye Amiss also kicked a set shot out of bounds on the full.
The Dockers made Richmond pay on the half-time siren when a holding the man free kick to Sean Darcy became a set shot from the goal line after Thomson Dow dropped the footy and conceded a 50m penalty.
Fremantle led by 31 points at the long break and were dominating around the ground. They led the inside 50s 31-13 and were controlling the game thanks to their 17-7 clearance wins.
The Dockers used their clearance dominance to set up a goal for Michael Frederick at the start of the third term and suddenly it was a 37-point game.
Hugo Ralphsmith finally ended the rot for Richmond and it started a strong run from the home team. The Tigers improved their pressure, ran the ball through the middle and kicked three consecutive goals.
Fremantle needed to get their intensity back and Brandon Walker provided the lift. He charged through the centre of the ground, drove the ball inside 50, Michael Frederick laid a superb tackle and the Dockers got a steadying goal from Johnson.
Fyfe entered the game moments later as the Dockers elected to sub Darcy and the Dockers took a 24-point lead into the last quarter.
His energy to start the final term was important as he had an early set shot and then ran hard into defence to make a key spoil which resulted in Fremantle going the length of the field and Treacy kicking truly.
Treacy had a big final quarter with three goals to give him four for the match. Young then put an exclamation point on his game with two late goals for a comprehensive victory.