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Dockers have light at end of tunnel

By Mr Dandalooa

It’s a sad state of affairs I will admit, but I found myself doing laundry while watching the beloved Dockers this weekend.

Now it is at the stage where watching Fremantle in the third quarter is like watching a bad movie comedy or stage show where you feel embarrassed for the performers.

I wouldn’t say that Freo played embarrassingly; on the contrary I thought they put up a pretty solid effort, yet in the whole I seem to cringe while watching the boys these days.

The Dockers put the pressure on the Power early and held a small advantage at half-time before the Power rose to the occasion to win 14.10 (94) to 11.4 (70).

There is however, a glimmer of hope, a light at the end of the tunnel.

Rising Star nominee Stephen Hill is definitely the future of this football club.

Hill insisted on playing despite sustaining a severe cork against the Tigers last week and in making a go at it, gave it a gallant effort at half-back.

Two youngsters and the latest in a string of debutants for Freo, Clancee Pearce and Michael Walters from the Swan Districts, kicked goals on debut and contributed solidly to game.

Walters did not appear fazed by the intensity of the AFL and is certainly expected to receive more game time this season.

Sandilands initiated the Dockers’ attacks early in the game and really picked up on his running and short passing, yet despite his dominance the wet and slippery game suited Port more than Fremantle.

Port threw down a hard-fought win over an under-manned and young Fremantle side to boost to a 6-5 record at the halfway point of the season.

The loss means Fremantle now has a saddened 3-8 record, with the last Dockers win coming in round seven.

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey believes in the future of the depleted Dockers and is banking on his raft of youngsters to lead the club to the finals in the coming years.