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Welcome to the Western Watercooler, where we digest the talking points from the weekend’s games – and the highlights, frustrations and silver linings WA footy fans can cling to as the season progresses.
For the second time in club history, the Dockers are minor premiers.
A win over Adelaide, Fremantle’s 19th for the season, cemented their first top of the table finish in 11 years.
They’ve never been better placed for a shot at a maiden premiership.
West Coast started well before fading badly, their 10th straight loss coming in the form of a 54-point belting by the Giants.
The Eagles defeated GWS in their Round 10 encounter this year, but a repeat was never on the cards following quarter time.
Fremantle Dockers
What went right? Friday night’s win ensured they’re minor premiers with a game to go – and all the way through, they’ve knocked over record after record.
The Dockers have set a new 14-game winning streak.
They’ve locked in two home finals and the win over Adelaide saw more records tumble.
For the first time in history, the Dockers won every home game – all 12 matches at Optus Stadium.
As Flagmantle has gripped Perth, the purply army has turned out – Fremantle also breaking a crowd record, becoming the first side to have 50,000 fans at nine straight home games.
It’s been a season filled with record-breaking milestones, three more victories and they’ll clinch their first flag in their 32nd season.
What went wrong? Josh Treacy reminded the competition just why he’s the best contested mark currently going around.
But injury and inaccuracy appear the Dockers greatest roadblocks en route to a premiership and the star forward’s goalkicking radar needs reprogramming.
The 24 year-old clunked everything which came his way, but ended the night kicking one goal and four behinds.
Treacy has booted 51.36 for the season from 98 shots on goal, his goalkicking percentage sitting at 52.
In the past six weeks, the hulking forward is going at 50 per cent from 28 scoring shots.
Treacy’s competitiveness, physicality, leadership and presence is crucial to Fremantle.
His game was far superior to what the statsheet showed on Friday night, improving his set shot goalkicking will be high on his priority list.
Silver lining: Isaiah Dudley.
Just 38 games into his career, the South Australian product continues to thrive and looks set to relish in finals.
The 23 year-old was at his damaging best against the Crows, slotting an equal career-high three goals, including a superb final quarter major, dancing and evading his way around multiple Adelaide players and snapping truly.
Dudley is smooth, skillful, smart and a joy to watch in full flight.
And in a forward line filled with stars, Dudley holds his own.
West Coast Eagles
What went right? First-quarter transition.
The Eagles kicked four of the game’s first five goals as they looked to repeat their upset win over GWS from Round 10.
Their ball movement from their back-half was a feature early with leaders Yeo, Starcevich, Baker and Waterman all playing a part in West Coast’s first major.
They scored 24 of their 31 points for the term from the back-half, just below their average for entire matches (27.2).
What went wrong? They’re too easy to score against.
It’s a similar tale and has been for far too long.
From 16 points up in the opening term, the game was out of reach by half-time, trailing by 35.
The Giants booted 10 of 11 goals after the Eagles initial burst to start the game.
Jobe Shanahan was swung into defence as extra help, but GWS found a way, controlling the ball and also territory.
West Coast must learn how to halt momentum when opposition sides have it, preventing long runs of unanswered goals.
Silver lining: Tom Cole.
The out-of-contract 29 year-old has been forced to redefine and reinvent himself in a bid to remain in the side.
From a reliable defender, Cole has transformed into a high-pressure forward.
Yesterday, he gave the Eagles the perfect start, playing a hand in the first four goals, including kicking one of his own.
His efforts and leadership is providing Andrew McQualter with plenty to think about before a call is made on his future.
Paddy Sweeney is a Nine News Perth sports presenter and journalist.From our partners
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