Round 11 – Fremantle v St Kilda: Dockers too good

 

Round 11
Walyalup v Euro-Yroke,
Friday 22^nd May 2026
Optus Stadium, Perth WA

 

Pre-game thoughts

 

Higgins, Ryan, Owens and Nas are massive outs at the moment for the Saints but Mason Wood returns from a week in the VFL so hopefully he can regain his form from the past two years.

 

The Dockers will be missing the brilliant Caleb Serong and Hayden Young as well as skipper Alex Pearce. Big ‘outs’ for The Dockers.

 

If you look closely at The Dockers 2026 line-up, it’s easy to imagine this team making this year’s grand-final, barring any major injuries.

 

The only challenge coach Longmuir has, will be knowing what’s happening between the ears of his players, because structurally they are primed for the ultimate success.

 

Three experienced big defenders, three powerful forwards, including one in Treacy who plays like a young Jono Brown, and two quality ruckman supported by a plethora of classy midfielders. Even the so called second string players could walk into most other AFL teams.

 

They do seem mentally tougher this year and are backed by ‘Wharfy Time’ despite the fact that the closest any of the players and supporters have been to a wharf is a café in South Terrace!

 

So how will the Saints fare against the purple juggernaut? Well the match ups don’t inspire a lot of confidence and if Lyon decides to tag, who will he target and by whom?

 

My gut says he will give our young midfielders roles without necessarily hard tags other than maybe Windhager to Brayshaw?

 

Will Lyon try something different and throw Henry onto Bolton when he’s on the ball? Henry is still finding his feet after a long lay-off so perhaps letting Bolton take him to the footy might be good for him. Bolton’s speed is a massive factor.

 

Also I’m sure our boys will have done their research on the Dockers rucks this week as TDK and Ro will be under the pump and won’t necessarily be getting first hands on the ball all the time.

 

Reading and understanding the opposition ruckwork will be mandatory if they are to continue their excellent clearance rates so far this year.

 

I feel our biggest issue will be forward 50 entries. The Dockers are kicking 60% of their total scores from turnovers, so we need to be way more organised or it will be a quick death.

 

We must lock the ball inside 50 and force repeat stoppages if we are any chance of winning.

 

I hope the coaches are licking their lips at the challenge. It’s the type of game where Lyon’s planning excelled in his early days of coaching. Let’s hope he still possesses the guile and little surprises to take down a big scalp.  Time we showed we are serious in 2026. Saints by 15 points.

 

I’ve invited the co-habitant of the house to provide some special comments but in her words, she “couldn’t give a rat’s clacker for either side.”

 

 

1^st Qtr

 

1 min in and Hall goals from a nicely weighted pass from Wilson. Brayshaw lets Hall go from the centre. Stocker prominent after another good game last week. Bolton busy. Winghager on him so far. Howard starting on Treacy. Good transition from Garcia and Hill gets to Caminiti who duffs it. Hall kicks a brilliant goal on the outside of his foot after a mad scramble. Silvagni following Treacy up the ground. More good contested ball but Wilson misses. Windy great tackle on Reid and kicks to Sharman who takes an excellent contested mark and misses. (insert profanity here). Efficient Dockers movement ends up with Amiss who goals. Saints dominating I50 same old story. Brilliant kick from Bolton across the body to O’Driscoll who duffs it. Bolton red flag coming. Two poor efforts from Wood and Treacy goals from 40. Henry steals a loose HB from Ryan who goals. Softest free in the history of mankind and goal to Voss. Wood redeems himself with a top mark and goals after transition from Sinclair and Hall. Saints up by 6 points at the break.

 

Both midfields fairly even but the difference is the forward setups. Freo seem too well organised early and have plenty of space for their forwards to lead into. TDK is beating Jackson in the ruck but Jackson’s second efforts are his strength. STK on top across the board, and have 11 one percenters to 2. Just need to be more efficient.

 

 

2^nd Qtr

 

Voss trying to upset Wilkie. Oh for the days of the old VFA where prancing ponies were never tolerated. Good pressure from young Banfield and ball gets to Phillipou who nails it. Bolton to Amiss on a lead again, goal. Windy caught in a contest then ball watching frees up Bolton who will kill you. Henry unsure and fumbles. Amiss repeats and is a bit tall for Silvagni on the lead. Sharman drops a sitter. A Sharman turnover and the Dockers go coast to coast with Voss on the end of it and he looks for the nearest mirror. A bad missed tackle from Caminiti and Hill ends up with Voss marking outside the boundary line and misses. Freo victim of the deliberate point and Phillipou goals. Excellent controlled build up from defence and Wood takes a great contested mark 25 out and goals. Cheap last minute goal from Frederick so annoying. Saints by 1 point at the break.

 

Freo got on top in the ruck and clearances that qtr. A couple of dreadful errors from STK were costly as Freo are deadly on turnover. The Saints pressure and tackling has been good, it’s just the cleanliness of the disposals that lets us down at times. The annoying gnat that is Voss, is tagging Wilkie for minimal effect. Bolton is a concern. Boys need to hang in and have belief.

 

 

3^rd Qtr

 

(insert profanity!) within a minute poor ball handling in defence starting with Howard and Switkowski goals. TDK’s pressure poor.  A good tumbling entry I50 (more please!) Wilson to Caminiti to Wood to Hill goal. Another turnover through the midfield ends up with Erasmus who goals. A ridiculous advantage taken and Dudley goals. Sharman getting out-marked.  McCrae needed to fly the flag more for Banfield. He’s only 18. Hall did just that. (fff………Henry!!!) no communication! Hill tripped! No free! Good play Garcia, McCrae and Carroll finds Wood who misses. Howard off and Caminiti goes back. 10 mins I50 for STK for no result. Excellent transition starting with Banfield and Henry goals. Dockers by 7 points at the break.

 

The stats in isolation show a very even game but it feels like the Saints are working harder. Bolton is flashy tonight and Brayshaw hasn’t had his normal influence. I’ve been so impressed with Banfield in his second game. 8 disposals and 5 tackles for this 18YO. I couldn’t scratch my backside at that age. We MUST convert our entries I50 if we have any chance. Go Saints!

 

 

4^th Qtr

 

Awesome crumb Sinclair, HB to Wilson who goals. STK by 1 point. One of the tackles of the year from O’Connell halts a Freo transition. Jackson marks over TDK and misses. Scores even. Treacy marks from another turnover and goals. Freo by 6 points. Reid kicks a pearler from 50. Freo by 12. Goal to Dudley F&C and it’s not looking good. Freo by 19. Amiss kicks one from a scramble and a Bolton throw unrewarded. Bolton kicks junk time goal to seal it well and truly. Freo by 30. The Goose Voss marks and goals. Freo by 36. Free to Hill and goal. Freo by 30. Final margin 30 points.

 

The Dockers are definitely a chance to make the granny this year especially when they get Pearce, Serong and  Young back. Murphy Reid has quickly become my favourite player along with The Bont. He looks like he’s come from a different era and is a pure natural. He reminds of the enigmatic Leon Baker at Swan Districts and Essendon.

 

The Saints were cooked in the last 15 mins. Stoppages and clearances went our way again but the midfielders were chasing in the last qtr. I’m like a broken record with our forward line and I don’t like being critical because they try hard but they are no Dockers fwd line. If only we had a seven foot spearhead? I’ve almost forgotten what King looks and plays like. Our rucks have been disappointing and got smacked for most of the night. We still haven’t taken a big scalp after 10 rounds and it won’t get any easier against the Hawks next Thursday.

 

Malarkey Votes

3. M Reid
2. J Sinclair
1. K Worner

 

WALYALUP           3.1   7.2   10.5   16.8 (104)
EURO-YROKE        4.1   7.3   9.5   11.8 (74)

 

GOALS
Walyalup: Amiss 4, Voss 3, Dudley 2, Treacy 2, Bolton, Erasmus, Frederick, Reid, Switkowski
Euro-Yroke: Hall 2, Henry 2, Hill 2, Phillipou 2, Wood 2, Wilson

 

BEST
Walyalup: Reid, Amiss, Treacy, Brayshaw, Voss, Cox, Bolton
Euro-Yroke: Hall, Sinclair, Phillipou, Wilson, Flanders

 

INJURIES
Walyalup: Nil
Euro-Yroke: Howard (calf), Marshall (leg)

 

Crowd: 53,707 at Optus Stadium

 

 

Read more from Ian Wilson HERE

 

To read other Round 11 match reports click HERE.

 

To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au home page click HERE.

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?

And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

 

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE