Dockers crush Power but star defender faces AFL ban

Yahoo

24-05-2025

Fremantle skipper Alex Pearce is facing the prospect of a multi-week suspension after clattering into Darcy Byrne-Jones during the Dockers' 49-point win over Port Adelaide at a wet and slippery Optus Stadium.
Luke Jackson starred in the ruck with 38 hitouts, 21 disposals and eight clearances to go with a goal from the pocket, while Murphy Reid kicked four majors as Fremantle stormed to the 15.10 (100) to 7.9 (51) victory in front of 40,466 fans on Saturday night.
But the biggest talking point of the night was the ugly second-quarter collision between Pearce and Byrne-Jones.
Byrne-Jones had his eyes on the ball and was running with the flight of the kick when Pearce charged in from the opposite direction.
Pearce initially looked like he was setting out to take a mark or produce a spoil, but he took his eyes off the ball at the last moment when he realised a collision was imminent.
Although the airborne Pearce didn't turn his body in a bumping motion, his left shoulder still thumped into the head of Byrne-Jones.
The incident sparked a mini melee as Port Adelaide players expressed their anger towards Pearce, with a groggy-looking Byrne-Jones helped off the ground and subbed out of the match with concussion.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir held his head in his hands upon seeing the incident, and Pearce faces a nervous wait to see how the match review officer accesses the collision.
The Dockers' impressive display improved their season record to 6-5, while Port's finals hopes are looking dire at 4-7.
Jackson was the dominant figure on the ground as the lead ruckman, Reid showed why he's being touted as a future superstar with the second four-goal haul of his career, while Caleb Serong racked up 29 disposals and 12 clearances.
There's been talk Jackson could request a trade back to Melbourne at the end of the season, but the way he's embraced the lead ruck role over the past two weeks in the absence of Sean Darcy has heightened hopes among Fremantle fans he will stay put.
"It was good fun," Jackson told Fox Sports.
"I do love it (playing in the ruck). It's a good position. You're around the ball most of the time. I feel like that's where I play my best footy.
"I'm just happy the team got a win, we're on a roll now.
"I love Freo, I love the club, and I'm just really happy with my footy at the moment, and I'm really happy."
"Unicorns do exist!" 🦄Luke Jackson slots the drop punt from the boundary!#AFLFreoPower pic.twitter.com/DBUeF6K1AI
— AFL (@AFL) May 24, 2025
Mitch Georgiades kicked three goals for Port and Ollie Wines tallied 33 disposals and seven clearances, but the Power coudn't kick a winning score despite winning the inside 50m count, with the absence of Jason Horne-Francis keenly felt.
Fremantle defender Cooper Simpson lasted less than nine minutes, with the 20-year-old subbed out after injuring his left shoulder in a heavy hip-and-shoulder with Logan Evans.
Port tallied 20 inside 50s to eight in the opening term, with the rain not affecting their early chip-mark tactics.
Two goals to Georgiades, including one from a strong contested mark in the goalsquare, got them early rewards, but Fremantle proved to be the more efficient team in attack on the way to taking a two-point lead into quarter time.
Fremantle capitalised on Jackson's ruck dominance to open up a 15-point lead in the second term, but a goal to Willie Rioli in his 100-game milestone just 10 seconds before half-time reduced the gap to eight points.
The rain went away in the third term, and Fremantle capitalised with four goals to nil to open up a match-winning lead.