4 days ago
Young shows his class as wayward Dockers crush Eagles
Fremantle midfielder Hayden Young has showcased what a weapon he will be in the club's AFL premiership push as the Dockers brushed aside West Coast by 49 points in a fiery western derby clash.
Young tallied 23 disposals, seven clearances, three goals and 555m gained to win the Glendinning-Allan Medal in the 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) triumph in front of 54,384 fans at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
The 24-year-old came on as the sub in his first game back from hamstring surgery in last week's one-point win over Collingwood, but he was unleashed from the very start of Saturday's game before being subbed out early in the last.
Hayden Young is so classy 👌#AFLFreoEagles
— AFL (@AFL) July 26, 2025
Young was the dominant figure of the opening term, and his ruthlessness in front of goal when his teammates continually missed was another sign of just how important he is to the club's flag push.
Michael Frederick kicked a career-high four goals, Andrew Brayshaw racked up 32 disposals and eight clearances, while rising star Murphy Reid (23 disposals, one goal) tallied a whopping 15 score involvements.
Four-time Glendinning-Allan Medallist Caleb Serong had to work hard for his 20 disposals and eight clearances under a tight tag from Brady Hough.
For West Coast, defender Reuben Ginbey kept Josh Treacy goalless from nine disposals, Tim Kelly found form with 26 disposals, eight clearances and two goals, and Harley Reid (15 disposals, three clearances, two goals) battled hard amidst the boos.
Reid limped off in the dying minutes and headed to the change rooms after being crunched in a tackle by Karl Worner.
The win keeps Fremantle (13-6) within percentage of the top four, while West Coast (1-18) have lost nine on the trot and are headed for their second wooden spoon in three seasons.
West Coast were forced into a late change when defender Harry Edwards injured his hamstring in the warm-up,
Harley Reid was target No.1 in the opening quarter.
First, he was involved in a wrestle with Fremantle veteran Jaeger O'Meara.
Then later in the term, he was caught unaware when he was flattened in an off-the-ball bump from Patrick Voss (three goals).
West Coast kept pace with Fremantle early, but two goals in a minute to Frederick, followed by two goals in a minute to Young, blew the scoreboard out to 40-12 by quarter-time.
Fremantle's 14-7 clearance count in the opening quarter was ominous, with Young tallying 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals in a brilliant individual display.
Frederick's third goal stretched the margin to 35 points early in the third quarter, but a dose of Harley Reid magic gave Eagles fans something to smile about.
Reid received a handpass on the wing and took a running bounce before nailing a goal from 47m.
Harley Reid is an absolute star 🤩#AFLFreoEagles
— AFL (@AFL) July 26, 2025
Fremantle dominated the rest of the quarter, but their wasteful return of 1.6 meant the half-time margin was only 22 points.
The Dockers' wobbles continued early in the third quarter as West Coast cut the margin to 18 points.
But goals to Jye Amiss and Voss - each of which was followed by a mini melee - gave Fremantle breathing space, before Young added another later in the quarter.
Fremantle blew the margin wide open with the first four goals of the final term.
