If you could sum up Fremantle players’ efforts in three words, what would you choose? Read our thoughts and head to our Facebook page to register your own. Hayden Ballantyne: Ineffective before hamstring Sean Darcy: Shaded by Goldstein Adam Cerra: Struggled for impact Reece Conca: Dislocated finger, solid Nat Fyfe: Sublime with sleeve Andrew Brayshaw: Encouraging, oozes class It’s not too late to sign up for tipping and Pick 7 fantasy! There’s great weekly cash prizes and the automatic chance to win a Mazda BT-50... Register to play The Game tipping and fantasy today! Bradley Hill: Dash was pivotal Michael Walters: Silky as always Nathan Wilson: Quiet down back Ethan Hughes: Not his best David Mundy: Shouldn’t ever retire Play Video David Mundy takes it from the centre clearance and kicks a goal during Freo's second-term rampage against North Melbourne. The West Australian Video David Mundy takes it from the centre clearance and kicks a goal during Freo's second-term rampage against North Melbourne. Darcy Tucker: Starred in middle Matt Taberner: Impressive, strong marking Joel Hamling: Helped negate Brown Cam McCarthy: At long last! Play Video Cam McCarthy boots his fifth goal against North Melbourne in his best showing for the Dockers. The West Australian Video Cam McCarthy boots his fifth goal against North Melbourne in his best showing for the Dockers. Alex Pearce: Strong in defence Ed Langdon: Loves Optus Stadium Lachie Schulz: Two on debut Travis Colyer: Solid club debut Rory Lobb: Worked into it Luke Ryan: Blazing start, cooled Bailey Banfield: Disposal needs work Leave your thoughts in the comments on our Facebook post<doc-sep>Who impressed ... Cam McCarthy Stats: 20 disposals, five goals, five marks, four inside-50s A week ago he was at long odds to play. Now he’s going to be hard to displace, even when Jesse Hogan returns. Led full-chested at the ball and to dangerous areas, chased and tackled relentlessly, used the footy well and had confidence in his goal-kicking - particularly from long range. More impressively, only Ben Brown (15.3km) and his opponent Alex Pearce (14.7km) covered more ground than McCarthy (14.6km), who cut a significantly slimmer figure after an enormous body of running over summer. New haircut, new beard and renewed form - a massive fillip for Ross Lyon and Freo’s selection panel. Play Video Cam McCarthy boots his fifth goal against North Melbourne in his best showing for the Dockers. The West Australian Video Cam McCarthy boots his fifth goal against North Melbourne in his best showing for the Dockers. Darcy Tucker Stats: 23 disposals, seven tackles, seven inside-50s, four marks, two goals Was tipped to become Fremantle’s tagger during the JLT Community Series, but enjoyed free-reign on the vast expanses of Optus Stadium. Known for his running and delivered on that front, covering 14.6km playing exclusively through the midfield. Used the ball exceptionally well (78.3 percent efficiency), worked hard defensively (seven tackles) and slotted two goals for his efforts. Also nullified influential on-baller Shaun Higgins during the first half. Break-out season could be on the cards. It’s not too late to sign up for tipping and Pick 7 fantasy! There’s great weekly cash prizes and the automatic chance to win a Mazda BT-50... Register to play The Game tipping and fantasy today! Lachie Schultz Stats: 17 disposals, six marks, two goals Another player who didn’t feature during the JLT Community Series, but flourished when given the opportunity - by virtue of a one-week suspension to Brandon Matera. Consistently ran to dangerous pockets of space and wasn’t afraid to throw himself in-and-under. Didn’t necessarily show off the tricks he showcased during Freo’s intra-club hit-out, but was mighty effective nonetheless. Should play next week due to Hayden Ballantyne’s hamstring injury, though his form warranted selection anyway. Play Video Fremantle small forward Lachie Schultz was swamped by his teammates after slotting his first major in AFL football. The West Australian Video Fremantle small forward Lachie Schultz was swamped by his teammates after slotting his first major in AFL football. Bailey Scott Stats: 21 disposals, eight marks, three inside-50s, two goals Another debutant who showed he belongs at the level. The father-son product was arguably among North Melbourne’s best, particularly during a prolific first half. Was clean below his knees and clever with his running patterns in a link-up role through the midfield. Also kicked two classy goals and used the ball remarkably well (90.5 percent efficiency). Nat Fyfe Stats: 32 disposals, 23 contested possessions, 10 clearances, eight inside-50s, one goal Back to his slicing and dicing best, despite a slightly interrupted pre-season. Had 20 disposals and 16 contested possessions to half-time and carried a fair chunk of the load left by the departed Lachie Neale. Fyfe’s clearance work in combination with Sean Darcy was clinical, while his disposal efficiency (78.1 percent) was pleasingly high. Enjoyed a few well-earned rests during the second half, when the result was well beyond doubt. Brad Hill Stats: 28 disposals, 12 contested possessions, seven tackles, four inside-50s Rest assured, there’s nothing wrong with Hill’s calf. Wasn’t the speedster’s cleanest game, but it was certainly still effective. Broke the lines a few times with incisive sprints through the middle and was threatening when Fremantle rebounded the ball from defence. Also gathered 12 contested possessions - the third-most of any Docker behind Fyfe (23) and Michael Walters (13). Camera Icon Fremantle’s first-game players enjoy a gatorade shower following the club’s win over North Melbourne. Credit: Getty Images, Paul Kane Ed Langdon Stats: 25 disposals, nine inside-50s, eight marks, six rebound-50s Was extremely damaging in space - much like Hill - and gained a team-high 542 metres. Featured at both ends of Fremantle’s transitional play with nine inside 50s and six rebound 50s, and used the ball efficiently 80 percent of the time he had it. Also seems to have developed excellent synergy with the Dockers’ other midfielders and looks to be making similar strides with Freo’s forwards. Re-sign him, quick smart. Alex Pearce Stats: 10 disposals, eight rebound-50s, five tackles, three one-percenters Any player who nullifies Ben Brown is worth a mention, even if he shared the task with Joel Hamling and Luke Ryan. Now that he’s got his defensive capabilities down pat, Pearce has learned to use his blistering pace on the rebound - which he showcased several times throughout the afternoon. Has excellent closing speed, a long reach and football smarts. Will he be in the conversation for an All-Australian jumper at season’s end? Jamie Macmillan Stats: 37 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 12 rebound-50s, four marks By far North Melbourne’s most dominant player. Is developing a reputation for his ball-winning capabilities, which were on show in all their glory on Sunday afternoon. Worked relentlessly but ultimately needed more help from those around him. Could be one of the competition’s most underrated players. Camera Icon Jamie Macmillan - pictured tackling Michael Walters - tried hard for North Melbourne all afternoon. Credit: AFL Media, Daniel Carson And who didn’t ... Hayden Ballantyne Stats: Six disposals, one mark, one inside-50, one goal Applied lots of pressure without the ball and kicked a goal, but that’s largely where his contribution ended. Two of his six touches were ineffective, he failed to lay a tackle from 67 percent game time and lost his feet at crucial moments. Few players show as much passion or appear to try as hard as Ballantyne, but he needs to do more to hold off those coming up from beneath. A hamstring injury won’t help his cause. Mason Wood Stats: Eight disposals, three marks, one tackle, one inside-50 Rarely sighted all afternoon and was comfortably beaten by Joel Hamling and Luke Ryan. Didn’t impact the scoreboard, nor did the tall forward threaten to. Jack Ziebell<doc-sep>Fremantle was on fire on Sunday. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) This was a Fremantle we haven’t seen in quite a few years. This was a fast, free-flowing Fremantle playing an attractive brand of footy. Heck, it was a Fremantle that could score. And it might be the Fremantle that returns to the finals race. Stream the 2019 AFL Premiership Season on KAYO SPORTS. Live & anytime in HD. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly > The Dockers got their 2019 season off to an incredible start, ending a dramatic Round 1 with an exclamation point by defeating North Melbourne by 82 points at Optus Stadium. Fremantle got going early, opening up a 39-point lead at the long break. Amazingly, their 75 points at half-time was better than their average score each week last year (70.7 points). “How they have taken the ball from defence to the forward line ... this is a powerful performance from Fremantle. We haven’t seen them play like this in a long time,” North Melbourne champion David King said on Fox Footy. The Dockers did this without the departed Lachie Neale and the ineligible-for-selection Jesse Hogan; and it wasn’t fellow big man recruit Rory Lobb starring up forward either. Instead it was the oft-maligned Cam McCarthy, who kicked just 19 goals last season, matching his Dockers career-best in the first half alone with four goals. He finished with five, adding 20 disposals in his best performance at the club. The mere fact that King was able to proclaim there was “pressure” for spots in the Dockers forward line, given the last couple of years’ performances, was a major positive. But it was the ball movement that was most apparent, and it saw club great Matthew Pavlich speaking glowingly about Ross Lyon’s side. “This is what Fremantle fans have been wanting for a few seasons,” Pavlich said. Get the ultimate AFL experience on your phone with the FOX FOOTY App. Download it NOW for FREE on iOS and Android! “They’ve been able to go from defence to attack really quickly - they’re penetrating. With players ahead of the ball, it’s take the game on and make it up as you go. “When you’re in fast, open play, it doesn’t have to be structured. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s just playing footy. “You look at Brad Hill’s running ability. That’s power running, and that’s why they brought him to the club. “That’s the type of ball movement you could really propel forward up the ladder with.” Hill was excellent, recording 28 disposals, seven tackles and four inside 50s, while Nat Fyfe was back at his best with 32 disposals, 10 clearances and eight inside 50s. Both men kicked a goal as well. The Dockers’ final score of 141 was their highest since 147 in a thumping of Brisbane back in 2016; other than that, you have to go all the way back to the Grand Final side of 2013. Remember back in 2016 when Ross Lyon tweeted for the first time in three years and said “Strap yourselves in”? Perhaps this is what he meant. Re-live Fremantle v North Melbourne in our live blog below. If you can’t see the blog, tap here!<doc-sep>Loading Fremantle will have many questioning their pre-season predictions after they demolished North Melbourne by 82 points at Optus Stadium on Sunday. Despite the rule changes introduced over summer aimed to increase scoring, the opening round returned relatively low totals. Devastating: Fremantle's Cam McCarthy celebrates after kicking one of his bag of five goals against North Melbourne. Credit:AAP But the final game bucked that trend. Fremantle, who averaged just 70.7 points per game last season, had 75 points on the board by half-time on their way to a 21.15 (141) to 9.5 (59) win.<doc-sep>
Forgotten forward Cam McCarthy silenced his knockers with a five-goal haul in Fremantle’s 82-point AFL win over North Melbourne at Optus Stadium on Sunday. McCarthy struggled in his first two years at Fremantle, and had fallen so far down the pecking order over summer that he wasn’t even selected for any of the club’s JLT pre-season games. But Jesse Hogan’s alcohol slip-up and a hamstring injury to Brennan Cox opened the door for McCarthy to earn a surprise recall against the Kangaroos. It’s not too late to sign up for tipping and Pick 7 fantasy! There’s great weekly cash prizes and the automatic chance to win a Mazda BT-50... Register to play The Game tipping and fantasy today! The former Giant made the most of his chance, booting four first-half goals to help set up the 21.15 (141) to 9.5 (59) win in front of 40,033 fans. North Melbourne’s loss was compounded by what appears to be a serious left knee injury to Ed Vickers-Willis, with the defender to undergo scans. Vickers-Willis suffered a season-ending posterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee last year after crashing into a goal post in round seven, but his latest setback could be even worse. And midfielder Ben Cunnington could come under scrutiny for an off-the-ball hit that floored Nathan Wilson in the last quarter. North Melbourne entered the season with hopes of crashing the finals, but their error-riddled display against the Dockers would be a huge cause for concern for coach Brad Scott. Camera Icon Cam McCarthy had a day out. Credit: AFL Media Fremantle dominated the first half, opening up a 39-point lead by the long break. It would have been even more if it wasn’t for North Melbourne’s accuracy, with the Kangaroos registering 6.0 (36) in the first half. McCarthy was joined by Rory Lobb and Matt Taberner in a three-pronged attack for the Dockers, and he shone the brightest of the lot. The 23-year-old exploded in the second term, booting three goals to tear the game wide open. Play Video Fremantle small forward Lachie Schultz was swamped by his teammates after slotting his first major in AFL football. The West Australian Video Fremantle small forward Lachie Schultz was swamped by his teammates after slotting his first major in AFL football. Fremantle won the inside-50m count 24-10 for the term, with Nat Fyfe and David Mundy winning some crucial clearances to set up the scoring onslaught. Fyfe had 20 disposals and seven clearances by half-time, and Fremantle’s dominance continued in the second half. The Dockers had only cracked the 100-point mark six times during the previous two seasons. But they reached that mark late in the third quarter when McCarthy kicked a booming goal from 50m. Play Video David Mundy takes it from the centre clearance and kicks a goal during Freo's second-term rampage against North Melbourne. The West Australian Video David Mundy takes it from the centre clearance and kicks a goal during Freo's second-term rampage against North Melbourne. McCarthy finished the match with five goals, 20 disposals and five marks, while Taberner (18 disposals, nine marks) was an important link man. Fyfe (32 disposals, 10 clearances, one goal) showed no ill effects from his recent elbow surgery, and was rested for long periods in the second half when the game was already in the bag. Fremantle won the inside-50m count 68-47, and clearances 40-27.