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Freo full of belief after win over Lions

3 minute read

Bailey Banfield kicked four goals and Michael Frederick and Rory Lobb three each in Fremantle's 14-point AFL win over Brisbane in Perth.

BAILEY BANFIELD .
BAILEY BANFIELD . Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says his team should be firm believers in themselves after following up their stunning triumph over Melbourne with a 14-point win against Brisbane.

Bailey Banfield was the unlikely hero with four goals on Sunday as the Dockers beat the Lions 15.9 (99) to 13.7 (85) in front of 47,214 fans at Optus Stadium.

Goalsneak Michael Frederick was also crucial with three second-half goals, while Rory Lobb took a series of powerful marks to finish with three majors.

Andrew Brayshaw (39 disposals, nine clearances) and Caleb Serong (31 disposals, six clearances) played huge roles in the midfield, and the experiment of playing Griffin Logue (seven marks, two goals) in attack continued to pay dividends.

Fremantle haven't played finals since 2015, but they are now firmly in the premiership frame following their stunning 9-3 start to the season.

"They should start believing," Longmuir said.

"We've come up against the two best contested teams in the last two weeks and we've stood up in that part of the game in particular.

"Our footy stacks up. They've got some good evidence of that. But to be able to beat the two top teams, they should really believe that our footy is good enough, and that the processes we've got in place are good enough."

Zac Bailey kicked four goals for Brisbane and Charlie Cameron three, while former Docker Lachie Neale finished with 31 disposals and four clearances in a strong display.

Banfield has technically played every game this season, but almost all of them have come as the substitute - either used or unused.

The 24-year-old made the most of his chances on Sunday, with his three-goal burst in the third quarter proving crucial.

His steadying goal in the final quarter when he scooped up the bobbling ball on the run before snapping truly was the most special of them all.

"The rub of the green doesn't always go his way with selection, but he always puts the team first," Longmuir said of Banfield.

"I don't think any of his teammates would realise how disappointed he is sometimes when he misses out. But he keeps rocking up, working on his game, and he gets reward for effort today, which is great."

The Dockers trailed by 13 points at quarter time.

But Brayshaw's stunning 14-disposal second quarter helped turn the tide Fremantle's way, with James Aish (10 disposals, one goal), and Serong (11 disposals) also crucial in the fightback.

A pack mark from Lobb helped spark a run of three straight Fremantle goals, and tempers boiled over when Logue booted a major from the goalsquare.

Shirts were ripped and headbands lost as almost every player on the field converged to take part in the melee. and tempers stayed frayed for the remainder of the term.

The Lions lost Darcy Gardiner during the second quarter after he sustained a painful hit to the ribs in a marking contest.

The Lions closed to within 11 points early in the final term, but two clutch goals to Frederick, Banfield's snap on the run, and a long-range bomb from Lobb helped seal the deal.

Second-placed Brisbane (9-3) have now lost two of their past three games, but Lions coach Chris Fagan doesn't think it will become a trend.

"We've had five away games in seven weeks; pretty solid. Not the best piece of fixturing I have seen," Fagan said.

"Hopefully that means we get a better go at the end of the season.

"Bottom line is, we're 9-3 and had some good wins on the road and some narrow losses."

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