Fremantle got it done.
They did what good teams do, responding to a first-half challenge to put a team away with a withering short burst, in this case a six-goal third quarter settled the matter.
But as good as the Dockers have been – they now sit three games on the top of the ladder ahead of a home western derby – there is a worrying trend they must address with only five games remaining before finals.
Clearance is king in September, particularly at the centre ball up, when pressure ramps up to hydraulic levels and space is at a premium.
Clearance ascendancy gives teams field position and it also relieves pressure on backlines.
Premierships are won and lost on clearance.
The Dockers did not lose the clearance count once in the first nine rounds of the season, but have host it five times in the last 10 rounds.
Today provided a dead-heat: 36-all.
They took control of stoppage 27-18, but worryingly lost the centre ball-ups 18-9.
They were down 12-2 in the first half and a measure of the impact of that metric was the Power scored 5.3 from that source to the Dockers’ 0.0 up to the long interval.
The home side, missing its best four players – Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis, Connor Rozee and Mitch Georgiades, and a few more first-choice players – led by two goals at the long interval thanks largely to the work of Ollie Wines, Jase Burgoyne and Willem Drew and the control of ruckman Jordon Sweet at centre ball ups
Burgoyne and Drew led all comers at centre ball up clearances by the end of the match with four each, Ollie Wines (three) and Joe Richards (two and 31 possessions and who help fill the void left by Butters’ with aplomb).
Good teams can adapt on the run and the Dockers did just that.
They emerged a different team after half-time, getting their hands on the footy more often at the source.
They led clearance by five in the third term and turned that into a six goal to one quarter and a 19-point lead.
Caleb Serong, who finished with a game-high eight clearances, three from centre ball ups, Matt Johnson and Neil Erasmus (five each), Hayden Young and Luke Jackson (three apiece), along with the ever-present Andrew Brayshaw, drove the change in fortunes.
The Dockers were also more thoughtful going inside 50, Jye Amiss kicking two of his four goals, in that term.
Fremantle always looked more threatening in attack with Amiss, Josh Treacy (three goals) and Isaiah Dudley (1.3), having 10 score involvements each.
Michael Frederick maintained a recent dynamite patch with three goals.
Port’s forward entries were less assured, although small Mitch Zadow kicked three goals and Jack Whitlock (1.3) continued to build towards the premium key forward he will become.
Given their outs, Port Adelaide coach Josh Carr will walk away buoyed by the 28-point loss.
The Dockers are now three games clear of second-placed Sydney with games remaining against the Eagles, the Western Bulldogs (home), Melbourne (away at the MCG), Adelaide (home) and Carlton (away) to come.
It’s not a long shot to expect them to three of those, given their dominance at home this season, and solid form on the road.
But the teams at the pointy end of the ladder are already well schooled in finals, and will be aware of the Dockers’ clearance trend.
