Fyfe to come under scrutiny
FREMANTLE captain Nat Fyfe will come under AFL video review, capping a horror afternoon for the Dockers after Collingwood belted them by 61 points.
The Magpies are on a three-game winning streak and consolidated their top-eight berth with yesterday’s 21.12 (138) to 12.5 (77) win at the MCG. Fyfe is the Brownlow Medal favourite, but was among several Dockers midfielders who had minimal impact.
He is also in the match review spotlight for a crude high elbow on Levi Greenwood during the third quarter.
Fyfe will probably avoid suspension, given Greenwood was back on his feet immediately after the incident.
Collingwood outclassed the young Dockers, who had seven players in their line-up yesterday with 10 games or less experience.
Fremantle made six changes for the game, four of them unforced, and were missing veterans such as Aaron Sandilands, Bradley and Stephen Hill and Hayden Ballantyne.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley will be angry given that Fremantle kicked four of the last six goals, reducing the margin from a high of 78 points.
But the Magpies’ scoring has long been one of their biggest issues and this is the first time they have reached 20 goals in a game since round five, 2016.
Collingwood boosted its percentage by six points and they improved from eighth to seventh as they try to make the finals for the first time since 2013, Buckley’s second season as coach.
With Collingwood midfielders Taylor Adams, Steele Sidebottom and Tom Phillips dominating and Brodie Grundy on top in the ruck, the Dockers’ defence was under siege throughout the game.
The Fremantle defenders battled manfully, but inevitably the dam wall broke after half-time.
Will Hoskin-Elliott led the way among the Magpies forwards with six goals, a career best.
Body Mihocek also impressed on debut for the Magpies, kicking four goals.