Glen Quartermain: Fremantle Dockers deliver on Justin Longmuir’s promise to bin ‘vanilla’ brand of football

From vanilla to all the colours of the rainbow. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir promised a more exciting brand to the one the Dockers produced in their thumping defeat to the Indigenous All Stars. In their last scratch match before their round one opener against Geelong, there was still blandness at times in terms of ball handling and kicking and a third-quarter stoppage spanking, but there were also some tasty temptations of tutti fruiti, peppermint, strawberry and a cherry on top in the form of Shai Bolton. In his first appearance in purple against another AFL team, dual premiership Tiger Bolton showed he doesn’t need to amass big possession numbers to have an impact. Just as he did at Tigerland, Bolton got forward of the ball into space. A goal on the quarter time siren from stoppage was classical Bolton: a broken tackle and snap. His second came from a set shot deep in the second when he accepted a long kick from a busy Nathan O’Driscoll in the pocket. His clean hands late in the final term set up Luke Jackson’s second. It’s clear he’ll be a game changer for the Dockers. There was plenty to like heading into the season proper. The 19-point victory underlined Fremantle’s greater effiency in attack from 29 scoring shots to Melbourne’s 35. Longmuir would be happy with their ruthless forward-50 work, scoring 7.2 from intercept possessions in that area of the ground. The ruck question is still up in the air. Jackson kicked two goals from 18 possessions and while Liam Reidy battled valiantly, Demon Max Gawn had 46 hitouts to his 17. Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong were omnipresent in the midfield, Josh Treacy built confidence as the game wore on as hunter-gatherer forward target. Winger Nathan O’Driscoll was a catalyst of Freo’s five-goal second term and while he still has work to do on his delivery, no player has more penetration with the boot. He finished with two goals himself and seven score assists. Veteran Michael Walters left his spot in the 23 in no doubt for round one with an energetic display up forward, with three goals. In defence Jordan Clark and Luke Ryan were the rebound kings, while Corey Wagner had 678 metres gained and Heath Chapman 558, but the Fremantle back half will look steadier when Alex Pearce returns for round one. Sam Switkowski returned from concussion protocols and completed the game while Murphy Reid staked a claim for a round one AFL debut. Apart from an early turnover, Reid looked composed with the ball in hand and looks AFL ready. The problem will be breaking into a side with such depth. For Melbourne, Christian Petracca made his first appearance for the Demons against another AFL team following last year’s horror run with injury and finished with 33 possessions and nine clearances, including the first one of the game. Fellow mid Clayton Oliver looks to have put his demons behind him, kicking three goals from 28 possessions, 11 clearances and 588 metres gained.