The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
1. Jack Ziebell leads from the front
When the Freo Dockers challenged North Melbourne in the first half and drew level, it was Jack Ziebell who put the game back in the Kangaroos' hands. He had already won two centre clearances and when he was sent forward just before half-time he kicked two late goals from set shots to swing the game back in the home side’s favour. He then kicked the first goal of the final quarter with the game in the balance to give North Melbourne some breathing space. He finished the game with 26 disposals, eight clearances and four tackles to go with his three goals.
2. Basic errors are hurting Fremantle
If it wasn't a missed handball it was a missed shot at goal that kept Freo from making the most of their periods of ascendancy. In the first half the Freo Dockers had six handball clangers and several led to North Melbourne goals. But it was a defensive error midway through the third quarter – when Cameron Sutcliffe and Garrick Ibbotson spoiled each other going for a mark at the top of the Kangaroos' goal square – that was the low point. It happened just when Freo were threatening to take control and it cost them vital momentum. Add poor kicking for goal at times and it's easy to imagine the coach Ross Lyon being frustrated.
3. It’s a long road home for Freo
Fremantle has not lost the first four rounds of a season since 2009. It makes them long odds to make a fifth consecutive finals appearances as history suggests it's close to impossible to make the finals after losing your first four games. The only silver lining is that three of its losses have been to legitimate premiership contenders, the Western Bulldogs, West Coast and North Melbourne. By contrast North Melbourne has not won its first four games since 2005. It did make a fast start a pre-season objective and it has delivered. If it can continue the form it will be able to manage its list leading into the finals.
4. Fyfe and Pavlich's efforts not enough
The two Fremantle champions were excellent in the first half, alternating between the centre square and the forward 50. Pavlich changed the momentum of the game early when he swung into the middle and created the Dockers' first two goals while Nat Fyfe was productive whether inside 50 or trying to win a centre clearance. The pair had four goals and five clearances between them at half-time. Fyfe kept battling after half-time as Pavlich ran out of puff, but at the end of the game they had contributed six goals and 45 disposals between them.
5. Goldstein eventually prevailed over Griffin
The loss of Aaron Sandilands is huge for Fremantle but for three quarters Jonathan Griffin battled hard against the game's best ruckman, North Melbourne's Todd Goldstein. But midway through the third quarter Goldstein put the foot down and the Kangaroos began to take control of centre clearances. In the first 10 minutes of the last quarter, Goldstein won six of seven hitouts (three to advantage) as North Melbourne won six of the first seven clearances. Goldstein ended the game with 17 disposals but he stood tall with five disposals in the final quarter when the game needed to be won.
