The Dockers are doing so much right, so why isn’t it reflected on the scoreboard?

Waalitj Marawar’s (West Coast’s) victory over Narrm (Melbourne) came as a big surprise to many in the footy world.

And while it is clearly their best win in 2024, it is also without a doubt their best all-round team performance in many seasons.

Yes, Harley Reid again stole the headlines, kicking goals for fun out of the middle and planting fend-offs on modern-day stars Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver. But all over the park, on every line they had winners.

It was a well executed team plan to block and physically impact Max Gawn at any opportunity.

But they also displayed a brilliant balance of control and chaos football, with marks key to their upset 35-point result.

Waalitj Marawar recorded a massive 111 marks, 10 more than their previous best this year and 25 more than their average.

Harley Reid and the Eagles celebrate a goal.

They had a remarkable 50 more than Narrm, just the third time they’d achieved a positive return this season, the two others being +12 against Sydney and +7 against Fremantle. This allowed them to control the tempo while denying Narrm the ball.

Defenders Liam Duggan, Brady Hough (9), Tom Barras and Jeremy McGovern (8) were all prolific, while forward Jake Waterman (13) was the biggest beneficiary, booting five goals from a dominant 56-35 inside 50 count.

While control helped them to a lopsided mark tally and aided territory, Waalitj Marawar’s pressure and tackling intent was another highlight.

Narrm actually had more tackles, but Waalitj Marawar’s forward-half pressure was elite: 22 of their 59 tackles – almost 40 per cent – came in the forward 50, a figure three times their season average. And it was a veteran leading the way.

Jack Darling laid a career-high 12 tackles in his 287th game, 209 games after his only other double-figure return (10) a decade ago.

Two tackles in the first 2½ minutes of the third term resulted in Waalitj Marawar goals, opening up a four-goal margin.

The 31-year-old was well and truly rewarded for his effort, with the three goals his best return of the season.

Walyalup are doing so much right – except in front of goal

On Saturday, Walyalup (Fremantle) banked an important win, their third road success of the season against Euro-Yroke (St Kilda).

It was never going to be a pretty, free-flowing, high-scoring affair against Ross Lyon’s men.

However, as the former Walyalup coach would say, “the trend is your friend”. It’s a trend Walyalup need to rectify, and quickly.

A half-hour horror show in front of goals threatened to wipe away Walyalup’s overall stranglehold of the contest, finishing with 9.18, a week after 4.15.

They booted nine consecutive behinds from mid-way through the third term, butchering opportunity after opportunity.

Jye Amiss celebrates after scoring a goal.

With scores level at the final change, Walyalup bounced out of the blocks with the first seven inside-50s of the final term, adding only three points, all from shots with high goal potential.

The breakthrough major came from Josh Treacy, courtesy of a horrible Euro-Yroke turnover after, ironically, a Walyalup missed goal.

Surprisingly, it was young gun Jye Amiss who struggled more than most as his second-quarter jitters became infectious.

Considered one of the best set shots and accurate goalkickers in the competition, Amiss’ radar was amiss, and he finished with two goals, five behinds.

Walyalup are doing so much right.

Again they came out clearly on top in the midfield battle and had the game played on their terms and in their half, yet they were unable to have their superiority reflected on the scoreboard.

They’ll quickly need to straighten up before a Friday night blockbuster against Collingwood.

The defending champions have regained their mojo, undefeated in their past seven matches.

They’re a formidable opponent, one which will make you pay if you don’t take your chances when they present themselves.

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