Josh Treacy has kicked a career-high five goals as Fremantle overpowered a Shai Bolton-inspired Richmond to post a 51-point AFL win at Optus Stadium.
Treacy kicked three goals in the opening term of Saturday night’s match and finished with 5.0, 16 disposals, nine marks and 484-metres gained as the Dockers eased to a 16.9 (105) to 7.12 (54) win.
The result kept Fremantle (10-5-1) in third spot, while Richmond (2-14) are rock bottom following North Melbourne’s shock four-point win over Gold Coast earlier in the day.
Bolton kicked his third and fourth goals early in the third quarter as Richmond twice closed to within 18 points.
But Fremantle kicked the next six to cruise to victory in front of 42,690 fans.
Dockers ruckman Sean Darcy was subbed out at halftime after being concussed late in the second term, allowing Luke Jackson (21 disposals, nine tackles) more time to show his athleticism in the middle.
The concussion means Darcy will miss next week’s clash with Hawthorn in Launceston.
Dockers defender Josh Draper is also an injury concern after he suffered a corked leg when clattered into during a second-quarter marking contest.
Tigers skipper Toby Nankervis finished with 26 disposals, 36 hitouts, seven tackles, 11 clearances and one goal in a performance full of heart.
But Fremantle’s weight of numbers proved too hard to match, with Treacy cashing in up forward.
“He’s turned himself into a really good key forward,” Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said.
“He doesn’t shy away from physicality, which he his teammates love
“I’m really proud of him. To see his growth and the way he’s worked on his game, the way he’s been really disciplined and sacrificed and to see him get the rewards is great.”
Richmond scored the opening two goals of the match, via Bolton and Nankervis, but the remainder of the first quarter was the Treacy show as the bustling forward kicked three majors in the rain.
Treacy’s first two goals came from marks and his third courtesy of a free kick against new Richmond recruit Jacob Blight.
Fremantle dominated most of the key stats to take a deserved 15-point lead into quarter-time, and Richmond only had themselves to blame as the margin swelled to 24 by halftime.
The Tigers controlled territory for large parts of the second quarter but they kicked a wasteful 1.5 to Fremantle’s 3.2.
“That second quarter was one of our worst quarters of the year,” Longmuir said.
Bolton was unstoppable early in the third, with his two quick goals giving the Dockers a scare.
But Fremantle wrestled back momentum soon after, with two goals to sub Michael Walters and other majors to Treacy, Jye Amiss and Michael Frederick extending the margin to 46 points by the final change.
Bolton’s radar went haywire after kicking his fourth, but coach Adem Yze was still proud of his efforts.
“He was a part of the reason why we were still in the game,” Yze said of Bolton, who finished with 4.3 from 17 disposals.
“He’s had ample shots on goal and probably could have kicked five or six.”