CATS DOCKED BY LATE SUPER GOALS; PUBLIC MEMORIAL FOR PAUL COUCH
Ben Jensen 14 March 2016

GEELONG led all day but a couple late super goals by Fremantle helped the home team win the NAB Challenge match at Subiaco on Saturday, the Dockers winning by 12 points. The loss is pretty likely to come at a bigger cost with Nakia Cockatoo widely tipped to be facing a stint on the sidelines after a sling tackle on veteran Docker defender Michael Johnson. Johnson was listed as having concussion, while Bartel received a 'head knock' and took no further part in the game but according to Cats medicos was not concussed and is available for round one.

Meanwhile all are welcome at Simonds Stadium on Tuesday at 2:10PM for a public memorial service to farewell Paul Couch following a private service held late last week. Entry will be from 1PM, via Gate 10 behind the Premiership Stand (map).

It was also confirmed during the week that Jackson Thurlow's season is over, suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee last weekend against the Bombers in Shepparton. Thurlow has played 29 games since 2013, including 19 last season; 2016 was set to be another big year for the Tasmanian defender. He will be back though, at 21 having plenty of football ahead of him. Recruit Sam Menegola, who himself has had several major injuries in his fledgeling AFL career to date, has been confirmed as having suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury in the opening NAB Challenge match against Collingwood and should return 'early in the season'.

FREMANTLE: 0.2.3, 0.5.6, 0.7.9, 2.9.11 (83) DEFEATED
GEELONG: 0.3.2, 0.7.6, 0.9.8, 0.10.11 (71)

GOALS
FREMANTLE: Supergoals: Danyle Pearce, Weller Goals: Ballantyne 2, Taberner 2, Mayne 2, Walters, Bennell, Neale
GEELONG: Supergoals: Nil Goals: McCarthy 3, Dangerfield 2, Gregson, Duncan, Guthrie, Vardy, Kersten

BEST
FREMANTLE: Neale, Bennell, Johnson, Barlow, Hill
GEELONG: Dangerfield, Taylor, Guthrie, McCarthy, Motlop

INJURIES
FREMANTLE: Johnson (concussion), Spurr (hamstring tightness)
GEELONG: Bartel (head knock)

REPORTS: Nakia Cockatoo for rough conduct on Michael Johnson in the fourth quarter

UMPIRES: Bannister, Dalgleish, Farmer, Schmitt

CROWD: 8,624 at Domain (Subiaco) Stadium, Perth