Pavlich prepares for All-Australian snub

Updated September 17, 2012 15:53:24

Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich has sparked speculation he is to be overlooked for this year's All-Australian team.

The inspirational Dockers captain revealed he was not invited to tonight's awards, while team-mate Luke McPharlin was and made the trip to Melbourne today.

Pavlich, who has won All-Australian honours on six occasions, finished with 62 regular season goals and kicked another seven during the finals including a virtuoso display in Fremantle's upset over Geelong.

The 30-year-old played 21 games this season, averaging 17.4 disposals per game and 6.3 marks.

He also finished fourth in the competition for goal assists.

"Individual awards and what not aren't what I play footy for, it's about the team success and it's not a focus," Pavlich said.

"I'm sure externally there might be some comments about it. I'm just looking forward to having a break and getting ready for next year."

Pavlich also confirmed he will undergo off-season operations to repair injuries.

Pavlich will have hip and Achilles surgery, which is expected to keep him out of full preseason training for six to eight weeks.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, wa, perth-6000

First posted September 17, 2012 15:03:51

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Pavlich stars as Dockers give Cats the heave-ho

Raman Goraya

Updated September 09, 2012 10:38:28

Geelong's five-year finals dominance came apart in the space of one quarter as the reigning premiers fell victim to a 16-point boilover at the hands of Fremantle on Saturday night.

The well-drilled Dockers jumped the stunned Cats from the opening bounce to open up a 36-point quarter-time advantage, before holding on to register a famous 14.12 (96) to 11.14 (80) victory and seal a semi-final against the Crows in Adelaide next Friday night.

Meanwhile, Geelong's empire, built on five consecutive preliminary final appearances and three premierships, was reduced to rubble as the Cats were dealt their earliest elimination from a finals series since 2000.

"We have proven over a short period of time now that our way of football will stand up against anyone," Dockers midfielder Ryan Crowley told Grandstand after his side's first finals win away from home.

"As long as we bring that every week I don't see why we can't beat anyone."

Central to the shock win was Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich, who led the MCG assault with three first-term goals, ending his club's most memorable triumph with nine marks and six majors.

Two of those came at crucial junctures early in the third quarter when Geelong brought the margin back to 20 points after booting six of eight goals either side of half-time.

The inspirational skipper, who spent time on the bench late in the contest with a leg injury, was on hand to kick his sixth and the sealer in the dying minutes when the battling Cats got within three goals.

"He is amazing," Crowley said of Pavlich's performance.

"He is one of those guys, when you are on the field you get stuck looking at him.

"I've seen him play some amazing games but that will have to be up there with the best."

Fremantle's midfield run and fierce pressure laid the foundation for the upset, reducing the Cats' kicking efficiency to 46.2 per cent in the telling opening term and helping stretch the margin to 48 points in the second.

Michael Barlow topped the possession count with 27 disposals and 11 tackles, while he had another 11 team-mates who registered 15 or more touches.

The master tactics of coach Ross Lyon helped the Dockers lock Geelong inside its own defensive half, holding the Cats to eight inside 50s entries and zero marks inside 50 before quarter time.

Crowley said Lyon's game plan and expectations of his players has brought a harder edge to the Dockers.

"He likes guys that do a role, and I think once you start seeing the results of those roles and when you execute it, it makes it easier to sacrifice yourself for the team," Crowley said, adding he probably would have been traded if not for Lyon's arrival at the start of this season.

"He has brought a harder edge to us and a professionalism that I've probably not seen at my time at Freo."

Key Geelong forward Tom Hawkins, who booted 62 goals during the home and away season, was hardly sighted in the opening half, a result of a Fremantle's stifling midfield and organised defence.

Adam McPhee stepped in to fill the role of injured veteran Luke McPharlin with 11 marks and 18 possessions, his impact resulting in Hawkins finishing goalless with just two scoring shots and three marks.

In contrast, Pavlich and forward partners Hayden Ballantyne (three goals), Michael Waters (two goals) and Chris Mayne caused havoc amongst a uncharacteristically lethargic Cats defensive unit.

Harry Taylor was well below his best while a forlorn Matthew Scarlett left the field for the last time after 284 games for the Cats.

Dockers: 14.12 (96) - M Pavlich 6, H Ballantyne 3, M Waters 2, R Crowley, M De Boer, C Pearce.

Cats: 11.14 (80) - A Mackie 2, J Hunt 2, A Christensen, M Duncan, S Motlop, J Selwood, M Stokes, H Taylor, N Vardy.

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, geelong-3220, vic, australia, fremantle-6160, wa

First posted September 08, 2012 22:23:30

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Pavlich kicks milestone goal in Dockers win

Updated May 13, 2012 20:46:28

Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich kicked his 500th career goal, as the Dockers overpowered Port Adelaide by 40 points at Subiaco to break into the top eight.

The loss was Port Adelaide's sixth defeat in a row, putting more pressure on embattled coach Matthew Primus.

The Power started strongly, attempting to draw a line under the proverbial week from hell since its insipid performance against Richmond last weekend.

But after taking an early lead, Port Adelaide produced a very patchy display, with a lot of skill errors.

The Power was still just in the contest at three-quarter time, despite Fremantle having 22 scoring shots to 10 at that point.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon delivered a ferocious spray to his players at the final break, and the message stuck, as his team kicked four goals to one in the final term to seal the win.

Port captain Domenic Cassisi told Grandstand his team had tried to remain focused despite what he called "a tough week".

"Today I thought our efffort, our contested stuff was pretty good," Cassisi said.

"What really let us down was our skill level once again, so we need to keep working on that - until we can tidy that up, we are going to make life pretty hard for ourselves."

Following the Richmond game, which Port Adelaide lost by 37 points at Football Park, the Power received a barrage of criticism with some media outlets saying it was time for Primus to go.

On Sunday Cassisi defended Port Adelaide's start to the year, despite the setbacks.

"We thought prior to last week, the 10 weeks we had including the NAB Cup were more than capable," he said.

"Last week was totally unacceptable, the criticism we copped was probably a little bit over the top but we've just got to move on."

The highlight of the match came with five minutes left in the match, as a mark in the left forward pocket gave Pavlich a chance to reach the milestone.

He did not disappoint, kicking truly to prompt a huge roar and a standing ovation from the home crowd.

Pavlich becomes the 51st AFL / VFL player to reach 500 goals.

He is now the third highest active goalkicker in the AFL, behind only St Kilda's Stephen Milne (501) and Brisbane's Johnathan Brown (504).

The Dockers now face another tough trip to Tasmania to play Hawthorn at York Park.

Fremantle defender Michael Johnson told Grandstand that the Dockers were beginning to adapt to coach Ross Lyon's new game style.

"(The style) is a lot more defence, getting the defence right and working from there," Johnson said.

"The only thing letting us down right now is the midfield clearances ... but the guys are getting more used to the game plan (Lyon) brought over, we're 5-2, the guys are pretty happy at the moment."

Dockers: 12.15 (87) - Pavlich 4, Mayne 3, Crowley, Ballantyne, Pearce, De Boer, Sandilands.

Port: 7.5 (47) - Butcher 2, Broadbent 2, P Stewart, Westhoff, Ebert.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, wa, subiaco-6008

First posted May 13, 2012 19:51:45

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Pavlich not worried by heavy loss

Posted May 9, 2011 22:24:00

Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich has urged the club's fans not to "jump at shadows" following Saturday's AFL loss to Richmond, claiming the heavy defeat was a mere aberration.

Fremantle (4-2) slid to sixth on the table following the 49-point defeat to the Tigers but Pavlich said the club remained on track for a bright season and would bounce back in Sunday's western derby against arch rivals West Coast.

"Let's not jump at shadows here, we're going OK," Pavlich said on Monday. "The weekend, we think, is an aberration.

"We need to get back on the horse straight away and there's no better way than playing a derby.

"We understand that it's going to be probably the hardest game of the year that we've played to date, West Coast in their home derby.

"We just need to get back to playing the brand of football that we've been renowned for the past 30 weeks.

"It's vital that we get back on that horse and play the brand we're known for.

"We'll be desperately training hard this week to get that right."

Forward Hayden Ballantyne (hamstring) is in some doubt to take on the Eagles, but midfielder Nat Fyfe (shoulder) and forward Kepler Bradley (shin) are expected to play.

Pavlich said former Collingwood forward Jack Anthony, who has been in solid form in the WAFL, would be worthy of selection if given the chance against the Eagles.

"It wouldn't be a risk at all (to select him). Jack's been tremendous in the WAFL," Pavlich said.

"He's been first class since he arrived at the football club in terms of his work ethic and his desire.

"We're confident that if he does get picked he'll fill a role really well."

Fremantle kicked a wayward 14.15 against the Tigers and Pavlich conceded the club's inaccuracy in front of goal needed to be addressed.

"The accuracy (this year) has been an issue," Pavlich said.

"A lot of teams would measure how many forward 50 tackles they get, how much time is spent percentage wise in their forward half as compared to the opposition.

"You might sacrifice the efficiency and/or the accuracy to ensure that the ball stays inside your half of the ground so you're more chance to score.

"We're certainly getting a lot of supply down there, but it's about being as efficient as we were last year."

And with a handful of key players still out injured, Pavlich said the club's younger brigade needed to consistently stand tall.

"We need to spread the load a lot better," Pavlich said.

"By virtue of the fact that we've got six or seven of our best 18 out we need them standing up week-in, week-out."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, wa, fremantle-6160, perth-6000

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Pavlich, Harvey contest the ball

 Published:Sunday, April 17, 2011 8:16 AEST

Matthew Pavlich and Brent Harvey contest a boundary throw-in during the round four AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Patersons Stadium on April 17, 2011 in Perth.

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