With both teams resting a lot of their star players, it was never going to be a match of the caliber of one of Fremantle's 5 Derby wins of the last two years, so no one was surprised with the slow start or the spasmodic nature of the game, particularly with the coaches rotating players like a game of three card monty.

There was a late night sale on at the local fat and tall shop so Fremantle couldn't organise a ruckman for the night (and their coach seemed to slip out way the back for a long time in the second quarter). In their place stepped Daniel Gilmore and Michael "Killer" Johnson. Surprisingly, it didn't seem to make much difference with Peter Bell still dominating in the centre and Andrew Browne refusing to give the coach a reason not to play him in Round 1. Dessy Headland bounced back after a quiet week at the slippery Dome and James Walker pushed the case for his selection, once again, making it even tougher to leave him out of the first 22. Troy Cook made his first appearance for 2007 with impressive results, looking as fit as buggering and providing the Solomon fans upstairs fodder for a few sleepless nights in the lead up to the opening round.

Shane Parker made his 2007 return as well, although it seemed that nobody told him he hadn't played for 5 months, stepping back in like the consummate professional he is. As always, Parker had a few new faces to work with. Garrick Ibbotson looks like another player to have rolled off the cool headed, attacking half back production line with Benet Copping a coat of paint short of rolling off himself. Robbie Haddrill did his bit to get through the game uninjured.

Of course, up forward is where all the attention is focused and Chris Tarrant was the man they'd all come to see. Unfortunately no one told that to Tarrant. He was there for a bit of a light run around and, being from Collingwood, a chance to stand in the middle of Subiaco Oval. He took a few marks, set up a couple of goals and returned to the changerooms better for the run.

The real stars of the night turned out to be a couple of unknowns. Adam Campbell may have wrestled the number 3 forward spot off of Ryan Murphy with a starring role up forward in Pavlich's absence. He lead well, marked strongly, roughed up any Hawthorn punks who didn't know better -  finishing the day with 3 goals and a lot of admirers.

Calib Mourish was the other player people left the ground talking about. Stepping in to replace Jeff Farmer who will be detained at the pleasure of the AFL for the next few weeks, he didn't let the fact that he was a number 77 draft pick playing in his second game of league footy anywhere, and his first in the AFL. He kicked 2 goals, one of them from an angle Farmer himself would have thought twice about shooting from (he would have thought twice, then kicked it).

But the talking point to come out of the game will be whether or not the AFL tribunal can hold its nerve with a big name player putting his hand up for some of their medieval style justice. Shane Crawford played like someone with a big contract but not much interest in playing the first couple of months of the season. He went on a rampage, starting a brawl when he tried to choke Ryley Dunn and then, in a Chris Judd like assault, tried to kill Peter Bell. Based on the 6 weeks handed out to Jeff Farmer, experts have Crawford's penalties at between nine and twelve weeks, although most expect the AFL to look the other way.

Fremantle will head over to Adelaide for their final scratch match of 2007, playing the Crows on Friday night at AAMI Stadium.

Scores

Fremantle 1.5 5.6 9.10 12.12 84 Hawthorn 0.3 5.5 6.7 9.9 63

Goals

Fremantle   A.Campbell 3   C.Mourish 2   G.Ibbotson 1   S.McManus 1   M.Carr 1   R.Murphy 1   P.Bell 1   T.Cook 1   A.Browne 1                     Hawthorn     T.Boyle 3   M.Little 2   J.Roughhead 2   X.Ellis 1   J.Morton 1

Guv'ner Medal Votes

Peter Bell 3 Adam Campbell 2 James Walker 1