I thought the big factor in that first quarter was the effort the Freo players made to stay in the contest. They weren't always really clean with their hands but they would work to keep their feet, or stretch to get a hand on the ball, or hold on to the ball for an extra second and wear a hit do their team mate could get to a better position.
I don't think that's as effective against the top teams because they don't give you that extra half a chance but it's the difference with other middle of the ladder teams
