1. The Eagles were looking to respond after a disappointing effort against St Kilda the previous week. The focus was around vastly improved pressure around the ball and that was evident early as the midfield looked to minimise the opportunities for Fremantle to freewheel out of the middle. The centre clearances were split at 12 apiece during an absorbing contest where the Dockers eventually withstood the challenge and sustained their method for longer.

2. It’s hard to imagine a teenager being more ready for the high intensity of the derby than Harley Reid. He copped plenty of attention on the field and from the other side of the fence and relished it. Reid was arguably best afield in the first half and finished with 29 possessions, six inside 50s, 15 contested possessions, 10 clearances, 12 pressure acts and 423 metres gained. They are remarkable numbers for a young man just 16 games into his career.

3. Before Fremantle eventually kicked away, set up by a dominant third quarter, this loomed as one of the great RAC Derbies. The pressure factor was in the elite range with the Eagles at 1.89 for the match and the Dockers maintaining their output at 1.97. The Eagles wanted to hit key performance indicators around the contest and their tackling which was 61-64 compared to Fremantle. After no inside 50 tackles against the Saints they managed 10-14 in the arc.

4. Tim Kelly looks to have shaken off the effects of hip and knee injuries and was again prominent in this battle. He set the tone with a wonderful tackle and goal on Nat Fyfe in the first quarter and continued to have a strong influence throughout. Kelly had a team-high 32 possessions, 18 of them contested, 5 clearances, six tackles and 353 metres gained. With Elliot Yeo and Harley Reid he fought hard through the midfield.

5. The Eagles continue to experiment with their list, throwing 100-game premiership defender Tom Cole onto a wing. Cole, who played midfield in his formative years, enjoyed the refreshing run around up the ground and racked up 26 possessions, nine of them contested, and gained 418 metres for his team. He was involved in the rotation with Jack Hutchinson, who continues to grow, and Ryan Maric.