Live Updates: Indigenous All Stars take on Fremantle Dockers in AFL season curtain raiser
Footy’s back with a blast from the past as the Indigenous All Stars return for the first time in 10 years to take on Fremantle in what is set to be an electric curtain raiser for the AFL season.
Follow all the action live below, with bouncedown set for 4.30pm.
Wrapping up
That concludes our coverage of a great day at Optus Stadium, with nearly 40,000 in the house!
Stay tuned to the website for all the aftermath and plenty more in the lead-up to the new season, and we’ll see you next time.
FREO’S BEST FIVE
Dockers fans won’t want to dwell on too many negatives, given we’re only in mid February!
Here’s our pick of the five Freo players who impressed despite the heavy defeat.
ANALYSIS
And here’s Craig O’Donoghue’s analysis, lamenting some of Freo’s fringe players being largely unable to make the most of their chance to stake a claim for selection today.
Jy Simpkin is the Polly Farmer medalist!
30 disposals and a goal.
He also explained the emotion behind his goal celebration revealing his pop passed over Christmas and his final words to him were ‘when you kick your next goal’ give us a shout and let me know.
The Beauty of football
FULL TIME ALL STARS 16.12 (108) FRE 9.11 (65)
Jye Amiss adds a late goal but the All Stars come away easy winners.
There speed and class was well known but what was most impressive was their defensive pressure that never let the Dockers have time or space.
A 43-point win and a great spectacle for the more than 37,000 fans came out tonight.
Tim Kelly with a goal
A nice moment for the Eagles man who was so candid during the week.
Hopefully he enjoyed that one as he shoots one through from 40m and his team gets aroudn him.
Willie Rioli grabs a late goal
He’s no stranger to Optus Stadium after Brandon Walker fails to take a mark cleanly at half-back and is immediately set upon by the All Stars attack.
They win the ball and Rioli had sprinted out the back to kick a goal from the sqaure.
It’s a 42-point lead for the All Stars.
Liam Ryan’s on the board
Liam Reidy gives away 50 by bowling him over after he takes the mark. Things get fiery with Simpkin having a few words and there’s a bit of push and shove as a melee threatens to break out.
Ryan calmly slots the goal from about 30m out.
Jackson goals
The ruck forward wins a free after being blocked out of the contest and sneaks it through from about 20m out.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails