After The Game With Snaps Truly - Rd 2 2026 V Melbourne

I was thrilled to be back at Optus. The over complicated, over explained change of entry practice, now via one’s digital wallet ONLY – no screenshots – did have me hankering for the days of the proudly swinging lanyard, but frankly it was a breeze.

We took our seats, acknowledged the familiar around us, and welcomed the new. Sadly, I can confirm the sad news Mrs Enid Grimbergen was killed by hope during the off season. However, a splendid woman named Amy has come off the rookie list to replace her.

As you know, footy today is played with an accompanying soundtrack of endlessly cliched Sweet Carolines “dumb dumb dumb” and almost heaven, West Virginias …

So what a thrill it was to see a lone piper – there should never be more than one – standing alongside our resident rocker, Troy Nababan and pouring out a thrilling “Long Way to the Top” from their position very near to it.

And on a warm March afternoon underneath a brilliant blue sky, Freo started as they did against Geelong the week earlier, only this time a fast start did not result in an early finish.

It was breathtakingly good. If you haven’t seen it or perhaps have only a few hours left to live, just watch the first and third quarters and you will die happy.

Freo let fly from the outset – A Brayshaw bomb, a long-range goal on the run from Johnson; Shai Bolton, playing one of his best games for the club, exploding from outside 50 and, in all the moments in between, Josh Treacy kept pulling down big marks and kicking goals.

Stunning stuff. A seven goal to one first quarter and a 42-point lead.

Of course Melbourne were going to respond in the second and they did. Freo fumbled the footy and fiddled about with it so much, memories of last week at the Cattery loomed large. Patrick Voss kept bumping into the furniture, Jye Amiss again kicked into the man on the mark, at which point my daughter, Snaps Jnr observed wryly that both might enjoy more success should the Prancing Pony think a bit more and Jye perhaps think a bit less.

Fortunately, Sam Switkowski kicked a late one and the enormously hard working Dogga got the ball to Treacy who kicked another just before the half. The lead 31 points.

I saw later that JL was pretty cross about the abandonment of the game plan in that second term, but unlike the match against Geelong, Freo responded superbly.

A sensational below the knees pick up from Treacy sent Dudley on his way to goal and towards the best quarter of football he has played in his young career.

Moments later he was on a half back flank making a terrific lunging tackle.

Shai Bolton too was devastating. Either around the middle or bouncing through space across half forward. He kicked another beauty and so again did Treacy.

Melbourne were in pieces. Serong, well held all day, snapped from a stoppage and then Dudley kicked two in a couple of minutes to effectively seal the issue.

Freo 67 points clear.

(You can probably spool through the rest of it from here, bar a couple of moments I will get to shortly.)

Melbourne kicked four goals to one in the final term. Yeh, whatever.

The aforementioned hinted at moments concerned The Prancing Pony – who when I watched the match replay did almost nothing at all, except rub Harrison Petty’s bald spot in an act of not at all hilarious unkindness and then picked up former Freo favourite Ed Langdon and carried him above his head out of the field of play like some professional wrestler ready to throw his opponent into the first row of seats.

I’ll be honest, the crowd roared and laughed, and Ed had the good grace not to take offence, but Voss is a professional footballer not a professional wrestler. He was also the beneficiary of great Josh Treacy largesse all day. And in the final term Treacy kept looking for him to try to bring him into the game, but his efforts were not rewarded.

Patrick will do well to remember what he’s out there for. I’m sure someone will have a quiet word this week.

The only personal disappointment on a day of great dash and imagination?

Well, let me be blunt. The not quite as receptive as they should have been, audience around me.

So delighted was I at the complete demolition of Melbourne I let this one fly during the third quarter.

“Stephen King knows a horror story when he sees it!’

Nothing.

I tried again a few minutes later.

“Nothing but Misery for Stephen King!”

And after Isaiah Dudley’ s sensational three goals in the term, this …

“Here’s Isaiah!” I even did it with the menacing Jack Nicholson twang.

Less than nothing.

Doesn’t anyone read books anymore? And sure the Melbourne coach spells his name with a ‘v’ and not a ‘ph’ but really …?

Anyway, Richmond next week.

A win is certain. You can put that in the book. Then may I suggest it be read.

Yours truly

Snaps Truly

* By our multi-talented and amazingly insightful footy scribe, SNAPS TRULY. Snaps has seen and done it all. He may or may not have been a fringe player at Fremantle. Don’t miss Snaps’ report after each Freo Dockers match here on the Shipping News throughout the 2026 season.

~ You’ll find more Snaps Truly right here.

~ If you’d like to COMMENT on this or any of our stories, don’t hesitate to email our Editor.

~ WHILE YOU ARE HERE –