Round 5, 2000
Fremantle vs Melbourne
Saturday 8 April
Venue: WACA
Attendance: 20,484
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Fremantle | 5.3 | 6.10 | 8.13 | 10.15.75 |
| Melbourne | 1.3 | 4.11 | 10.15 | 14.22.106 |
Melbourne win by 29 points
Goalkickers: David Schwarz 3, Brent Grgic 2, James McDonald 2, Adem Yze 2, Ben Beams 1, Jeff Farmer 1, Russell Robertson 1, Peter Walsh 1.
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Jeff White
2 - Shane Woewodin
1 - Andrew Leoncelli
Best and Fairest
34 - Shane Woewodin
28.5 - Steven Febey
26.5 - Cameron Bruce
26 - Jeff White
20 - Peter Walsh
Statistical categories led:
Biggest win and highest score at the WACA
Melbourne's last game at the WACA venue showed that they had bounced back from their traumatic 1999 season to be the real deal in 2000. The Dockers bounced out of the blocks early, and after Tony Modra booted three goals in five minutes of the first quarter it looked as if it was going to be a repeat of his demolition job in Round 10, 1999, but after that he added just two more for the match. Debutant Matthew Pavlich booted two goals with his first two kicks in league football, forcing Neale Daniher to send David Neitz onto him.
Four goals down at quarter time Daniher blasted his troops, and even though Freo held a 29 point lead in the second term, a Cameron Bruce and Shane Woewodin led recovery helped Melbourne seized control in the midfield and boot 10 of the next 14 goals to storm home. The change in the game coincided with Fremantle taking Daniel Bandy off David Schwarz and sending him on the ball. Schwarz broke free in the absence of Bandy, while at the other end David Neitz comfortably beat Clive Waterhouse and left Freo focusing entirely on five goal Tony Modra.
It was Melbourne's fifth straight win in a last quarter for the season. Woewodin had 17 touches in the first half and 16 in the second. James McDonald also won plaudits for clamping down on the dangerous Dale Kickett after the Freo player had dominated early.
Neale Daniher criticised the game being played at 8pm Western Australia time, equating to 10pm Eastern Standard Time.
Woewodin, White and Schwarz were best. Marcus Seecamp was a late withdrawal with a back injury.
Media
Herald Sun - 10/04/2000
Age - 10/04/2000
Canberra Times - 12/04/2000