However, nerves, pressure, or a concentration lapse resulted in a spilt mark, the Blues able to force a stoppage, and another opportunity.

At the next two throw-ups, Luke Jackson was able to get first hands on the ball.

Keeping it close and in tight was his job, to ensure it didn’t escape the stoppage congestion.

He did this for the first two stoppages, helping take time off the clock; but on the third, with no ruck opponent, he aggressively spiked it into increased space and George Hewett pounced, kicking the ball into the lap of Cottrell, who was wrongly awarded the mark.

They were two moments where Fremantle had the right structures in place, but couldn’t complete the task, ultimately paying a very heavy price.

Harley Reid’s breathtaking first goal

He may only be 18 and four games into his career, but Harley Reid is doing very little to dull the hype.

On Saturday, with the Adelaide hills as his backdrop, the kid from country Victoria deployed beast mode, displaying the traits which are quickly seeing him being compared to the game’s best midfielders.

While every player’s first goal in the competition is special, Reid’s was breathtaking.
Left one-out in attack, he made Swans defender Lewis Mellican, with 10 years experience, look like a school footballer.

Winning the ball, he swiftly swung onto his left foot, calmly slotting his first major in Eagles colours – and his celebration, passionately grabbing his jumper, brought pure delight to West Coast supporters.

But it’s his power, poise and aggressiveness which is elevating his name.

Reid broke an incredible seven tackles against the Swans, just one off the all-time record set in a match by future AFL Hall of Fame-er Dustin Martin and Kangaroos bull Luke Davies-Uniacke.

To add further context, Reid stands alone this tally for the entire league.

He’s the only player to have registered double figures with his 11 broken tackles, two more than premiership Demon Christian Petracca and the Magpies’ Jordan De Goey, and with Davies-Uniacke and Lion Hugh McCluggage on eight.

Reid’s stat sheet on Saturday read 18 touches, seven tackles, six score involvements and a goal.

Impressive yes, but the manner in which he did it was at another level.

It was on a level far superior and certainly not seen or expected by players with a handful of games’ experience, and one which is certain to earn him the Round 4 Rising Star nomination.

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