Jackson limps off as Demons beat Dockers

Melbourne will be sweating on the fitness of Luke Jackson after the emerging star limped off late in the Demons’ 46-point AFL win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

Demons midfielder Jack Viney starred with 33 disposals and Bayley Fritsch and Kysaiah Pickett kicked three goals each to lift the defending premiers to the 12.13 (85) to 5.9 (39) win in front of 46,313 fans on Friday night.

Melbourne’s 14th victory of the season ensured they will be at least a win clear of fifth spot by the end of the round.

But the win was tempered by the sight of Jackson slowly making his way to the change rooms with just two minutes remaining in the match.

Kysaiah Pickett celebrates a goal with Luke Jackson. Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Jackson, who is considering a switch to Fremantle next season, appeared to favour his heavily strapped right knee at times during the match.

The 20-year-old looms as a crucial part of Melbourne’s bid to win back-to-back flags, and the Demons will be hoping Jackson’s setback on Friday is nothing serious.

Fremantle could drop to as low as seventh by Sunday, leaving their top-four hopes hanging in the balance.

Even if the Dockers beat the Western Bulldogs, West Coast, and GWS in their remaining three matches, they will require some other results to fall their way in order to snare the double chance come finals time.

More questions will also be asked of Fremantle’s inability to play well in wet and slippery conditions, with the Dockers’ ball movement stagnant for most of the night against Melbourne.

Fremantle tagger James Aish did a solid job on Clayton Oliver, restricting the star onballer to 21 disposals and five clearances while tallying 28 possessions and seven clearances of his own.

Aish also kept Oliver to 12 second-half disposals when the Dockers ended Melbourne’s 17-match winning run in round 11.

But despite the Demons lacking the usual punch from Oliver, they boasted so many other winners around the ground that it didn’t even matter.

Christian Petracca, Viney and Angus Brayshaw dominated the midfield battle, while Fritsch capitalised up forward when the game was up for grabs.

Fremantle’s stagnant ball movement meant their forwards hardly got a look in.

Even when they did, Matt Taberner and Rory Lobb were ineffective, with Griffin Logue left to do much of the heavy lifting as a key target.

The Demons gave up 110 points against the Bulldogs last week, but they were back to their stingy best against Fremantle, with the likes of Steven May, Jake Lever, Harrison Petty, and Michael Hibberd rocks in defence.

The rain hit two minutes into the match, and Melbourne adapted well to the slippery conditions to boot the opening three goals.

Fremantle used their pace to score two quick goals once the conditions dried, but Fritsch’s second goal of the term gave the Demons a 13-point lead at quarter time.

Petracca was left fuming when he received what looked to be an off-the-ball kidney punch from Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy.

The star Demons midfielder remonstrated with Darcy at the next play, and some of his teammates joined in.

The inside 50m count read 36-16 in Melbourne’s favour at halftime, with Fremantle lucky the margin wasn’t bigger than 27 points.

Logue booted the opening goal of the third quarter, but from there it was all one-way traffic as Melbourne cruised to victory.