Master niggler Hayden Ballantyne turned match winner on Saturday as he booted six goals to power Fremantle to a 20-point AFL win over Richmond.
Nursing a tight calf, it wasn’t so much Ballantyne’s career-best haul that stood out but rather the relentless pressure.
Ballantyne, cleared by the tribunal earlier in the week, laid three tackles and forced a handful of turnovers while chasing the Tigers all over the park.
“His pressure was outstanding,” Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.
“A couple of times across half forward, when we thought we were out, he got us.”
Teammate Paul Duffield paid tribute to the way the 26-year-old hunted the opposition with whippet-like speed and terrier-like intent.
“I play on him a bit at training. I know how hard he works and how fast he is,” Duffield said.
“That’s why he’s such a good player, and it was good to see him get the rewards on the scoreboard.”
Ballantyne also booted three goals against the Western Bulldogs and Geelong in rounds 11 and 9 respectively.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon agreed he was becoming more of a target in the absence of goal-sneak Michael Walters, who underwent ankle surgery in April.
“He had a tight calf all week, was really sore coming off. But he finds a way – he’s a beauty,” Lyon said.
“He doesn’t sit in the formal leadership group, but he’s a real team leader and driver.”
Lyon was happy to bank four more premiership points following a six-day turnaround, but played downed the significance of winning at the grand-final venue.
“We had a great win here in my first year over Richmond. We’ve played well against Geelong in an elimination final,” Lyon said.
“So we can play here.”
The Dockers lost to Hawthorn by 15 points in last year’s premiership decider.