1. Dockers sunk at stoppages
We know Aaron Sandilands is injured, but Fremantle's decision to go into the match with only one recognised ruckman will be put under the microscope after the GIANTS booted 11 goals from stoppages on Saturday night. The Dockers dropped Zac Clarke for Saturday night's clash, leaving Jonathon Griffin to shoulder most of the work against dominant GWS big man Shane Mumford, with occasional cameos from full-back Zac Dawson. With the benefit of hindsight, it was the wrong decision - if you're going to take on GIANTS then make sure to have tall timber.
2. Stephen Coniglio is a gun
The GIANTS' Italian stallion has been in some form this year. Coniglio, 22, battled a pre-season hamstring injury and missed GWS' round-one loss to Melbourne as he returned via the NEAFL. Since then the midfielder has had the ball on a string. He is yet to rack up less than 22 disposals in a match this season, and has hit more than 30 in the past four weeks. The West Australian's 32-possession effort against the Dockers was a mix of grunt and polish, while his two first-quarter goals helped spark the GIANTS into action.
3. The GIANTS have arrived
Last weekend's victory over Hawthorn raised plenty of eyebrows, and Saturday night's win in Perth was another milestone. The 18-point triumph was GWS's first in six visits to Domain Stadium and continued the club's upward trajectory this season. It was also the GIANTS' first win over Fremantle. The AFL's newest additions are now well-placed at 5-2 ahead of a tough run of fixtures that include clashes with Gold Coast (home), the Western Bulldogs (home), Adelaide (away), Geelong (away) and Sydney (home) in the next five weeks.
4. Callan reaps the rewards
Callan Ward is starting to see the fruits of his gamble to join the GIANTS. Ward, who played 60 games with the Bulldogs before joining GWS for its inaugural 2012 season, celebrated game 150 at Domain Stadium on Saturday night. After several tough seasons, the on-baller has been instrumental in the fledging club's rise to be right in the finals mix this year, as his previous club has also emerged as a major title threat. The 26-year-old raked up 31 touches, including 19 contested possessions. He also had seven tackles and 10 clearances.
5. Execution over endeavour
Docker Lachie Neale was everywhere in the opening half, gathering 22 disposals up to the long break, including a whopping 18 contested possessions and nine clearances. But in quarters one and two he ran at only 13 per cent by foot. Neale has stepped up in the absence of injured Nat Fyfe and, earlier in the year David Mundy. But his ball use against the GIANTS was a reflection of the Dockers' error-riddled start to 2016 in which you could not fault their endeavour, just their execution. He finished with 25 contested possessions.
