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Fremantle unleashed a late goal barrage to see off a determined Richmond by 38 points in Sunday night’s AFL pre-season match at Patersons Stadium.
The Dockers appeared to have the game in the bag when Matt de Boer’s goal early in the final quarter gave the home side a 26-point lead.
But Richmond came storming back into the contest, closing the gap to just six points courtesy of three quick goals.
However, the youthful Tigers couldn’t maintain their charge, with Fremantle booting the final five goals of the match to secure the 1.14.12 (105) to 0.10.7 (67) win.
Despite the late fadeout, Richmond could be proud of the effort given the amount of talent they were missing.
The Tigers entered the match without Trent Cotchin, Nathan Foley, Shaun Grigg, Daniel Jackson, Dylan Grimes, Reece Conca and Brett Deledio, and took off big guns Chris Newman, Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin at half-time.
Fremantle played a far more experienced line-up, but left out skipper Matthew Pavlich and ruckman Aaron Sandilands.
In their absence, Dockers midfielder Nat Fyfe starred with 25 possessions in three quarters, while 18-year-old Lachie Neale boosted his chances of a round one AFL debut with another polished performance.
Neale, a bargain at pick No.58 in last year’s national draft, tallied 13 first-half possessions and looked comfortable even in congested spaces.
Adam McPhee, Hayden Ballantyne, Tendai Mzungu, Clancee Pearce and Jayden Pitt (three goals) also performed strongly for the Dockers.
Martin gathered 16 disposals in a half of footy, while Riewoldt booted two goals before being subbed off.
Fremantle (2-1) must defeat Port Adelaide next week and rely on other results going their way in order to reach the pre-season grand final.
Richmond (1-2) take on Geelong next Saturday.
Although Richmond were cleaner with their forward 50m entries in the first half, Fremantle created far more opportunities to enter the main break with a handy 10-point lead.
Tigers forwards Riewoldt and Brad Miller looked dangerous early as Richmond’s under strength midfield made a bright start.
But the Dockers’ on-ball brigade, led brilliantly by Fyfe and Ballantyne, soon took control, allowing Fremantle to hit the scoreboard more regularly.
The second half was a see-sawing affair, but just as the Tigers looked set to storm to the lead, Fremantle regained their composure to see out the match.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said Sandilands tightened up in his calf before the game and was withdrawn as a precaution.
“We just tapped him out. There was no risk,” Lyon said.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said the first half, when the likes of Martin, Riewoldt and ruckman Ivan Maric were still on the field, gave him a truer reflection of how his charges fared.
“We gave the younger guys some experience in that last quarter,” Hardwick said.
“I think our backline at one stage had a grand total of 83 games, and Luke McGuane had 80 of those.
“So it was a good test for those guys. They certainly learnt the pace of the game … and it’s something they can build on.”
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