A last-minute goal to David Mundy has propelled Fremantle to a stunning four-point AFL win over Richmond at the MCG.
The Tigers led for most of a pressure-packed encounter but a late mistake from defender Bachar Houli let the Dockers in for the 12.10 (82) to 10.18 (78) win.
Damien Hardwick’s men hit the post five times in an inaccurate display that ultimately cost them the game.
The Dockers trailed by two goals early in the final term but kept coming, with Matthew Pavlich kicking one of his three goals for the evening.
Garrick Ibbotson marked Houli’s errant kick-in following a behind, after Tom Sheridan missed his chance at the match winner.
Ibbotson set up Mundy who broke Tiger hearts with a set shot from 50m out with just 31 seconds left on the clock.
Mundy was influential throughout with 28 possessions, with Nat Fyfe, who looked troubled by a corked thigh, and Michael Barlow also key contributors.
Brandon Ellis and Trent Cotchin were prominent for Richmond, along with Dustin Martin, but he was the chief offender in front of goal with four behinds.
A dour first quarter that yielded one goal to each side and ended with scores level at quarter-time gave way to an entertaining second term.
Ivan Maric then helped spark the Tigers with a brilliant chase down tackle on Fyfe and backed it up with two goals as Richmond edged ahead.
But a bizarre 50m penalty paid against Martin for squirting Lee Spurr with his water bottle played a part in a Dockers’ fight-back.
Chris Mayne kicked a goal from point-blank range following the penalty and when Michael Taberner kicked truly after the halftime siren, Fremantle trailed by just two points.
The Tigers lost Shaun Hampson to a knee injury but they gained the upper hand early in a third quarter played with a finals-like intensity.
The Dockers couldn’t break through Richmond’s stifling forward press, with only the Tigers’ continued inaccuracy stopping them from going further than 12 points up.
Another odd 50m penalty when Clancee Pearce was whistled while trying to get off the ground to receive treatment on a shoulder injury didn’t hurt Fremantle, who again finished strongly with Fyfe and Barlow prominent.
The Tigers held a slender five point lead at three-quarter time and looked the stronger team early before Ross Lyon’s men came storming home.
13th Man
Guest
yeah, it was a silly 50m penalty but it didn't make much difference really!
13th Man
Guest
yeah, i don't think either side benifited from the Umpiring though. It was just bizarre! The 50 against Clancee was ridiculous! couldn't the ump see he was injured! The Martin one was pretty soft, its just a bit of water. It seemed like the Umpires were applying the rules to the black letter of the law and not using their brains in certain situations, The Pearce one an obvious example of this.
13th Man
Guest
i think WC may have just proven themselves against a contender Micheal!
13th Man
Guest
i hope......... yeah i agree with you that in the last 8 weeks WC would have won. I am hopeful this win is the start of an upward turn. Gee your boys were good yesterday though. But anything can happen in a Derby, should be a cracker!
Don Freo
Guest
Sorry Jax...no important points there.
jax
Guest
Nice diversion,. You focus in on a footnote and conveniently ignore the original and far more important point I made that more than halff of your mids, rucks and forwards are out of form. I don't have time for this day. Enjoy your day.
jax
Guest
No, it was the first bullet I saw dodged. Do you really think you dodged one in the other 13 games?
Balthazar
Guest
Agreed. The totally biased commentary - now where is that person who wrote that Roar article about biased commentary in favour of Freo the first time these teams met? He seems to have gone to ground - did not want to have a bar of the Pearce 50m penalty. The poor bloke was gesturing in agony and actually letting the umpire know what had happened. Awful decision.
johno
Guest
Mayne would have kicked it anyway ... typical soft umpiring to give Freo a 50 when it doesn't affect the end result. The 50 against Pearce on the wing when he was clearly injured was the appalling decision of the night ....
Don Freo
Guest
You and your "ifs". If Danyle Pearce kicked one of his two sitter points or one of his two sitter out on the fulls. If Chris Mayne kicked one of the two sodas he'd always kicked. Fyfe, Barlow missed sitters. You might, for the sake of argument, decide that only one side missed goals. That's just a choice about how you'd like to characterize yourself. Fyfe was Freo's second best. That's my kind of failure.
johno
Guest
Apparently 14th dodged bullet for the season......
jax
Guest
I couldn't believe it. The umpiring was unusual to say the least,
jax
Guest
It doesn't take much does it lol You dodged a bullet and you're not back yet but you're improving.
jax
Guest
The Hawks are coming to WA to play WC in 2 weeks.
jax
Guest
You've named 5 players that you said had good games. Fyfe tried hard and did some great things but he wasn't that influential. If you include ruckman there is a total of 12 positions to be filled. 5 out of 12 is a fair way off optimum which was my point bit jumping in and disagreeing? Spare me please. You won and you were good enough to ice it and that's what good teams do. Good teams also keep winning and you are. You need a bit of luck and you got it and there is nothing wrong with that. Freo were behind all night and if Houli had his time again Richmond would have won and with WC winning today we'd be having a different conversation altogether after glancing at the ladder ;) You dodged a bullet. Ah, the sliding doors
jax
Guest
Richmond, Crows, Sydney, GWS have been near the top of the ladder this year if you count Top 5 out of 18 spots as near?
Don Freo
Guest
Freo has now had opposition teams lose 14 games that Freo apparently did not win. Incisive Tim. One day you'll look at results and wonder who that team on top is.
Don Freo
Guest
Mundy, Barlow and Fyfe were fantastic. Pav and Mayne were very good. They are midfielders and forwards, Jax.
Gecko
Guest
So glad the little league kids no longer have to be subjected to seeing their heroes in the traumatising and highly dangerous act of squirting water bottles at each other. Good to see the ever watchful umpires' association is clamping down on that heinous offence.
Spooky
Guest
Great win by freo. Richmond were on a big roll and are a big Confidence/momentum team. Freo are back