AFLW: Fremantle Dockers survive heartstopper against Melbourne to keep slim finals hopes alive

Fremantle’s season is alive after two players who returned from knee reconstructions within weeks of each other inspired the team to victory over Melbourne with crucial second-half goals.

The Dockers had to win to avoid saying goodbye to their finals hopes and won 6.4 (40) to 5.5 (35) thanks to second half goals to Aine Tighe and Ange Stannett. Tighe was playing her first game back from a third knee reconstruction.

This was a game of grit from Fremantle. They laid 92 tackles to keep pressure on all day. Melbourne had 14 more inside 50s but the Dockers refused to wilt.

Kiara Bowers was outstanding with 27 disposals and 17 tackles, Aisling McCarthy kept working and the Dockers overcame every challenge.

Melbourne got stuck in traffic due to the freeway closure and their late arrival reflected the way they played early. Fremantle started brilliantly and the Demons simply didn’t look ready.

McCarthy kicked the opening goal of the match after only three minutes, following a nice handball from Hayley Miller and the Dockers were away.

Melbourne then lost Georgia Gall to a serious ankle injury, which gave everyone a chance to reset. But the Dockers maintained their pressure.

Georgie Brisbane kicked another goal from a set shot and when Demon Kate Hore rushed a kick clear from a stoppage, Laura Pugh marked and charged into goal for another major. Suddenly the home team was up by 18 points and Melbourne hadn’t scored.

Ryleigh Wotherspoon had two chances to kick goals and booted one out of bounds on the full. BUt she grabbed her next opportunity to open the visitors’ account.

Fremantle responded quickly though and led by 17 points at the first change.

The Dees led the inside-50s despite trailing on the scoreboard, so there was always the threat of them finding their groove. They certainly did that in the second term.

Melbourne controlled the footy early and took 15 marks to two for the quarter. That meant they were able to set up play while the Dockers were under pressure when they got the footy.

Alyssa Bannan kicked the first goal of the term and Eden Zanker followed moments later.

The little things kept going wrong for Fremantle. Tunisha Kikoak had a set shot and kicked it out of bounds on the full. Hayley Miller bombed the ball towards the big sticks and looked certain for it to bounce through, but then it stopped and the Demons rushed a behind.

Meanwhile Kate Hore’s miskick for Melbourne landed in Lauren Pearce’s arms directly in front of goal and she didn’t miss.

Fremantle still led though. The one-point advantage was important at half-time.

Gabby Newton had 15 touches at half-time for the Dockers and both McCarthy and Mim Strom were having an impact, while Kiara Bowers had 10 tackles in a typically tough effort. Emma O’Driscoll was huge in defence and standing up under pressure.

Tyla Hanks was giving Fremantle problems as she kept winning the footy, Sinead Goldrick and Paxy Paxman were driving the ball long and taking every metre possible.

The Dees had eight of the first 10 inside-50s in the third term but couldn’t take advantage. They kicked only three points during their period of dominance.

Pressure was high and both teams were looking for someone to provide the key piece of inspiration to help them break the game open.

Enter Tighe. The star Docker was playing her first game back after three knee reconstructions and had only three handballs at half-time.

But she won a free kick, played and snapped the goal prompting massive celebrations from her teammates. The Dockers were back in front and were clearly inspired.

Newton had eight touches for the term, Tighe had five, McCarthy collected 10 and Mim Strom picked up seven.

The Dockers led by five points with one quarter remaining and their destiny was well and truly in their own hands. Meanwhile Melbourne knew they needed to win to keep their top two spot.

Tighe’s game came to an end amid knee soreness which was a blow for the team both for talent and emotion.

Again, both teams struggled to maximise their chances as the pressure of every kick rose. It was an arm wrestle, filled with tackles and no space as the game went down to the wire.

Fremantle’s defence held up when the ball was deep in Melbourne’s forward line. But when the ball is near the goals, stars find ways to make things happen.

Kate Hore did what she’s always done and broke the game open with the goal which put her team in front with nine minutes remaining.

How would Fremantle respond? By getting a captain’s goal from skipper Stannett.

Bowers and O’Driscoll were massive, McCarthy kept getting things done. Senior players led by example. This was a game Fremantle simply had to win, and that’s precisely what they did.

FREMANTLE 4.0 4.2 5.3 6.4 (40)

MELBOURNE 1.1 4.1 4.4 5.5 (35)

Goals – FREMANTLE: A Tighe A Stannett L Pugh A McCarthy T Kikoak G Brisbane. MELBOURNE: E Zanker R Wotherspoon L Pearce K Hore A Bannan.

Best – FREMANTLE: A McCarthy, K Bowers, M Strom, E O’Driscoll, G Newton. MELBOURNE: E McNamara, T Hanks, K Hore, S Goldrick, P Paxman.

Injuries – FREMANTLE: A Tighe (knee). MELBOURNE: G Gall (ankle).

Umpires: S Morgan A Talbot J Gibb. Crowd: TBC at Fremantle Oval.