RECAP: Fremantle Dockers sunk by single point in outrageous elimination final thriller
Fremantle’s season has ended in the ultimate heartbreak, sunk by a golden point by retiring Suns hero David Swallow.
Recap all the action as it happened in our blog.
It comes, it goes
The lead is back to 10 points for the Suns after two hard-working efforts.
Gold Coast’s forwards play with a lot of craft and the Fremantle defence is getting turned around.
The numbers around the ground are locked with the clearance battle and contested ball pretty much all square.
Both sides are near-unbeatable when they win the contested-ball battle.
FRE 20, GCS 30
The answer x2
Amiss needed a confidence booster and he gets it with a major.
Treacy took a strong mark on the defensive side of the wing and found Voss up the line who won a ground ball and flicked a handball over the top to Frederick.
Frederick resisted the urge to blaze away and hit Amiss lace out on the chest.
The forward made no mistake with the set shot, using a banana to split the middle.
The Dockers were not done there, winning the next clearance and scrapping the ball forward until Erasmus got his hands on it and booted the home side into a sudden lead.
FRE 20, GCS 18
Her-Humph
The Suns get the perfect start to the second term after an incredible snap from Humphrey.
The Suns forward hits the ground ball from the side, bursts past Serong and snaps the ball over his shoulder on the left for a major.
10-point lead to the visitors.
FRE 8, GCS 18
All clear
Amiss has returned to the field after the first break with fresh ankle strapping.
He looks good to go.
QUARTER TIME: Fremantle 8, Gold Coast 12
The footy played in the first quarter was much better than the two goals it resulted in.
Frederick had a golden chance late running into an open goal but went along the ground and grazed the post.
The Suns have shown no stage fright whatsoever and are here to play.
Brayshaw leads all-comers with 11 disposals and one clearance while Bolton and Rowell have eight touches.
Anderson made a stunning start with three score involvements in the first five minutes but the home side’s midfield was able to establish themselves and halt the Gold Coast skipper.
Injury watch
Jye Amiss has gone into the rooms with a foot concern.
He will be a watch and wait to see if he returns.
Rain arrives
The rain is starting to tumble down in Perth and we can expect showers on and off throughout the game.
Hot start
The pace is high, the tackling fierce, just as a final should be.
Both teams are getting opened up with sling shots through the middle and have needed their defenders to stand tall.
The Suns have missed some chances but they’ve all been tough.
Fremantle will hope to settle some of their decision making as the game wears on.
FRE 7, GCS 11
Voss strikes!
The Dockers get the first goal and the fans are on their feet.
It started with a Bolton step spliting two Suns before slick hands from Dudley after Serong spilt an overhead mark freed the runner.
Voss took a strong mark and sprinted all the way to the bench in celebration after converting the set shot.
FRE 6, GCS 3
Bouncedown!
We are away!
Anderson wins the first clearance of the game and takes a pot shot from 50.
It misses to the right.
FRE 0, GCS 1
