RECAP: Fremantle Dockers earn finals berth in cut-throat win against Western Bulldogs
Fremantle will return to finals football for only the second time in a decade after holding off the Bulldogs in Melbourne.
A win also locked the Dockers into a home final in the first week of September with a fifth or sixth-placed finish.
Adding to the high stakes was the prospect of a loss leading to the end of Nat Fyfe’s career, with arguably the greatest-ever Docker set to bow out at season’s end.
Stay across all the action here.
Pearce speaks
Alex Pearce says he is proud of his side for “grinding out” a victory.
“It was nerve-wracking times for parts of that last quarter,” he told Fox Footy.
“I’m just really proud of us to be honest. We were challenged in the first quarter and we knew they’re a really good team and they were going to challenge us throughout the game.
“It’s always a tough one when you’ve got the lead and the natural tendancy is to go into your shell and that’s really what’s not required.
“We’ll learn plenty from that last quarter because we probably did go into our shell a little bit but we were able to make some plays to turn the ball over and kick a few goals.
“We’ll hit two weeks time ready and full of steam.”
Three-word analysis
Take a breath and try and sum that finals feeling up in three words, Dockers fans?
FULL TIME: Western Bulldogs 97, Fremantle 112
The Dockers will host a home elimination final!
It took everything they had to outlast the Bulldogs who finished with a flurry but their eight-goal run through the middle of the game was outstanding.
Bontempelli and Liberatore were massive but it was an all-round effort from Fremantle, led by Serong, that gets the job done.
It’s only the second time in a decade Fremantle will play finals and it is richly deserved!
Icer!
Frederick handballs to Bolton who takes a bounce and drills a perfect kick to Jackson all alone over the back!
The big man slams the goal home without wasting time and you have to think that’s enough for the visitors!
WB 90, FRE 111
Oh boy
It’s under three goals as the Dogs continue to surge with six of seven.
Freijah kicks the latest and Fremantle just need to get the next clearance and kill some time.
Switkowski is in the rooms being assessed as well.
WB 90, FRE 105
Miss!
Darcy misses the set shot and Fremantle breath a sigh of relief.
21-point lead with three minutes left.
The tackling is getting intense.
WB 84, FRE 105
Double blow
Switkowski appears to have hurt his knee and is in the arms of trainors while Naughton slams home a goal for the Dogs.
The margin is 20 points. Time remaining is 5.16.
WB 83, FRE 103
Tightening up
Croft makes up for a botched shot with a superb dual effort to get the Dogs back to within 25 points.
Baker was also vital with pace and fitness to worry his oppenent out of the contest twice.
Just eight minutes of playing time stand between the Dockers and finals footy but they need another goal or two to put the match away.
WB 71, FRE 96
Quiet achiever
Erasmus has gone about his business quietly but has racked up some solid numbers.
He has 17 disposals, a team-high six clearances and a goal.
Meanwhile, the Dogs are fighting back and the Dockers’ defence is back under the pump as they were early in the game.
WB 59, FRE 96
Big shot
Voss slots a third to give the Dockers the first of the last!
They now lead by 38 points. Is it enough?
