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.
Bend it like Jye!
Amiss has three and the Dockers have the lead.
It took a strong mark in the pocket and made the banana look simple.
Fremantle are starting to impose themselves on the match with Jackson having also bagged a goal.
WB 31, FRE 33
The dribbler!
Amiss has made his best start to a game in a very long time.
He has his second after dribbling through a stunner from the boundary.
Both sides were locked in a pressure-filled stale mate but the Dockers produce a special one to reduce the margin to nine points.
WB 29, FRE 20
QUARTER TIME: Western Bulldogs 29, Fremantle 14
It’s finals like at Marvel Stadium and both teams have landed early blows and been staggered by nerves.
Liberatore is doing damage out of the midfield for the Dogs being matched against Serong.
Three goals to end the quarter has given the home side breathing space while Brayshaw had his finger popped back in just before the siren.
Ryan and Worner have had too much of the footy for Longmuir’s liking and he will need to address the clearance imbalance.
They are three behind but have had nine less inside 50s.
Back-to-back
Fremantle have looked good with ball in hand but are nt winning enough at the moment.
Amiss nailed a set shot to give the men in purple the lead but the Dogs answered back with two majors in a row.
This has all the early signs of a classic.
WB 23, FRE 13
EXTRAORDINARY!
The Dockers looked to need an early spark and Bolton supplies the moment.
They got the ball deep into the pocket from a Young clearance.
Jackson spilt a tough mark but Bolton gathered and found an inch of space to snap from the acute angle.
Great goal!
WB 8, FRE 7
First blood
The Rockingham boy Aaron Naughton has the first goal.
He got loose out the back after Darcy took a one-hand mark on the wing.
A score review couldn’t take it away either.
WB 8, FRE 1
Soaking up
Fremantle’s defence is doing all the work as the visitors are yet to get past halfway.
But as I say it, Jackson finally wins a ground ball and the Dockers were away!
A good kick gets into Treacy who clunks the mark above his head.
However, he can’t find goal No.40 on the year.
WB 2, FRE 1
Underway!
Bontempelli gets the first clearance and Fremantle’s defence is under intense pressure.
It was too much for Worner who got caught holding the ball by Garcia.
He misses the easy set shot with a nervous poke.
WB 1, FRE 0
First blood?
If you are a believer in omens, Alex Pearce has won the toss.
Just moments away now!
Longmuir talks
The Dockers coach says the game will come down to “simplicity and the basics” under the intense pressure that comes with a do-or-die clash.
For the winner today, finals beckon, while the loser will be one of the unluckiest sides in AF: history to miss September action.
