Fremantle Dockers prove credentials with comeback win over Collingwood at MCG

Fremantle just proved their credentials.

The Dockers have produced a sensational come-from-behind win to stun premiership favourites Collingwood with an incredible one-point victory at the MCG.

Fremantle erased a 22-point deficit in the final term on a day where Pat Voss kicked six goals, the backline played like warriors and Hayden Young produced a wonderful cameo as the sub.

Fremantle overcame a ridiculously lopsided inside 50 tally which read 63-40 and for a long time it appeared like the gap between first and eighth on the ladder was distance between the MCG’s 50m arcs.

But when the game was on the line, Fremantle stood up. They kicked the last four goals to show just how good they can be.

Nathan O’Driscoll’s bravery late was incredible and Josh Treacy took a match saving mark with only seconds remaining as the Dockers won 12.7 (79) to 11.12 (78).

The signs were ominous early. Voss hit the post with a set shot in the first minute and then Collingwood nailed two half chances to take the lead.

Brody Mihocek snapped a goal from a set shot after a dubious free kick and the Dockers didn’t have anyone standing on the line to stop it. Then Mihocek kicked another major from the opposite pocket moments later.

They’d used every centimetre of the MCG’s wide expanses to gain the early ascendancy. Nick Daicos was getting heaps of the ball with seven disposals in the first 10 minutes, but Fremantle remained calm.

Voss seized his next chance with a long range dribbling goal only for Daicos to reply with a beautiful set shot from 50m out. The Dockers were making Collingwood work for their goals but the Pies were all class.

The question was whether Fremantle could match them. The answer was yes. Shai Bolton found Voss on a rampaging lead and he nailed his second. Then Caleb Serong made the most of a 50m penalty and his goal levelled the scores.

When Voss kicked his third for the quarter, Fremantle were in front by six points at quarter time despite enormous pressure from the home team.

The Magpies laid 13 tackles inside 50 for the term but Fremantle absorbed their attack and came out on top.

They knew Collingwood’s pressure wouldn’t drop off though and Corey Wagner got a perfect reminder of how tough it is to get clear of the Magpies when Beau McCreery ran him down for a holding the ball free kick.

In a game where little moments were always going to matter, Fremantle let Steele Sidebottom stand near McCreery, he gave him the footy and the veteran snapped truly.

You know who stepped up again though don’t you? Voss continued his incredible game after receiving a free kick and suddenly he had four goals.

Then came the real Collingwood challenge. Jamie Elliott kicked two goals in two minutes, including a remarkable soccer out of mid-air. When a frustrated Karl Worner conceded a 50m penalty after expressing his frustration when he saw the replay of a free kick for a high tackle he’d given away to Lachie Schultz, Collingwood had three goals in a row and a 12-point lead.

This was a high pressure game. Bolton missed from the same spot where Daicos goaled the previous term and then Matthew Johnson made a horrible turnover at half-back and breathed a sigh of relief when Mason Cox hit the post.

But again, Fremantle found the answers. Jye Amiss and Sean Darcy both had set shots and both kicked accurately as the Dockers levelled the scores again.

A classy piece of play from Harry Perryman allowed Sidebottom to kick another goal and put Collingwood in front, but you know Fremantle are applying pressure when Scott Pendlebury loses composure and the star’s uncharacteristic error nearing half-time should have given the Dockers confidence.

But they had to address the amount of supply Collingwood’s forwards were getting.The Pies led the inside 50s 34-18 and that coldn’t be allowed to continue.

The third quarter was an arm wrestle as neither team could find space. But when Oscar McDonald missed Heath Chapman with a short pass while coming out of the backine, Collingwood made Fremantle pay from the next set of stoppages.

Lachie Sullivan kicked the first goal of the term after 10 minutes and it was a body blow for the Dockers.

Fremantle couldn’t get the ball forward. The inside 50s were 12-3 after 19 minutes and too much was being asked of the backmen. They’d done an amazing job to restrict Collingwood to one goal.

When they eventually got the ball inside 50, the Magpies rebounded it way too easily and the pressure returned.

But they finally found space, Wagner drove it deep inside 50 and Voss slammed through his fifth.

Fremantle were just hanging on late but got to three quarter time but kept competing and trailed by only nine points despite the inside 50s being an incredibly lop sided 54-24.

Collingwood had seized little chances all day and that trend continued as Will Hoskin-Elliott took a mark on the boundary line and kicked a goal around his body.

When Ed Allan nailed his chance one minute later, the dam wall appeared to have broken. Jamie Elliott had the chance to seal the game but he missed and the Dockers saw an opening.

Jaeger O’Meara and Jye Amiss booted consecutive goals and it was game on again. Then Voss kicked his sixth and the Dockers were only four points down with 12 minutes to play.

Young’s lethal left foot then found Luke Jackson inside 50 and he gave Fremantle the lead with a superb set shot.

Jamie Elliott tied with scores with 2:46 left and then Shai Bolton had his moment to win the game. He missed and the final minutes were frantic.

But Fremantle have proven they can win close games this year. They did it again on a massive stage.