RECAP: Fremantle Dockers surge into top five after surviving Carlton scare at Optus Stadium
Fremantle move into fifth after brushing off a brave Carlton charge in an electric last term at Optus Stadium.
The Blues kicked the first four goals of the match before the Dockers had even scored but after a tough first half, the men in retro purple found a way to overcome their midfield woes.
Josh Treacy, Pat Voss and Jye Amiss were all huge as Murphy Reid and Jordan Clark showed their wares again.
Follow all the action live in our blog.
Farewell!
We have just three weeks left until the pre-finals bye and the Dockers are one step closer to earning the double chance in the top four.
Next week they travel to Adelaide to face the Power so we will be back then.
Goodnight!
Longmuir on Young
Longmuir didn’t have much to say about the loss of Hayden Young to a suspected groin injury.
“Touch wood it’s not too bad,” he said.
“I haven’t had an update from the docs but I think today he was a bit unlucky. It was a bit of a twisting motion.”
Midfield recovery
Andrew Brayshaw had a tough start to the game, struggling to use the ball cleanly and producing some strange turnovers.
But when it mattered down the stretch he turned it on.
He finished the match with 10 clearances and 23 disposals.
MATCH REPORT
Relive the stress and rapture as Fremantle sealed their place in the top five despite giving up the first four goals to Carlton.
Full match report HERE.
ANALYSIS
Fremantle will celebrate the win well but they have some lessons to learn, especially from the first half.
If they are to win a flag, here’s what Mitchell Woodcock says they must grasp.
Three-word analysis
The purple army will be sleeping soundly tonight after the Dockers overcame a tense close call against the Blues to move fifth.
FULL TIME: Fremantle 94, Carlton 67
The Dockers are a game clear in fifth!
They survived a massive scare from the Blues who battled hard all day but in the end just couldn’t match the change in gears after half-time.
Fremantle have their midfield concerns but their maturity was again on display as they found ways to curb the problem.
Their big forwards were massive in the second half, providing presence and throwing their bodies around.
Clark had a massive last term to end with more than 30 touches and nearly 800 metres gained while Jackson continues to find ways to get better and better.
Serong battled his way back from a dire first half to end with 19 touches and eight clearances.
Voss, Treacy and Amiss all end with three goals each in a huge tick for the men in retro purple.
Soak it up!
Voss kicks another after winning another inside-50 free kick and the Dockers are nearly home.
The Freo chants are up and about.
Meanwhile, Blues defender Saad has been taken off the ground after an accidental Brayshaw shin to the face after a big tackles from Bolton.
FRE 82, CAR 66
Dudley does it all!
Carlton paniced as a high ball went inside Fremantle’s 50 and someone pushed Dudley in the back through the contest.
It could have ended badly for the small forward but he misses the contact and gets the free kick.
He slots the set shot and celebrates with the fans.
4.30 left to play!
FRE 76, CAR 66
Not done yet!
Durdin has brought the margin back to four points.
He got paid a very dubious mark - the ball went all of seven metres - inside 50 but made the most of it regardless.
FRE 70, CAR 66
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