Walyalup (Fremantle) coach Justin Longmuir proud of his team’s fightback in draw against Collingwood Magpies

Walyalup (Fremantle) coach Justin Longmuir has expressed pride in his team’s refusal to give up and declared his team stole two points from their thrilling draw with Collingwood.

The Dockers were 25 points down with just seven and a half minutes remaining but charged home and Jeremy Sharp tied the scores with 44 seconds remaining.

Longmuir said the team could easily have conceded defeat but kept fighting as they finished 11.9 (75) to Collingwood 10.15 (75).

“I’m really proud of the way we fought the game out,” Longmuir said.

“Being 25 points down, we could have found it too hard but the players found something which I’m really proud about. We could have snatched it at the end.

“The way the game was being played in the second half, we probably stole two points. But I was really proud of the way the players fought. It was a mixed bag.

“Some areas of our game are going well but there’s a bit of inconsistency within game and we need to iron that out.”

Captain Alex Pearce pushed forward late and kicked the goal which made it a one-point game. It was his first goal since the last round of 2022 and only the fifth major of his career.

The emotional defender immediately slapped his arm and looked to the sky in a tribute to his close friend Cam McCarthy after he passed away earlier this month.

Pearce said he thought of McCarthy as he lined up.

“It has been tough, a couple of weeks ago it was a really hard game to get through,” Pearce said.

“I was nervous going back when I had it, my hands were a little bit shaky but I did think Cam would kick this. So it was for him.”

The game turned on the back of a free kick against Lachie Sullivan when he handed the ball to Nick Daicos instead of giving it to field umpire Mathew Nicholls for a ball-up.

Sean Darcy kicked the goal from a set shot directly in front and gave the home team momentum.

Magpies coach Craig McRae said he was initially told Daicos had touched the umpire. He admitted confusion and said he’d be curious to see the AFL’s explanation.

“I’m looking forward to what the AFL tell us about that because I wasn’t aware that is a free kick,” he said.

“Clearly it is because they don’t pay things that aren’t there. I’m looking forward to seeing what they say. It will be what it will be. It doesn’t help us.”