Dockers pinch last-minute win

Brock McLean

FREMANTLE      5.1   6.5    8.7    12.11   (83)                 
CARLTON           4.2   4.6   8.11   11.12   (78)


GOALS
Fremantle: Ballantyne 3, Fyfe 2, Barlow 2, Spurr, Mundy, Crowley, Hill, Neale
Carlton: Waite 3, Murphy 2, Judd, Simpson, Ellard, Graham, Casboult, Rowe

BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Barlow, Mundy, Sandilands, Clarke
Carlton: Judd, Murphy, Yarran, Thomas, Waite

INJURIES
Fremantle: Pavlich (concussion), Mzungu (thigh)
Carlton: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Matt de Boer replaced Matthew Pavlich during the second quarter
Carlton: Brock McLean replaced Blaine Johnson during the final quarter


Matthew Pavlich hugs Rin Norris, mother of MH17 crash victims Evie, Mo and Otis Maslin, during a pre-match tribute to the grieving family. Photo: Scott Barbour (Getty)

Mick Malthouse's charges controlled the majority of what was a gripping match, leading most of the critical statistics and generally moving the ball with more spark than Freo.

But the Blues threw the match away when ruckman Cameron Wood won possession at a ball-up 20m from Fremantle's goal, and stupidly threw the ball on his boot, gifting Lachie Neale an easy mark, and the match-winning goal.

Nat Fyfe was best on ground for the winners, while Hayden Ballantyne booted three goals when it mattered.

Marc Murpy was Carlton's best, showing courage amid brutal checking from Dockers tagger Ryan Crowley.


Carlton's Simon White shows his frustration as the siren sounds. Photo: Getty 

Looking to respond following an embarrassing 58-point loss to cellar dwellers St Kilda in Round 18, the Dockers booted five of the first seven goals to open an 18-point lead.

But Carlton, with former skipper Chris Judd firing, fought back and kicked the final two majors of the quarter and could have drawn level at the first change had Chris Yarran kicked a goal after the siren.

After nine goals in the first term, the match tightened, with just 1.8 scored in an energy-sapping second quarter.

The Blues were especially wasteful, with David Ellard spraying two set shots from 40m.

Indeed, the visitors should have been several goals ahead at the main change, with the Dockers seemingly stuck in first gear for the second match in a row.

Even more concerning was Matthew Pavlich's concussion.

The skipper was subbed out after copping a stray elbow to the face while tackling Nick Graham.

When Carlton booted the opening four goals after the break, the Dockers' top four hopes looked to be hanging by a thread.

It took a late goal from Crowley, and another on the siren from Michael Barlow to bring them within four points at the final break.

In a frenetic final stanza, the teams traded goals until Fyfe broke free 50m and ran the ball into goalsquare, where Barlow received the handball to put Fremantle in front with less than five minutes to go.

Jarrad Waite then converted a set shot restore Carlton's lead.

But with 40s remaining, Wood's blunder paved the way for Neale to convert his set shot from 30m, dead in front.

Fremantle's win came at a cost however, with Pavlich suffering a head knock for the second game in a row, and Tendai Mzungu failing to run out the match because of a leg injury. 

The Dockers hit the road next week, with a tough Saturday night matchup against Geelong at Simonds Stadium awaiting them.

The Blues host Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium next Saturday afternoon.

MORE: Dockers vs Blues Photos

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