FREMANTLE 3.3 7.5 13.8 16.9 (105)
PORT ADELAIDE 3.3 7.6 9.10 14.13 (97)
GOALS
Fremantle: Ballantyne 4, Walters 3, Pavlich 2, Taberner 2, Mayne 2, Mzungu, Sutcliffe, Mundy
Port Adelaide: Schulz 6, Gray 2, Wingard 2, Hartlett 2, White, Westhoff
BEST
Fremantle: Neale, Walters, Ballantyne, Mzungu, Taberner, Barlow
Port Adelaide: Gray, Schulz, Wingard, Hartlett, Boak, Ebert
INJURIES
Fremantle: Sandilands (knee), Mayne (groin), Johnson (leg)
Port Adelaide: TBA
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Hayden Crozier replaced Nick Suban during the third quarter
Port Adelaide: Angus Monfries replaced Matt White at three quarter time
What happened
Both sides put everything into a match with so much at stake as Fremantle's third quarter burst sealed the win despite Port Adelaide coming home with a wet sail. The Power will rue missing opportunities throughout the match that could have got them over the line in the end.
Port showed they meant business in the opening stages of the game but couldn't convert on the scoreboard as young Docker forward Matthew Taberner kicked the opening goal from a quick break. Successive goals to Matt White and Justin Westhoff underlined the Power's early dominance but after Fremantle hit back through Matthew Pavlich, the two combatants traded goals as the first quarter finished deadlocked.
It was the home side's turn to come out fired in the second term with early goals to Michael Walters and Pavlich opening up a 12-point advantage. But Port Adelaide stemmed the flow with three of their own goals to get their nose in front. Tendai Mzungu and Walters put the Dockers back in front but Chad Wingard's goal close to half-time meant the Power held a one-point lead at the long break.
Two quick-fire third quarter goals to the Power saw them as the likely side to run away with the game. But Fremantle responded with six unanswered goals as Hayden Ballantyne and Chris Mayne both drilled two majors. Fremantle's third quarter underlines why the Dockers can win the flag with the attacking rampage spurred on by a parochial Patersons Stadium crowd.
The result seemed to be a formality as Ballantyne sprung to life with two goals in the final term with David Mundy adding one between. But Port steamed home kicking the last five goals of the game as the Fremantle fans were made to sweat the result out. Robbie Gray was best-afield and along with power forward Jay Schulz, nearly dragged Port Adelaide over the line. But the under-siege Docker defence managed to repel enough Power attacks to hold on.
Fallout
No team has ever won a flag from finishing outside of the top four so as history goes, Fremantle have given themselves an opportunity for glory while the Power now have a tough task. Brownlow Medal contender Robbie Gray may come under MRP scrutiny for a late bump on Chris Mayne.
Hope he's in my fantasy team
It could be nine Brownlow votes in three weeks for Gray as he accumulated 33 touches and kicked 2.3.
What's next
The Dockers will meet Sydney in a qualifying final at ANZ Stadium if the expected win for Geelong eventuates against Brisbane. If the Lions provide an upset, Fremantle will meet the Hawthorn in Melbourne. Port Adelaide will host a home elimination final against Richmond.