FREMANTLE has come from behind for a badly needed 10-point win over Gold Coast at Norwood Oval on Friday.
The Dockers trailed by 23 points in the third term, but kicked seven of the last nine goals to win 15.10 (100) to 13.12 (90) on Friday night in Gather Round.
The inner-Adelaide suburban ground was a success, with nearly 10,000 packing the venue.
DOCKERS v SUNS Full match coverage and stats
The ground's 'skinny' dimensions meant plenty of tight, contested play and it was a see-sawing contest.
The win was a successful homecoming for Dockers midfielder James Aish, who was a two-time premiership player at SANFL team Norwood before he went to the AFL.
Fremantle and Gold Coast were on 1-3 records before this match and there had been plenty of heat on the Dockers after last year's finals appearance.
Matthew Johnson put Freo back in front with his goal 17 minutes into the last term and Jye Amiss took a great mark and goaled from an acute angle two minutes later.
Noah Anderson kicked his second goal of the term to bring the Suns within a kick, before Bailey Banfield's goal sealed it for Fremantle.
Dockers midfielder Caleb Serong was best afield with 37 disposals, while Michael Walters kicked four goals.
"He (Serong) is a really consistent player," coach Justin Longmuir said post-match.
"He's growing as a leader and the first thing you do as a leader is perform, and he's been performing week in, week out."
Asked about Walters' excellent game after a number of racist posts were directed at Indigenous players on social media during the week, Longmuir said he wasn't surprised.
"I'm just proud of him, proud of what him and some of the Indigenous leaders have done across our game to bring this sort of stuff to light and highlight it and try to stamp it out."
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Gold Coast's Jack Lukosius looked best on ground for the first three quarters but the Suns were left to rue inaccurate goalkicking when they could have killed off the match.
Lukosius was in the game immediately, kicking the first goal with a booming shot from outside 50m at the Roger Woodcock end.
Walters kicked two goals early, but Darcy Macpherson then stifled him while racking up possessions in defence.
The Suns kicked the last three goals of the term to lead by 10 points at quarter-time and as Lukosius continued to dominate, they built that to a 23-point lead at the main break.
Luke Jackson's superb goal from an acute angle and Michael Walters' third brought Fremantle to within 10 points early in the second half.
Gold Coast stretched the margin back out to 23 points, but Fremantle kicked the last three goals of the term to trail by only six points at the last change.
The Suns were left lamenting a set shot late in the third term from Lukosius from in front that went wide, but coach Stuart Dew was philosophical after the match.
"I thought he (Lukosius) had a great game," Dew said.
"I know he'll be hurting.
"He's making great strides this year, his intensity around the ball, his decision making is unbelievable. I think he's really maturing and building into something special."
Suns’ superboot goes boom, again
Jack Lukosius has become a forward weapon to be reckoned with and franked the fact with another long bomb to open Friday’s match. The 2018 No.2 draft selection marked just outside 50 early in the first quarter and knew he had the distance, but just to be a little more comfortable he launched the ball from inside the centre square - his 'happy place'. Sure enough, it sailed over everyone between the man on the mark and the goal umpire, enhancing Lukosius’ reputation as the league’s new 'Superboot'.
Dockers need a party starter
Whether Justin Longmuir needs to hire a motivational speech writer, change the pre-match snacks or crank up Eye of the Tiger in the change rooms, something has to be done to get Fremantle firing from before the first bounce. The Dockers haven’t won a first quarter this season, in fact they’ve only won three in their last 20 outings, putting them behind the eight ball every week. If Longmuir can find something to make a change, even to break even in opening terms, it will make winning games - and life - a lot easier.
Big Suns offered little up forward in Norwood
A lot was expected of Gold Coast’s forward set up this season, with Ben King coming back from injury to join last year’s surprisingly successful forward pairing of Mabior Chol and Levi Casboult, but their presence is proving far from intimidating. Going into the match the Suns were ranked 18th for marks inside 50. Casboult was rested on Friday but Chol and King managed just five between them and rarely looked dangerous in the air. Expect Stuart Dew to be running marking drills next week till his forwards are black and blue.
FREMANTLE 3.0 6.2 11.5 15.10 (100)
GOLD COAST 4.4 9.7 11.11 13.12 (90)
GOALS
Fremantle: Walters 4, Schultz 3, Amiss 3, Jackson 2, Brayshaw, Johnson, Banfield
Gold Coast: Swallow 3, King 2, Anderson 2, Rosas, Lukosius, Humphrey, Holman, Fiorini, Chol
BEST
Fremantle: Serong, Darcy, Walters, Young, Schultz, Jackson
Gold Coast: Lukosius, Miller, Anderson, Rowell, Swallow, Macpherson
INJURIES
Fremantle: Switkowski (calf)
Gold Coast: TBC
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Will Brodie (replaced Sam Switkowski in the second quarter)
Gold Coast: Alex Sexton (replaced Bailey Humphrey in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 9,329 at Norwood Oval
