FREMANTLE shored up its top-four credentials and all but ended West Coast's finals ambitions with a nail-biting seven-point win in the 40th Western Derby on Saturday.
The Dockers claimed their sixth straight victory, and their fifth consecutive derby, winning 13.10 (88) to 11.15 (81) in front of 40,490 fans at Patersons Stadium.
The Eagles had their chances, losing for the fifth time this season when having more scoring shots than their opponents.
"It doesn't sit too well," West Coast coach Adam Simpson said.
"With where we're at we have to make the most of those opportunities."
But they were also held goalless in the third term when best afield Stephen Hill, Nat Fyfe and David Mundy got to work in the Fremantle midfield and the Dockers' trademark pressure strangled the Eagles.
"It was always going to be a tough day today," Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said.
"I've been here long enough to know derbies are quite fierce.
"They are a proud club and it was a critical game for them in the context of their season so we knew what was coming."
The game looked over at three-quarter time after the Dockers kicked five goals to none to lead by 24 points at the final change.
But the Eagles midfield bounced back at the start of the last term, led by Matt Priddis, who was the Eagles’ best with 24 touches.
They also found some unlikely heroes with Jeremy McGovern, Xavier Ellis, Patrick McGinnity and Mark Hutchings all kicking clutch goals to see West Coast hit the front at the 15-minute mark of the final term.
But the Dockers again stamped their premiership credentials. Hill took an intercept mark from a kick-in and calmly slotted his third goal, which along with his 32 disposals sealed his Ross Glendinning Medal win.
Danyle Pearce threaded an intelligent dribble kick from the boundary moments later before Hayden Ballantyne kicked the sealer, his third goal, from the next centre clearance.
Despite the win, the Fremantle coach was far from pleased during the post-match presentation when he eye-balled a number of his players and gave them some immediate constructive feedback.
The Eagles’ woes were compounded by a nasty knee injury to Mitch Brown. He was stretchered off in the third term after landing awkwardly on his right knee. The luckless Brown missed the 2008 season following a reconstruction on his left knee.
The first half was entertaining and free-flowing despite both sides playing a man loose in defence. As a result McGovern, Matthew Pavlich, and Josh Kennedy all showed off their goalkicking prowess from long range.
Tendai Mzungu had a chance to level the scores late in the opening term but just missed.
Incredibly, 4.2 was the Eagles’ highest quarter-time score against Fremantle since round six, 2009.
Wasting chances has been the story of West Coast's season and the second term continued the tale.
The Eagles had 13 inside 50s to 10 only to kick 1.7 to the Dockers’ 2.1 and were fortunate to lead at half-time.
The Dockers would be fancied to stretch their winning streak to 10 with their next four matches against Melbourne, GWS, St Kilda and Carlton. The Eagles' finals hopes are almost certainly over, languishing in 10th place with the Sydney Swans to come next week.
Fremantle after winning the 40th Western Derby. Picture: AFL Media
FREMANTLE 3.3 5.4 10.6 13.10 (88)
WEST COAST 4.2 5.9 5.12 11.15 (81)
GOALS
Fremantle: Hill 3, Ballantyne 3, Pavlich, Suban, Sylvia, Mayne, Neale, Fyfe, D Pearce.
West Coast: McGovern 2, Kennedy 2, LeCras 2, Darling, Ellis, McGinnity, Hutchings, Shuey.
BEST
Fremantle: Hill, Duffield, Fyfe, Neale, Mayne, Sandilands, D Pearce.
West Coast: LeCras, Mackenzie, Hurn, Priddis, Rosa, Ellis, McGovern.
INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
West Coast: Mitch Brown (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Clancee Pearce replaced Colin Sylvia in the final quarter
West Coast: Sam Butler replaced Mitch Brown in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Mitchell, Margetts, Dalgleish
Official crowd: 40,490 at Patersons Stadium
