IT WAS the greatest comeback of the year and then the great escape all rolled into one for Fremantle on Saturday. 

DOCKERS IN A THRILLER Full match coverage and stats 

Trailing by 37 points to St Kilda early in the second term, the Dockers completely flipped the script to lead by 19 points in the final quarter after kicking 10 of the next 11 goals. 

>>WATCH the thrilling final two minutes in the player above

Then with majors to Tim Membrey, Jade Gresham and Zak Jones – courtesy of a Michael Walters brain fade that cost a 50m penalty – the Saints scrapped to level the scores with two minutes play.  

01:00

Another mare for Walters, Saints draw level late

After starting the game by kicking it the wrong way, Michael Walters concedes a 50m penalty in the dying minutes

With banged-up captain Nat Fyfe anchored to the goalsquare appearing underdone after returning from a hamstring injury, the Dockers won a crucial ball at half-back, going the length of the field to find Lachie Schultz 35m out. 

'YOU MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE' Ratten set to axe Saints' passengers

In scenes reminiscent to his coach Justin Longmuir's match-winner against the Saints in 2005, Schultz converted before the Dockers held their nerve in the final minute to win 12.7 (79) to 11.7 (73) at Metricon Stadium. 

06:56

Highlights: Fremantle v St Kilda

The Dockers and Saints clash in round six

The Saints looked set to run away with a demolition, their slick ball movement and high intensity play on show to kick seven goals in the first term alone against a Dockers side on their last day of five weeks in the Queensland hub. 

Longmuir's side then flicked the ignition at quarter-time, led by Walters (26 disposals) to bridge the margin to 13 points at the main break. 

01:08

Cheeky Saint with the no-look goal and glare

Dean Kent sprints away from James Aish and runs into the post but kicks it from the goal-line

Without Hayden Young (ankle) and Sean Darcy, who was wiped out with concussion after a heavy hit from Saint Ben Long, the Dockers' possession game got them back in the contest with just two rotations. 

After Walters' heroics, he almost cost the result after entering the five-metre exclusion zone around Jones to gift a goal from the goalsquare late in the contest. 

However, he made up for his efforts winning a crucial ball in the dying stages as the Dockers held on for a famous win. 

00:19

Great way for Serong to notch first career goal

An impressive mark from first-round draftee Caleb Serong and he finishes it off as Fremantle hit the lead

Sonny's early costly blunder
The early jump looked to have caught Fremantle star Michael Walters out. With the match starting 70 minutes earlier than the usual early Saturday afternoon fixture to help the Dockers fly back to Perth on the same day, Walters kicked the ball the wrong way out of the first centre bounce. Docker Darcy Tucker was pinged holding the ball at half-back before teammate Nathan Wilson kicked the ball away in anger to concede an easy 50m penalty. It gave the Saints their first of seven for the opening term, showing no signs of the three-hour bus ride from their hub in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. 

00:46

Wrong-way Walters as Freo makes horror start

Tim Membrey takes advantage of a couple of Docker blunders to slot St Kilda's first goal

Defender in Match Review strife
St Kilda's Ben Long will be sweating on the outcome of Michael Christian's Match Review findings on Sunday. The defender was put on report for a head-high bump on Sean Darcy that left the Dockers ruckman concussed and ruled out for the match. Long had no great intention to go after the ball, instead collecting Darcy to the face as he attempted to gather. Given the outcome and impact of the bump, it would be hard to see Long playing next week. 

01:17

Big Docker down after crunching bump from Long

Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy grounded after copping a heavy hit from Ben Long

Fyfe the forward
After helping keep Fremantle afloat in the first quarter, Nat Fyfe spent the majority of the rest of the match deep in attack in his first game back from a hamstring injury. The skipper kicked two crucial goals, including one in the final term to put the Dockers 19 points up. However, despite several important centre clearances in the final term, Fyfe remained anchored to the goalsquare. While he appeared to be underdone after the injury just 14 days ago, coach Justin Longmuir said it was a tactical decision to provide a target with Rory Lobb moved to the ruck.

00:28

Superstar Fyfe leads Fremantle fightback

A brilliant pack mark from Freo skipper Nat Fyfe and he finishes it off just before half-time

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 05:43

    Ratten: 'Too many blokes we carried'

    Watch St Kilda's press conference after round six's match against Fremantle

    AFL
  • 06:56

    Highlights: Fremantle v St Kilda

    The Dockers and Saints clash in round six

    AFL
  • 08:31

    Longmuir: 'We've got players who never give up'

    Watch Fremantle's press conference after round six's match against St Kilda

    AFL
  • 01:00

    Another mare for Walters, Saints draw level late

    After starting the game by kicking it the wrong way, Michael Walters concedes a 50m penalty in the dying minutes

    AFL
  • 00:29

    Important Saint's high hit, Docker goes down

    St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall could be scrutinised by the Match Review Officer for this incident with Nathan Wilson

    AFL
  • 00:19

    Great way for Serong to notch first career goal

    An impressive mark from first-round draftee Caleb Serong and he finishes it off as Fremantle hit the lead

    AFL
  • 00:28

    Superstar Fyfe leads Fremantle fightback

    A brilliant pack mark from Freo skipper Nat Fyfe and he finishes it off just before half-time

    AFL
  • 01:17

    Big Docker down after crunching bump from Long

    Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy grounded after copping a heavy hit from Ben Long

    AFL
  • 01:08

    Cheeky Saint with the no-look goal and glare

    Dean Kent sprints away from James Aish and runs into the post but kicks it from the goal-line

    AFL
  • 00:46

    Wrong-way Walters as Freo makes horror start

    Tim Membrey takes advantage of a couple of Docker blunders to slot St Kilda's first goal

    AFL

FREMANTLE    1.2       6.4       9.7       12.7 (79)
ST KILDA         7.2       8.5       8.5       11.7 (73)

GOALS
Fremantle: Taberner 2, Fyfe 2, Schultz 2, Darcy, Lobb, Bewley, Tucker, Serong, Banfield
St Kilda: Membrey 3, Jones 2, Billings, Kent, Butler, Lonie, King, Gresham

BEST
Fremantle: Walters, Brayshaw, Taberner, Fyfe, Lobb, Tucker
St Kilda: Steele, Membrey, Billings, Jones, Battle

INJURIES
Fremantle: Young (ankle), Darcy (concussion), Cox (hip) replaced in selected side by Duman.
St Kilda: Nil

IN AFL ON DEMAND NOW