Fremantle has won a scrappy game against Richmond by 23 points at Subiaco Oval on Saturday afternoon, 15.14 (104) to 11.15 (81).
The win gave Fremantle its 11th victory of the season, the first time the Port club has managed such a feat, and takes it ever closer to their first finals appearance.
Courageous Dockers’ captain Peter Bell again led from the front, and the defining moment came in the 11th minute of the last stanza, when he miraculously kept the ball alive on the line in the pocket before getting the ball to the square for ruckman Troy Simmonds to goal and put the team 11 points up.
The game was put beyond doubt when Shaun McManus was given a kick from the goal square directly after a goal, when he ran 50 metres to get stuck into Richmond defender Ty Zantuck, and then got rewarded for being the aggressor by being given a goal.
In the first half, Richmond dominated in the centre. However, it was unable to follow up that good work with scores, and it told in the end.
For the Tigers, midfield duo Kane Johnson and Mark Coughlan were terrific all day, but the lack of class around them ultimately told.
Zantuck did a good job on Paul Medhurst, although the mercurial small man got away from him to kick two in the last.
Richmond got off on the right foot with a goal to stocky small-man David Rodan kicking the first of the game from 40 metres.
Bell replied for the Dockers after a spectacular grab 20 metres out before Matthew Pavlich put his team ahead with a good grab and kick.
Flashy Richmond wingman Greg Tivendale then slotted one with a booming drop punt from 55 metres but Troy Longmuir put his team up by eight points at the break after Shane Parker – hardly a renowned forward – fed the ball to him to goal from the square.
Andrew Krakouer again got the Tigers the first major of the term when Robbie Haddrill kicked it directly to him just 35 metres out after a point.
Troy Longmuir continued his good day with the team’s first after eight minutes, but Tivendale kicked two in a minute to put the Tigers ahead, the second one from outside 50 off just two steps.
The Dockers then kicked the last three goals of the term, the second to Headland after Jeff Farmer showed some of his old magic to get around two Richmond players – one of them twice – to get the ball to Des Headland in the square.
Bell’s last goal of the term was soccered off the ground in the square, after Troy Longmuir again worked hard to create the chance.
After 10 minutes into the third, Fremantle continued to keep the Tigers in it when Justin Longmuir missed twice in a minute from inside 20 metres.
Matthew Richardson and third gamer Jay Schultz scored for Richmond in the third, while Justin Longmuir finally grabbed a major before Bell took another spectacular mark and converted and Fremantle had increased their lead by a point during the term.
Richmond got the first of the last when Joel Bowden marked and gave a little handball to the passing Johnson as Des Headland wandered off without looking after the mark was paid.
Medhurst responded to a spray from coach Chris Connolly to kick two goals in a couple of minutes as Fremantle made the game safe.
FREMANTLE: 3.5, 7.8, 9.13, 15.14(104)
RICHMOND: 2.3, 5.9, 7.13, 11.15 (81)
GOALS: Fremantle: Bell 3, Medhurst 3, Simmonds 2, T.Longmuir 2, Cook, Headland, McManus, Pavlich, J.Longmuir.
Richmond: Tivendale 4, Rodan 2, Schulz 2, Johnson, Richardson, Krakouer.
BEST: Fremantle: Bell, Hayden, Cook, Pavlich T.Longmuir, McPharlin. Richmond: Coughlan, Johnson, Tivendale, Richardson, Ottens.
Umpires: Wenn, Woodcock, Hendrie.
Crowd: 31,725 at Subiaco Oval