PORT Adelaide's finals hopes have been dealt another significant blow with a 57-point loss to Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Despite slashing its early deficit to 10 points by half time, Port kicked just one goal in the second half as Fremantle built the 17.13 (115) to 8.10 (58) result.
However, the home side was handed some bad news of its own through a broken left leg to midfielder Michael Barlow.
Late in the the final term, Barlow collided with teammate Rhys Palmer when running with the flight of the ball.
It took the sting out of an important win for Fremantle, which will remain in the four irrespective of round 14's other results and is in a great position to earn a double chance in its first finals series since 2006.
Fremantle entered half time looking shaky and already missing Antoni Grover (hamstring) and Nat Fyfe (concussion), as well as late withdrawal Chris Tarrant.
However, Ryan Crowley emerged as an unlikely game-breaker, booting five second-half goals.
Aaron Sandilands (22 hit-outs and 18 disposals) was dominant in the ruck, while Palmer (31 possessions) played his best game since returning from a knee reconstruction.
Fremantle kicked the first five goals of the game and appeared destined for a big win as its midfielders did as they pleased.
The home side moved the ball quickly and precisely, and when it didn't have possession its zone defence held Port scoreless for the first 20 minutes.
Matthew Pavlich, who was generally well-held by Troy Chaplin, was quick to extend the 27-point quarter-time lead, but a more committed Port responded with six of the next eight goals.
Mitch Banner (23 possessions) and Dom Cassisi (26), who were strong performers for the visitors, made sure the Power were getting their fair share of clearances, and there was a clear directive to move the ball quicker.
When Danyle Pearce kicked a superb running goal from the boundary, Port was just 10 points behind and had a golden opportunity to overrun an undermanned Fremantle in the second half.
However, it folded catastrophically for its seventh straight defeat, the worst losing run in Port Adelaide history.
Fremantle 5.4 8.7 12.11 17.13 (115)
Port Adelaide 1.1 7.3 7.7 8.10 (58)
GOALS
Fremantle: Crowley 5, Hill 2, Haselby 2, Morabito, Barlow, Grover, Sandilands, Pavlich, Mundy, Ballantyne, Roberton
Port Adelaide: Schulz 2, Pearce 2, Carlile, Banner, Thomas, Ebert
BEST
Fremantle: Sandilands, Crowley, Palmer, Barlow, Ballantyne, de Boer
Port Adelaide: Banner, Cassisi, Rodan, Pearce, Broadbent, Carlile
INJURIES
Fremantle: Grover (hamstring), Fyfe (nose), Barlow (leg), Tarrant (achilles) replaced in selected side by Silvagni
Port Adelaide: TBC
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Jennings, Pannell
Official crowd: 32,442 at Subiaco Oval
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
