Fremantle fight off Eagles to get closer to double chance finals

Tougher for longer.

In a bruising, combative and highly entertaining Western Derby, it’s what the Dockers were eventually able to prove.

But they didn’t have it all their own way, forced to absorb West Coast’s many punches in the opening half, the men in purple recovering from wearing multiple blows, to not only claim four points, but crucially move to third on the table, further enhancing their top four claims.

Harley Reid wrestles with Caleb Serong and Nat Fyfe.Credit: Getty Images

The Eagles brought a hardened edge about them, seen only on rare occasions this year. There was pressure and purpose, taking the contest up to their cross-town rivals, establishing a 20-point buffer in the second term.

Young gun Harley Reid was enemy number one, getting in the face and under the skin of his rivals.

His opponent Andy Brayshaw refused to give an inch, in what hopefully will be a match-up witnessed in Derbies for the next decade.

While West Coast brought the rage in the opening hour, they weren’t able to maintain it. The longer the contest went, the more Fremantle’s maturity, class and poise took charge.

It was their time to flex their muscles.

Having weathered the storm, they kicked clear on the back of a powerful second half, highlighted by a game-changing, five-minute burst.

Fremantle’s three-pronged talls – Treacy, Amiss and Jackson – shaped as a potential threat to an Eagles backline minus Jeremy McGovern.

Josh Treacy’s breakout season continues to gain momentum each week, latching onto a Hayden Young long-bomb to kick his first of the match.

A little over 60 seconds later, Fremantle’s ability to win the contest, breakaway from the stoppage and move the ball with speed was on show, resulting in a Michael Fredrick goal from a half-back transition.

The third and final sequence came from the resulting centre bounce, thanks to the athleticism of Luke Jackson, combining with Nat Fyfe, before hitting Treacy, who converted.

It was the period where the Dockers put the foot down, going to another level the Eagles simply couldn’t match.

It took the winds out of West Coast’s sails.

The 13 point half-time deficit facing Justin Longmuir’s side was not only eroded, but turned into a 21-point, final-break lead.

Importantly, Fremantle didn’t show any mercy, booting 11 of the last 13 goals, running away with a comprehensive 35-point victory.

What the Dockers faced, and overcame, on Saturday night was the perfect dress rehearsal for what’s to come.

A finals campaign which is fast approaching, and so to a starting point which is tracking towards an all important double chance.

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