Fremantle Dockers suffer 71-point belting at hands of St Kilda

FREMANTLE'S decision to field a second-string line-up almost cost it a home qualifying final.

Josh Simpson

FREMANTLE has narrowly avoided a major embarrassment, with its decision to field a second-string line-up against St Kilda almost costing it a prized top-two finish and home qualifying final.

The Dockers made 11 changes to the team which lost to the Saints by 71 points at Etihad Stadium today, believing the top-two was out of reach because Geelong could not lose to Brisbane.

The Cats got home by one point amid high drama and controversy at Simonds Stadium, with Lion Ryan Lester's close-range shot for goal with 2sec remaining being touched over the line by Paul Chapman.

The Dockers would have been left red-faced had Lester kicked a goal to give Brisbane victory, with only a win over 16th-placed St Kilda needed to secure second spot.

Geelong will host Fremantle in the second qualifying final next week, with the AFL yet to confirm the venue.

The Dockers are lobbying for the final to be played at Etihad Stadium, not the Cats' home Simonds Stadium.

The Saints gave their retiring trio a fitting send-off after their emotion-charged 16.16 (112) to 6.5 (41) triumph over the Dockers, who had made no secret they had one eye on next week's qualifying final.

Jack Steven and Leigh Montagna with 47 disposals each led St Kilda's dominance against Fremantle's under-strength midfield.

St Kilda were farewelling veterans Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke and Jason Blake.

Milne kicked two goals and defender Blake scored one.

Koschitzke in his 200th game booted four behinds, much to the crowd's disappointment.

The Dockers were forced to substitute Clancee Pearce off early in the first term because of a leg injury.

Fremantle remarkably failed to score at all in the first quarter.

The visitors trailed by 50 points at the 22-minute mark of the second term before Jack Hannath's strong mark and goal sparked the Dockers who scored four of the last five goals of the first half to narrow the margin to 33 points, 9.6 (60) to 4.3 (27).

The Saints added three more goals in the third term to extend their advantage to 46 points at three-quarter time.

Blake's goal and Koschitzke's search for one were the main points of interest in the last term, as St Kilda kicked 4.7 to Fremantle's 1.0.