Fremantle's unbeaten run has continued with a hard-fought 13-point win over the Western Bulldogs, but it has come at a cost with Nat Fyfe on report for tripping.
Fremantle's seventh victory didn't come easy, with the plucky Dogs levelling the scores with six minutes to play after trailing by 34 points in the second quarter.
Despite seven goals from Tory Dickson and a cracking performance from captain Bob Murphy, goals to Michael Walters and Matthew Pavlich – a wonderful snap from the skipper – in the last minute sealed the 15.11 (101) to 14.4 (88) win at Etihad Stadium.
Pav seals the win
But the main storyline of the day rested with Fyfe.
The incident happened in the Freo Dockers' forward pocket when Fyfe fell and took out Koby Stevens' legs as he slid into the Bulldog.
Saving Fyfe from Brownlow ineligibility could be the change in rules this season that means a player must be suspended to be ruled out of contention, with fines handed down for low-level offences.
However, he faces a nervous 24 hours as the Match Review Panel looks at the incident that was reported by umpire Matt Stevic.
Regardless, Fyfe will be a big chance to claim the three votes after a 30-disposal performance.
From the moment he won the first centre clearance of the afternoon, he was always going to prove a handful for the Bulldogs, especially given that Aaron Sandilands obliterated Ayce Cordy in the ruck.
With Luke Beveridge sticking to his guns and leaving Will Minson in the VFL, where he was one of Footscray's best on Saturday, Cordy managed three hit-outs to Sandilands' 50.
However, Cordy mainly contested bounces before moving forward, with Jordan Roughead, Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Boyd helping out at stoppages around the ground, as Fremantle won 69 hit-outs to the Dogs' 13.
While Fyfe won 10 clearances, the overall count was pretty even at 38 to 33.
Fyfe clearance to Pav
It looked as though things would get ugly when Freo kicked five unanswered goals in the first quarter to lead by 27 points at the first change, but the Dogs returned fire.
Murphy was crucial in moving the ball quickly out of defence and first-gamer Bailey Dale was able to settle his nerves with one of three Bulldog second-term goals that kept them in touch.
Three consecutive Freo goals in the third blew the margin out to 29 points, but the Dogs didn't stop believing with Luke Dahlhaus a force in the midfield and Jason Johannisen providing plenty of run.
When they levelled the scores with six minutes left through a goal to Dahlhaus, they had the momentum and a sniff after being run down by St Kilda last week.
But the class of Walters, Pavlich and Michael Johnson, who was influential with 29 disposals in defence after lining up on Jake Stringer, shone through.
The win leaves the top-of-the-table Fremantle two games clear of the second-placed West Coast.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.0 4.3 8.4 14.4 (88)
FREMANTLE 5.3 7.6 11.8 15.11 (101)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dickson 7, T. Boyd 2, Crameri 2, Dahlhaus, Dale, Bontempelli
Fremantle: Pavlich 5, Fyfe 3, Walters 2, Mayne, Taberner, Clarke, D. Pearce, C. Pearce
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Murphy, Dickson, Dahlhaus, Johannisen, Bontempelli, M. Boyd
Fremantle: Fyfe, Johnson, Neale, C. Pearce, D. Pearce, Pavlich
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Honeychurch (left shoulder)
Fremantle: Mundy (facial cut)
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Lachie Hunter replaced Mitch Honeychurch in the third quarter.
Fremantle: Paul Duffield replaced Nick Suban at three-quarter time.
Report: Nat Fyfe for tripping Koby Stevens in the third quarter.
Umpires: Fisher, Dalgleish, Stevic
Official crowd: 18,170 at Etihad Stadium
