Fremantle have finished the season with a gallant 15-point loss to Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The Bombers fought hard in the 16.11 (107) to 14.8 (92) win over Freo and were able to grind out their 12th victory of the home and away season.

Skipper Nat Fyfe was Fremantle's best with 24 disposals and two goals, while David Mundy, Lachie Neale and Luke Ryan were also good.

Jonathon Griffin battled hard in the ruck and kicked two goals to accompany his 32 hit-outs, while Brennan Cox (two goals) also showed some good signs as a forward.

"We ran out strong, we attacked the game, there's some really good lessons going forward. Our backs ran, our forwards presented, and some of our young players grew and our leaders stood up," Freo coach Ross Lyon said post-match. 

"That was today, so it was really pleasing, and it gives us a message around where you need to be on the edge of the eight."

Fremantle got within eight points of Essendon midway through the final term and had all the momentum but were unable to finish the job.

It was a grinding win rather than a statement performance by John Worsfold's side, although they were up against a competitive Fremantle outfit.

Zach Merrett starred with a career-high haul of four goals from 31 disposals in a best-afield display, while retiring great Jobe Watson was also important at the coalface with 26 disposals and a team-high eight clearances.

Essendon got off to a flyer, kicking the first three goals in quick time and looking set to storm to a strong early lead. But Fremantle showed some fight and bit back, kicking three of the next four goals to only trail by eight points at the first change.

Despite Zach Merrett's 20-disposal first half and the Bombers registering 35 inside 50s to 19, they couldn't quite shake Fremantle, who trailed by only 20 points at the main break. They might not have had the same forward fluency as the Bombers, but Ross Lyon's men scrounged goals when it looked like they were about to be blown away.

Fremantle again posed some questions of the Bombers in the third term and got within eight points at the halfway mark of the quarter, but Essendon responded brilliantly, booting the next five goals and establishing a 32-point buffer at the final change.

They appeared set to cruise home, but nothing can be taken for granted with this Essendon side, particularly given late fadeouts earlier in the season against Sydney and the Brisbane Lions.

Fremantle’s five-goal final quarter made for a nervous Essendon crowd, but they prevailed to extend their season and are finals-bound. 

MEDICAL ROOM
Essendon: The Bombers were thrown a curveball before the game when Hooker was a very, very late withdrawal with calf tightness in the warm-up. They appeared to get through unscathed after that although David Myers did have some treatment on his shoulder at three-quarter time.

Fremantle: Fremantle didn't seem to have any major injury concerns.

ESSENDON   4.3   8.5   14.8   16.11   (107)
FREMANTLE   3.1   5.3   9.6   14.8   (92)

GOALS
Essendon: Merrett 4, Stewart 4, Daniher 2, Hocking 2, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Bellchambers, Begley, Laverde
Fremantle: Griffin 2, Fyfe 2, Sheridan 2, Taberner 2, Ballantyne 2, Cox 2, Bennell, Crozier 

BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Goddard, Watson, Zaharakis, Heppell, Stewart
Fremantle: Fyfe, Mundy, Neale, Ryan, Griffin

INJURIES
Essendon: Hooker (calf, replaced by Hocking)
Fremantle: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Kamolins, Ryan, Mollison

Official crowd: 42,665 at Etihad Stadium