West Coast threw its best punch but was ultimately outmuscled by Fremantle in a spiteful RAC Derby on Saturday night, with Freo winning an entertaining clash at Optus Stadium by 24 points.
 
With the crosstown rivals at opposite ends of the ladder, the Eagles played with a relentless pressure and physical edge that levelled the playing field and briefly looked capable of ruining Fremantle's top-four hopes.

But it proved unsustainable against the finals-bound Freo, who were able to get the game on their terms in the second half and ground out their third RAC Derby win on the trot, winning 9.17 (71) to 7.5 (47).
 
The win secures a home final for Freo for the first time since their last September appearance in 2015 and keeps their chances of securing a double-chance alive.

Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy won the Glendinning-Allan Medal for his dominant performance in the ruck, winning a career-high 57 hit-outs and giving his team a significant clearance advantage.

The match was also a celebration of retiring champion David Mundy, who won a game-high eight clearances to go with 25 disposals (12 contested), showing typical class in the wet conditions. 
 
Midfielders Will Brodie (27 and seven clearances) and Caleb Serong (25 and five) were important, while Michael Walters enjoyed moments of class to kick two goals. 
 
West Coast defender Tom Barrass challenged Darcy for best afield honours, blanketing Rory Lobb and holding the Freo tall goalless and to just seven disposals.
 
Premiership captain Shannon Hurn continued a fine season, finishing with 28 disposals and nine rebound 50s, with young midfielder Xavier O'Neill (19 and 11 tackles) playing one of his more impressive games for the club.

The Eagles made their intent clear from the opening bounce, with midfield inclusion Jackson Nelson sent to Andrew Brayshaw in a hard tag that involved a lot of off-the-ball work. 
 
Playing like they had a point to prove, the underdogs set the physical tone for the game all over the ground before tensions boiled over 10 minutes in with a melee on the wing.
 
Serong took it upon himself to support Brayshaw physically, and he was at the centre of both the play and the off-the-ball scuffles. He won 10 disposals for the quarter and kicked a superb running goal from 55m, but also gave away a 150m penalty after an altercation with Jack Redden.

The young star did it all with a ripped jumper that was hanging on by a thread as Freo went to the first break trailing by two points.
 
West Coast continued its high-pressure assault in the second quarter as both teams struggled to score in the wet conditions, with Walters converting on the run to break the deadlock after nine minutes.
 
Jack Darling, who had struggled to get free of opponent Alex Pearce, converted a set shot from 50m to snatch back the lead before Blake Acres snapped a brilliant stoppage goal to send his team into the main break three points clear.
 
While the first half was an arm wrestle with both teams creating their share of chances, the third quarter was all Fremantle, with the Dockers dominating the inside 50s (19-11) and contested ball (43-30).
 
They kicked a wayward 2.8, however, missing several gettable snaps as Barrass and Hurn did all they could to hold back the tide, combining for 18 disposals for the quarter and seven rebound 50s. 
 
As impressive as the Eagles' defenders were though, they couldn't spark the team offensively and they didn't look threatening at any stage in the final term, kicking only one goal as Freo secured an important four points.

FREMANTLE        3.4   5.6   7.14   9.17 (71)
WEST COAST        4.0   5.2   6.3   7.5 (47)  
 
GOALS
Fremantle: Walters 2, Frederick 2, Acres, Brayshaw, Darcy, Schultz, Serong
West Coast: Waterman 2, Darling, Dixon, Langdon, O'Neill, Redden
 
BEST
Fremantle: Darcy, Mundy, Brodie, Serong, Acres, Walters, Pearce 
West Coast: Barrass, Hurn, Duggan, O'Neill, Shuey, Bazzo
 
INJURIES
Fremantle: Lobb (TBC)
West Coast: Jones (TBC)
 
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Bailey Banfield (replaced Rory Lobb in the fourth quarter)
West Coast: Greg Clark (replaced Jamaine Jones in the third quarter)