Team Song: Fremantle

Fremantle produced the response that its past fortnight demanded on Saturday night, rediscovering a high-pressure style to notch an impressive 32-point win over Essendon at Optus Stadium.

In what shaped as a season-defining match, the Freo squared their season at 7-7 and kept themselves in the finals hunt, overwhelming the Bombers for long periods to win 14.9 (93) to 9.7 (61).

With ruckman Sean Darcy back from injury, Luke Jackson flying in attack, and midfielders Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw dominating in the centre, Fremantle extended their lead at the first three breaks before a late Essendon rally.

Serong (32 and 10 clearances) was outstanding in a best afield display, adding the icing to his and Fremantle's performance with a last-minute goal from a snap over his shoulder.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • Curtin students get the Freo experience

    Over the weekend, we hosted over 600 International Students from 48 different countries as part of our Partnership Alliance with Curtin University. For most of them this was their first taste of AFL live at Optus Stadium

    AFL
  • 00:47

    Fyfe, Switkowski and Schultz link up

    Fyfe, Switkowski and Schultz link up for a great team goal off the back of a contest on the wing.

    AFL
  • 02:22

    'They were brilliant and dynamic.' | First Crack

    The First Crack panel look at Freo's dynamic supply out of the midfield, Caleb Serong's body work and Luke Jackson's numbers that have franked his recent form.

    AFL
  • 08:49

    'We know that's our job.' | Caleb Serong on the Sunday Footy Show

    Take in the full chat with Caleb Serong on the Sunday Footy Show after Freo's 32 point win over the Dons!

    AFL
  • 04:01

    'We're a proud group, we want to stand for something.' | Michael Walters on Fox

    Michael Walters joined Fox Footy straight after the final siren on Saturday night, and caught up with his great mate Eddie Betts.

    AFL
  • 01:57

    'Freo moved the ball with precision.' | The Round So Far

    The Round So Far's Riley Beveridge and Kane Cornes break down Fremantle's midfield dominance and the Saturday Star performance of Caleb Serong.

    AFL
  • 01:40

    Dogga and Swag highlights | Round 15

    Darcy and Jackson make one helluva combo! Checkout their highlights right here

    AFL
  • 02:40

    All the goals | Round 15

    There were some spectacular goals in our match against Essendon. Check them all out right here!

    AFL
  • 00:24

    Team Song: Fremantle

    Watch the Dockers celebrate their round 15 win

    AFL
  • 20:02

    POST-GAME PODCAST | Final Siren with Michael Frederick

    Milestone man Michael Frederick joins our post-game show from inside the changerooms as Freo celebrate a 32-point win over Essendon!

    AFL
  • 09:03

    Justin Longmuir post-match | Round 15 v Essendon

    Watch Fremantle's press conference after round 15's match against Essendon

    AFL
  • 02:35

    'We wanted to bounce back from last week' | Luke Jackson

    We spoke to Luke Jackson after the win against Essendon in round 15

    AFL
  • 08:30

    Match highlights | Round 15 v Essendon

    See all the highlights from our round 15 clash against Essendon

    AFL
  • 01:14

    'Looked more like us that game' | Alex Pearce

    Hear from the Skipper after Freo's win against the bombers

    AFL
  • 00:16

    Serong puts the game to rest!

    We love a Sebba goal, checkout his snap right here

    AFL
  • 00:56

    'We wanted to come back out and play our Freo game' | Luke Jackson

    Watch Dogga's on field post-match interview with channel 7

    AFL
  • 00:46

    Team footy the theme as Freo drive through Jackson

    Fremantle earns a timely goal through Luke Jackson after some selfless play

    AFL
  • 00:15

    A ripper from Brayshaw!

    Andy keeps Freo's engines revving as he slots through a great goal

    AFL
  • 00:15

    Jye is firing on all cylinders tonight!

    Check out another one of Jye's goals as he kicks a great snap

    AFL
  • 00:14

    Amiss doesn't miss!

    Check out this great snap from The Kid!

    AFL

Captain Alex Pearce led from the front with his blanketing job on Essendon key forward Peter Wright, who was held goalless after booting five goals in his last start against Carlton.

The Bombers were best-served by midfielders Zach Merrett (29 and a goal) and Nic Martin (26 and one), while star Darcy Parish returned in style, finishing with 24 and a team-high nine clearances after a hot start.

The pressure that would help Fremantle get the game on its terms was nowhere to be seen early, however, as the Bombers got the jump in Perth and kicked back-to-back goals to open.

It was emphatic, too, with Freo kicking five unanswered goals either side of quarter time on the back of increased pressure around the ball and an ability to force turnovers.

Fremantle kept the momentum going throughout the second term, with Jackson influential both in the air and at ground level, and Serong racking up 11 disposals for the quarter as they dominated inside 50s (15-7) and built a 22-point lead at the main break.

00:14

Amiss doesn't miss!

Check out this great snap from The Kid!

The tackling pressure that was turning their form around continued to ramp up and the backline held firm as Pearce continued his blanketing job on a goalless Wright.

When Jackson marked on the boundary and converted his set shot, the result appeared settled and Fremantle took a 39-point lead and all the momentum into the last break.

Three goals from the Bombers to open the final term sent a scare through the Optus Stadium crowd, but milestone player Michael Frederick settled the result in his 50th game with four minutes to play.

Early focus pays off for Freo
Fremantle entered Saturday night having lost 12 of its 13 first quarters this season and was coming off its worst opening term of the season against Greater Western Sydney. The concerning trend looked like continuing after back-to-back Bomber goals to open the game, but the response eventually came from Freo, who lifted around the ball to break a run of five first-quarter 'losses'. Fittingly, it was the red-time goals they have developed a bad habit of conceding that got them over the line, with Michael Walters flying for a terrific contested mark and converting to put them ahead late. 

Freo get their 'Swag' back
The return of Sean Darcy might not have given Fremantle the hitout dominance that was anticipated with Essendon's Sam Draper on the sidelines, but it unlocked the best of Freo, freeing Luke Jackson to play the forward/midfield role he excels in. The man Freo call 'Swaggy' was still influential on his own after two matches out with a hamstring injury, finishing with 24 hitouts and doing valuable bullocking work for his midfielders.

FREMANTLE        3.3     8.7    12.8    14.9 (93)
ESSENDON          2.3     5.3    6.5     9.7 (61)

GOALS
Fremantle: Jackson 3, Amiss 2, Walters 2, Frederick 2, Brayshaw, Johnson, Schultz, Serong, Switkowski
Essendon: Caldwell, Guelfi, Hobbs, Langford, Martin, Menzie, Merrett, Parish, Stringer

BEST
Fremantle: Serong, Jackson, Pearce, Brayshaw, Henry, Johnson
Essendon: Merrett, Martin, Hobbs, Parish, Ridley

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Essendon: Zerk-Thatcher (head knock)

LATE CHANGES
Fremantle: Nil
Essendon: Jye Menzie replaced in selected side by Nick Bryan

SUBSTITUTES 
Fremantle: Sam Sturt (replaced Alex Pearce in fourth quarter)
Essendon: Jye Menzie (replaced Nick Bryan in third quarter)

Crowd: 43,063 at the Optus Stadium