A valiant effort from a youthful Freo side couldn’t hold back a determined Great Western Sydney, as the Giants consolidated a spot inside the top four with a much-needed 12-point win on Saturday.
Fremantle took the upper hand with a five-goal third term, holding a 15-point lead at the final break, but the Giants clicked into gear in the final quarter and held off the plucky Freo Dockers 13.20 (98) to 13.8 (86) at Spotless Stadium.
Vice-captain Stephen Coniglio showed his importance to the home side in his return game with 27 possessions, nine clearances and six tackles, with Lachie Whitfield, Callan Ward, Dylan Shiel also influential midfielders, especially in the tense closing stages.
Freo captain Nat Fyfe finished with 31 touches and two goals, while Lachie Neale gathered 30 disposals, with defender Luke Ryan impressive with 25 possessions and 14 marks.
The Giants looked like running away with the game when they kicked three goals in a row either side of the first change to lead by 14 points, but three first half goals to Fremantle forward Shane Kersten kept the visitors in touch, after they lost Connor Blakely for the game when he dislocated his shoulder twice before half time.
With Fyfe able to lose his tag Matthew Kennedy and have an influence around stoppages, Fremantle dominated the third quarter with five goals to two, on the back of their hard work to win the clearances 11-4, which included a 6-1 advantage in the centre square, and the contested possession count 34-26.
A goal after the three-quarter-time siren for veteran Mundy put his side 15 points up, but GWS returned for the last term with a more attacking mindset, and with Coniglio outstanding in tight, and the likes of Shiel, Devon Smith and Tom Scully busy, they piled on four quick goals.
Freo answered with two of their own to make it a three-point game at the 24 minute mark before Kelly sealed the result, his side's first win since round 14, with a class finish from deep in the left forward pocket.
MEDICAL ROOM
Greater Western Sydney: draftee Will Setterfield will need to be monitored after he copped a heavy tackle in the third term. He came off with the help of trainers and although he returned to the field, he was taken to the rooms before three-quarter-time and didn't return.
Fremantle: young midfielder Connor Blakely must be in doubt for next week after he dislocated his left shoulder in the first term. He got it strapped and returned before quarter time, but when it popped out again midway through the second term, he headed for the rooms with the club doctors and was done for the day.
NEXT UP
The Giants travel to Canberra for a 'home' clash with Melbourne on Saturday afternoon, while Fremantle head back to Perth to welcome the Suns to Domain Stadium on Saturday night.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 3.5 6.7 8.11 13.20 (98)
FREMANTLE 3.3 6.6 11.8 13.8 (86)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Kennedy 2, Lobb 2, Patton 2, Scully, Cameron, Whitfield, De Boer, Haynes, Smith, Kelly
Fremantle: Kersten 3, Grey 2, Fyfe 2, B Hill, Suban, Hughes, Mundy, Ballantyne, Tucker
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Coniglio, Haynes, Kelly, Shiel, Whitfield, Simpson
Fremantle: Fyfe, Neale, Kersten, S Hill, Ryan, Tucker
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Setterfield (concussion)
Fremantle: Blakely (shoulder)
Report: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Schmitt, Wallace
Official crowd: 11,233
