Collingwood has defied a host of mid-game injuries to breathe life into its finals ambitions with a gutsy 20-point victory over Fremantle at Domain Stadium. 

Despite dominating large swathes of Sunday's clash, the Magpies needed to stave off another determined fightback by the never-say-die Freo Dockers to clinch their third-straight victory, 15.15 (105) to 12.13 (85). 

Fremantle were within striking distance of another come-from-behind victory trailing by 13 points at the final change and leveled the scores after quick-thinking snaps by Hayden Crozier and Shane Kersten. 

However, Adam Treloar answered with a superb running goal for Collingwood, and when Bradley Hill missed a sitter from 15m out the wind was out of Freo's sails.

Fremantle responded to last week's loss to Adelaide with an improved effort but their vaunted engine room was overpowered without Aaron Sandilands. 

Fremantle's ruckman was a late withdrawal pre-match and in-form Pies big man Brodie Grundy provided silver-service to the Magpies' star-studded onball brigade.

Collingwood dominated the opening half, but the Pies were inaccurate in front of goal.

Despite beating Fremantle around clearances (23-16) and inside 50s (29-15), the visitors couldn’t take full toll.

The Freo Dockers ramped up their pressure to start the second term and quick goals to Ed Langdon and Brady Grey – who toe-poked from the goalline after a fumble – saw the home side snatch a two-point advantage.

But Pendlebury stepped up to kick-start a run of four unanswered majors as the Pies broke away to a game-high 22-point lead. 

The Pies skipper was in the play again moments later when Bradley Hill burned him off and bounced through the goal of the day to keep the Freo Dockers in touch only 16 points down at the long break.

Freo closed to within 13 points at three-quarter time – inspired by skipper Nat Fyfe's bullocking around stoppages – and threatened another comeback victory when they drew level early in the last quarter. 

But the best efforts of Fyfe (24 disposals, one goal), Connor Blakely (26), and Lachie Neale (22, one goal) couldn't haul Freo over the line as coach Ross Lyon – now the longest-serving Dockers mentor – suffered another loss in a milestone game. 

"I thought they made us pay for some poor stoppage work early," Lyon said.

"I thought we were a bit helter-skelter with our ball use - a lack of composure - but that improved after half-time.

"We were pretty effective when we got it forward. 

"Clearly the critical piece was turning it over (back of centre), which hadn't been an issue all year but it's raised its ugly head the last two weeks."

MEDICAL ROOM
Fremantle: Aaron Sandilands will be monitored again this week after failing to overcome a sore hamstring.

Collingwood: Daniel Wells will miss matches after straining his calf, while Collingwood will be sweating on the fitness of Jamie Elliott (ankle), Tyson Goldsack (shoulder) and Levi Greenwood (corked quad).

NEXT UP
The Freo Dockers have a six-day break and face a trip to face the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, while Collingwood heads back to the MCG for a Queen's Birthday showdown with Melbourne.

FREMANTLE           2.1     5.5     10.6    12.13 (85)                  
COLLINGWOOD      3.5    7.9     11.13   15.15 (105)           

GOALS
Fremantle: Langdon 2, Grey 2, Neale, Fyfe, B.Hill, McCarthy, Mundy, Taberner, Kersten, Crozier
Collingwood: Elliott 3, De Goey 2, Moore 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, Phillips, Pendlebury, Greenwood, Treloar, Crocker, Howe 

BEST 
Fremantle: Walters, Blakely, Weller, Fyfe, B.Hill, Johnson
Collingwood: Treloar, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Adams, Smith, Howe 

INJURIES 
Fremantle: Nil
Collingwood: Wells (calf), Elliott (ankle), Goldsack (shoulder) 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Dalgleish, Ryan, Mollison

Official crowd: 34,259 at Domain Stadium