A Patrick Dangerfield master-class has helped Geelong hold off a plucky Fremantle to remain in the hunt for a top-four finish.
Dangerfield kicked four goals and had 31 disposals to help the Cats avoid slumping to a third straight defeat with an 11.12 (78) to 9.7 (61) win at Domain Stadium on Friday night.
The Cats appeared in control at three-quarter time despite only leading by 14 points, but they had to survive a final-quarter surge from the Freo Dockers. The home side had 16 inside 50s to eight in the final term but squandered their chances, kicking 2.4 to the Cats 3.1 to fall 17 points short.
Corey Enright was also outstanding for the Cats. He had 30 disposals at a staggering 93 per cent efficiency. He also took 12 marks in defence in a vintage display. Andrew Mackie had 26 disposals to celebrate his 250th career game, while Zac Smith was influential in the ruck and kicked two important goals.
Stephen Hill's run and carry was very influential for Freo. He had 37 disposals, 14 contested possessions, six clearances and five inside 50s.
Lachie Neale and David Mundy also did some heavy lifting in the midfield while Michael Walters was dangerous up forward, but they could not find a multiple goalkicker, which proved the difference in the end.
Blakely kicks his first AFL goal
Fremantle started with an intensity that had been missing in their previous two outings.
They were ferocious in the opening term with nine more contested possessions, seven more clearances and two more tackles than the Cats. They also looked exceptionally dangerous transitioning from defence to attack with the hard spread and slick ball use Ross Lyon has been craving.
They thoroughly deserved their 16-point quarter-time lead, but the Cats then took control. They dominated the clearances and locked the ball in their front half with 17 inside 50 entries to nine for the quarter.
Dangerfield kicked two goals for the term after resting deep in the forward line, one an exhibition of speed and strength as he tight-roped the boundary, although replays suggested he might have stepped off the rope and out of bounds.
Fremantle managed only one point in the third term and were lucky to be within reach at three-quarter time. The Cats kicked just 2.4 from six shots after dominating the quarter.
The Cats were almost made to pay for not icing the game earlier but Freo could not take their chances in the last quarter.
Both sides were left to count the cost of a bruising encounter.
Michael Barlow suffered a left shoulder injury early in the third term following a heavy hip and shoulder with Lincoln McCarthy. Barlow headed straight to the rooms for assessment before spending the remainder of the match on the bench with ice on his shoulder.
Ballantyne and Barlow injured
Lachie Henderson was knocked out shortly after in an extraordinary act of courage. He ran fearlessly back with the flight in an attempt to impact a marking contest, but his head collided with Chris Mayne’s hip as Freo flew full tilt in the opposite direction.
Henderson was driven off on a stretcher with a neck brace on for precaution, but he was up and walking around the rooms shortly afterwards and did not need to be taken to hospital.
NEXT UP
The Freo Dockers travel to Metricon Stadium to take on Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon. The Cats host Adelaide at Simonds Stadium in a blockbuster on Saturday night.
FREMANTLE 4.1 7.2 7.3 9.7 (61)
GEELONG 1.3 6.7 8.11 11.12 (78)
GOALS
Fremantle: Walters, Barlow, Taberner, Weller, Blakely, Pavlich, Ballantyne, Mundy, Sutcliffe
Geelong: Dangerfield 4, Smith 2, Menzel, Cockatoo, Stanley, Hawkins, Murdoch
BEST
Fremantle: Hill, Walters, Neale, Mundy, Blakely, Dawson
Geelong: Dangerfield, Enright, Mackie, Selwood, Duncan, Motlop
INJURIES
Fremantle: Ballantyne (fractured cheekbone) Barlow (left shoulder)
Geelong: Henderson (concussion)
Reports: TBA
Umpires: Margetts, Findlay, Mitchell
Official crowd: 31,042 at the Domain Stadium
