Fremantle will enter round one on a high after mounting a late comeback to upset West Coast in a Marsh Community Series match that turned on its head at HBF Arena on Saturday. 

After three quarters that had both sides looking rusty and underprepared for round one, a thriller emerged as Freo kicked five unanswered goals to snatch a late lead.

West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui tied the scores with minutes remaining before star Freo Docker Michael Walters kicked the point that gave his team the edge, winning 8.7 (55) to 7.12 (54).

It was a thrilling finish that came from nowhere after 10,384 fans sat through three-quarters of football that saw both teams go scoreless for quarters as they protected the ball and racked up uncontested marks.

Boxes were ticked on both sides, however, with Fremantle welcoming back stars Nat Fyfe (23 possessions and four clearances) and Walters (21 and two goals).

Fremantle got another excellent pre-season performance out of third-year midfielder Andrew Brayshaw, who led the team with 25 possessions and five clearances to underline his readiness for a breakout season. 

Midfielder Darcy Tucker also returned from a knee knock to cement his round one spot with 24 touches, with Lachie Schultz doing likewise with two goals in a lively performance.

Fremantle hearts were in their mouths early in the second quarter when ruckman Sean Darcy went down clutching his right ankle.

Longmuir's No.1 big man, who has already endured a bruising pre-season, was assisted by trainers and could not put weight on his right leg, only to emerge 10 minutes later and play out the match. 

The Eagles would have been satisfied to see star defender Jeremy McGovern finish half a game unscathed in his return from a heel injury, all but securing his place for the season opener against Melbourne on March 22. 

Gun midfielder Elliot Yeo returned from All Stars duty to dominate the midfield with 33 possessions, eight clearances and eight inside 50s as best on ground.

Andrew Gaff (32 and five inside 50s) was also prolific, while Dom Sheed rotated forward effectively to kick two goals.

Coach Adam Simpson insists Tim Kelly won't be the story every week, slotting into an already star-studded midfield, and he was a nice cog in the engine rather than the star on Saturday as he builds form and chemistry. 

WEST COAST   3.3       3.7       5.11     7.12 (54)

FREMANTLE   1.2       3.4       3.5       8.7 (55)

GOALS

West Coast: Sheed 2, Yeo, Hutchings, Naitanui, Ryan, Kennedy

Fremantle: Walters 2, Banfield 2, Schultz 2, Colyer, Taberner 

BEST

West Coast: Yeo, Sheed, Gaff, Hurn, Naitanui, Duggan

Fremantle: Walters, Fyfe, Brayshaw, Tucker, Schultz, Hughes

INJURIES

West Coast: Nil

Fremantle: Nil 

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Dalgleish, Heffernan, Williamson

Crowd: 10,384 at HBF Arena