A Hayley Miller and Aisling McCarthy-inspired Fremantle have kept their flickering AFLW finals hopes alive with a 44-point win over Richmond — but they still face a tremendous ask to jump into the top eight.
The Dockers are mathematically still in the hunt after their 8.8 (56) to 2.2 (14) win in their final game at Fremantle Oval this season, but missed a chance to improve their percentage in the race for the finals.
Miller led the Dockers’ charge in the first half with two goals and six score involvements from 11 touches as the midfielder-turned-forward proved unstoppable.
And McCarthy also ended the game with two goals to go with 32 disposals, eight score involvements, six inside 50s and 501 metres gained.
But while Fremantle eventually added to their score, they were held to just a single point in the third term and unable to pile on the pain against the 16th-placed Richmond.
The win kept Fremantle in 10th spot, it drew them level on points with cross-town rivals West Coast Eagles in sixth.
However, the Dockers’ percentage of 82.2 is significantly less than their fellow finals chasers by at least 20 per cent.
In the event of a Carlton win over GWS on Sunday, Fremantle would need to beat the seventh-placed Crows in Adelaide next Sunday and hope one of West Coast and Sydney lose.
Should the Blues fail to beat the Giants, Fremantle could also sneak into the eight if the Eagles beat Carlton next Friday, Sydney also lose and the Dockers then take care of business in Adelaide.
Fremantle knew getting off to a fast start was optimal, but it was Richmond who streaked into the lead early thanks to a classy Isabel Bacon finish.
But the tide soon shifted as McCarthy began to dominate proceedings, with the midfielder grabbing 13 disposals, four inside 50s, three score involvements and 224 metres gained in the opening term alone.
Meanwhile Miller, was having an impact every time the ball went inside 50 as she nabbed four first term score involvements and booted Fremantle’s opening goal.
The Dockers had six scoring shots in the first quarter, but only one of them was a goal – however, they began to convert their control into scoreboard pressure in the second.
Georgie Brisbane kicked through the middle of the sticks after winning a free kick for holding the ball and then Miller grabbed her second of the game not long after.
Miller was wreaking havoc even when she was outside of the arc and when she sent a long kick forward to an open forward 50, Richmond’s inability to deal with the buncing ball led to a Gabby O’Sullivan free-kick and goal.
Not only did Fremantle hold Richmond scoreless in the second term but they also prevented from going inside 50 at all, with Emma O’Driscoll and Ash Brazill combining for 13 intercepts between them to the main break.
And when Ange Stannett notched the Dockers’ fourth goal of the quarter, it gave the Dockers a 31-point lead at half-time.
With the big lead, Fremantle would have sensed a chance to massage their percentage in the second half, but found themselves frustrated by the Tigers, with Caitlin Greiser kicking the only major of the term as the hosts were held goalless.
Brisbane scored her second of the game before McCarthy added to another all-round excellent performance with two more goals as Fremantle regained the ascendancy in the final quarter.
