Fremantle coach Trent Cooper has conceded the Dockers’ top two hopes are likely dashed after Melbourne claimed a thrilling five-point win at Fremantle Community Bank Oval today.

Down by 27 points early in the second quarter, the Dockers charged home, but their habit of giving teams a head start finally proved costly, losing 5.7 (37) to 4.8 (32).

It was the Dockers’ second loss in the past four games and has seen them drop from first to fourth and a game behind the top two of Collingwood and Brisbane with just one game to go.

For the sixth time this season the Dockers couldn’t kick a goal in the first quarter as Melbourne’s set up behind the ball halted their run.

Cooper said the slow starts were starting to worry him and he would turn to the men’s program to try to rectify it.

“It’s not so much not kicking a goal, we’ve gone into the breeze every single first quarter this year, but it’s our intensity and the way we play,” he said.

“The last two weeks our intensity hasn’t been there and the opposition’s kicked three goals. Sides are always going to bring their best against us in the first quarter.

“We probably were the benchmark last year, maybe not so much this year so they (the opposition) know they have to come out and play at their best and they’ve been doing that.

“We’ll actually have a good chat with the men’s program and talk about different things that they do that may work for us. We’ve also challenge individuals to think about what individuals need to do to be switched on and ready to go.”

Fremantle must beat North Melbourne on Saturday at Arden Street and have results go their way to earn a home preliminary final.

Cooper said even if they didn’t claim a top two spot they could still win the premiership.

“I think there’s very little between the top seven teams in the competition. It obviously makes it harder coming from there, but on their day the top seven I think can beat each other,” he said.

“There’s no room from now to be off a little bit, because once you’re off that’ll be the end of your season.

“I think we’re just battling to win next week to earn the right for a home qualifying final.”

More worrying for Fremantle was how easy the Demons were able to move the ball across the ground,

Fremantle star Kiara Bowers touched the ball just once in the first quarter on her way to a season-low 12 disposals, epitomising the Dockers’ struggles.

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For Melbourne Kate Hore (two goals) was a constant threat up forward, while midfielder Karen Paxman (24 disposals) and ruck Lauren Pearce (21 touches and 16 hit-outs) were dominant.

Unsettled and under the pump, even the Dockers normally strong defence were feeling the pressure, with an uncharacteristic fumble from Emma O’Driscoll deep in defence leading to an easy Daisy Pearce goal.

Facing their biggest challenge of 2021, the home side managed to wrestle the momentum their way in the second term on the back of their pressure, but wasted their hard work in front of goals, with five straight behinds.

Fremantle finally got on the board in the dying minutes of the third quarter thanks to Gabby O’Sullivan, before Roxy Roux reduced the margin to just 12 points at the final break with a late goal.

Melbourne wilted under the WA sun as Fremantle’s fitness came to the fore and they began to overwhelm the Demons, with repeated forward entries seeing Roux and Gemma Houghton kick consecutive goals to give the Dockers the lead for the first time in the game.

But a 50m penalty would prove costly, with the play resulting in a match-winning goal to Maddison Gay with minutes left on the clock.

Scoreboard

Melbourne 3.2, 4.5, 4.7, 5.7 (39)

Fremantle 0.1, 0.6, 2.7, 4.8 (32)

Goals — Melbourne: K Hore 2 E McNamara D Pearce M Gay. Fremantle: R Roux 2 G O’Sullivan G Houghton.

Best — Melbourne: K Paxman L Pearce E McNamara M Gay K Hore L Birch. Fremantle: E Antonio H Miller R Roux K Bowers T Haynes S Cain.

Injuries — Melbourne: S Godrick (hamstring).

Umpires: M Adams G Simmonds L Rowe. Crowd: 2233 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.