Fremantle Dockers survive late fightback from North Melbourne to win thriller at Optus Stadium

How much is a win worth? Fremantle’s decision to pay North Melbourne to play a home game in Perth has reaped huge rewards with the Dockers after surviving a stunning final quarter comeback to win by six points at Optus Stadium.

There’s no place like home – especially when you’re the away team - and it could easily be argued that the Dockers wouldn’t have walked away with a 10.13 (73) to 10.7 (67) win if that game had been in Victoria.

The Dockers’ off-field team did all the hard work to get them a 13th match in WA and the players produced a series of huge moments in the dying stages to win in front of 31,408 people.

It was a night where North Melbourne got the pre-game pyrotechnics, the advertising hoardings, the stadium lighting and pump up on the scoreboard.

Fremantle led by 23 points early in the final quarter, North levelled the scores late, then the Dockers kicked the match winner before surviving a frantic finish.

The Roos clearly felt at home because they dominated the first term. Luke Davies-Uniacke was on fire with 14 possessions and four clearances, while Harry Sheezel had 14 touches and Colby McKercher collected 11.

North controlled the clearances in the opening term and applied enormous pressure inside 50 but Fremantle defended strongly and didn’t let the Kangaroos get value for their hard work.

North Melbourne led by only two points at quarter time and despite being outplayed, Fremantle would have been in front if they’d kicked accurately. The Dockers had 2.5 on the board from only 11 inside 50s.

The Roos extended their lead to seven points after kicking the first goal of the second term, but the game changed as Fremantle asserted more control around stoppages.

The Dockers kicked five unanswered goals including a burst of four in five minutes as rain bucketed down. They won crucial clearances, ran in numbers and didn’t waste their chances when they came.

Pat Voss booted two goals for the quarter, Luke Jackson had an influence both as a goal kicker inside 50 and a pack crasher, and Fremantle’s use of both Jackson and Darcy started to get the better of Tristan Xerri.

Corey Wagner reduced Davies-Uniacke’s influence, keeping him to six touches and no clearances while winning eight possessions of his own, kicking one goal and contributing to others. Jordan Clark was also huge with nine disposals and immense drive from half-back.

Fremantle led by 21 points at half-time and they would have felt perfectly at home. They were even getting their own music played after kicking goals. That doesn’t happen when they’re in Melbourne.

The Kangaroos had so many chances to get back into the game during the third quarter but threw most away.

Cam Zurhaar missed with a shot on the run that he’d usually eat up. Paul Curtis then missed a regulation set shot. Finn O’Sullivan had no idea that Neil Erasmus had run into the umpire, and had an air swing when attempting to soccer the ball through from the goal square.

And then the Roos kicked the footy over Luke Parker’s head when he was alone inside 50. George Wardlaw had another opportunity late in the quarter but the Dockers maintained pressure and his shot sailed high in the air and straight to a Fremantle defender.

When you have those chances and don’t nail them, you are always vulnerable to making a big mistake.

Sheezel thought the ball hit the ground when Sam Switkowski took a mark, laid a tackle and was immediately penalised with a 50m penalty. Switkowski kicked truly and the Dockers had the first goal of the term after a long 22 minutes.

Parker quickly replied from a free kick, but Nick Larkey’s next shot went out of bounds on the full and it summed up the quarter for North.

The roar which followed as Nat Fyfe came on as the sub was a clear reminder that this game was being played in Perth and the crowd celebrated further when Serong kicked a classy goal as the clock ticked towards three quarter time.

But a familiar enemy bobbed up moments later as Jack Darling kicked a goal right on the siren. Fremantle led by 22 points with one quarter to play.

North Melbourne stormed home when trailing at the final change to beat West Coast in Bunbury last week. Could they do it again?You bet they could.

They kicked the first goal to make it a game. Then Larkey kicked another. Suddenly it was only 12 points the difference with 15 minutes to play.

North had all the momentum. And then Larkey kicked another. North were relentless.

Just one point separated the teams inside the last four minutes and it came down to one moment. Jackson had his chance and kicked the match winner. Or did he? North Melbourne just kept pumping the ball forward and Fremantle just kept finding a way to stop them from drawing the contest.

The Kangaroos had more disposals, more inside 50s, more clearances and laid 29 tackles inside 50 to Freo’s seven. But the Dockers won the game.

There’s no place like home.