Late Freo surge salvages two points in thrilling Pies draw
It’s happened again.
Collingwood has played out a second draw in just five weeks, giving up a 25-point lead in the final term to share the points with Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Friday night.
The Dockers kicked four goals in the last six minutes, one courtesy of a controversial free kick to Sean Darcy when Magpies youngster Lachie Sullivan handed the ball to his teammate Nick Daicos instead of the umpire, who had called for a ball-up.
Darcy made no mistake, reducing the margin to just 13 points. Nor did Dockers captain Alex Pearce a few minutes later, who slotted through just his fifth career goal. Hayden Young followed up with another.
Dockers winger Jeremy Sharp had a chance to win it for the home side with 45 seconds to go, but sprayed a shot at goal that levelled the score, 11.9 (75) to 10.15 (75).
The tie came at a cost for the Magpies, who lost ruck Mason Cox to a knee injury late in the third term and a hamstring concern for forward Brody Mihocek.
Cox landed hard in a marking contest with Jye Amiss and Darcy Moore late in the third term, his leg bending awkwardly under his body.
After kicking two goals in the third term, Mihocek finished the game on the bench due to an injury he only returned from for this game.
NEVER A BETTER CHANCE
Fremantle may rue the lost chance to knock off the Pies.
The Dockers were playing at home and were in form, having won three of their previous four games.
And they are almost at full strength, with only Brennan Cox and Michael Frederick missing from their best 22.
Collingwood was missing plenty, arguably five of their starters in Jordan De Goey, Jamie Elliott, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jeremy Howe, and Tom Mitchell. Dan McStay is also unlikely to play due to an ACL.
The Magpies had six kids with less than 10 games experience each, Ed Allan and Wil Parker debuting.
Harvey Harrison, in just his ninth game, had a big say in the outcome, with three goals.
RESET THE RADAR
The Dockers struggled in front of goal in the two rounds leading to this one.
But for the first half on Friday night, it was Collingwood that couldn’t kick straight.
After leading by one point at quarter-time, Pat Lipinski, Lachie Sullivan and Brody Mihocek all missed gettable opportunities to kick the Magpies further ahead at the start of the second term.
The Dockers kicked the only three goals for that quarter, leading by 13 points at half-time. Collingwood had 3.9 on the board, with only two of those behinds rushed.
In round 9, Fremantle managed just 4.15 in a 48-point loss to Sydney. The Dockers beat St Kilda by 17 points in round 10, but were just as wasteful, kicking 9.18.
They had dominated the start of Friday night’s game, but kept the Magpies in the contest. They by 13 points early, with 3.3 on the board and Jye Amiss missing everything with another shot.
WHAT THE RUCK
Luke Jackson has played most of this season as Fremantle lead ruck.
And he’s excelled, averaging almost 20 touches a game and he’d kicked eight goals before Friday night.
The numbers dried up for him against the Pies though, with Sean Darcy back in the side.
The pair shared the ruck duties against Cox and Darcy Cameron.
Jackson had just four touches in the first half and finished with 11 touches and just two marks.
SCOREBOARD
FREMANTLE 3.3 6.4 6.8 11.9 75
COLLINGWOOD 3.4 3.9 8.12 10.15 75
BEST
Dockers: Brayshaw, Clark, Ryan, Sharp, Serong, Young.
Magpies: N Daicos, Pendlebury, J Daicos, Richards, Harrison, Lipinski.
GOALS
Dockers: Banfield 3, Treacy, Switkowski, Sharp, O’Meara, Brayshaw, Darcy, Young, Pearce.
Magpies: Harrison 3, Mihocek 2, Richards, Lipinski, J Daicos, Crisp, Hill.
INJURIES Dockers: Nil. Magpies: Cox (knee), Mihocek (hamstring).
54,035 at Optus Stadium.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
BRAD ELBOROUGH’S VOTES
3 Nick Daicos (COLL)
2 Andrew Brayshaw (FRE)
1 Scott Pendlebury (COLL)
