FREMANTLE is into the semi-finals of the NAB Cup thanks to a thrilling four-point win over North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The Dockers were in front by more than three goals during the final term before the Kangaroos rallied to lead by two points with less than a minute to play.
There was one final twist in the contest with Fremantle taking football the length of the field and finding Ryan Murphy who ran into an open goal with just six seconds remaining to seal a dramatic 1.12.13 (94) 0.13.12 (90) victory.
Mark Harvey’s men will now face St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
Chris Mayne starred with five goals, rookie Michael Barlow backed up his 29-possession performance against Melbourne with 27 quality disposals while Garrick Ibbotson and Michael Johnson were busy contributors.
For North, skipper Brent Harvey led from the front with a team-high 25 touches, youngster Sam Wright was impressive down back while David Hale booted three majors.
A super goal from Ibbotson helped Fremantle to an eight-point lead at the first change but they should have been further in front.
The Dockers were incredibly wasteful in front of goal, booting seven behinds for the quarter.
North closed to within a point on three occasions in a see-sawing second term before a Leigh Adams major put them in front at the 13-minute mark.
But their joy was short-lived as Fremantle hit back with three unanswered goals to go into half-time with an 11-point buffer.
Goals from Liam Anthony and Ed Lower saw the Roos level the scores early in the third term before Mayne’s third and majors from Johnson and Murphy gave the Dockers a handy break.
North got one back through Drew Petrie who converted from close range after the siren to reduce the deficit to 12 points at three-quarter time.
The Dockers held a 19-point lead at the 12-minute mark of the final stanza and appeared to be on course for a win but the Kangaroos lifted and kicked three goals without reply before a behind from Lower tied things up.
All the momentum was with North but misses from Ben Warren and Lower left the door ajar for Fremantle.
NORTH MELBOURNE: 2.2, 6.5, 9.8, 13.12 (90)
FREMANTLE: 1.1.7, 1.6.7, 1.9.11, 1.12.13 (94)
SUPER GOALS: NORTH MELBOURNE: Nil
FREMANTLE: Ibbotson
GOALS: NORTH MELBOURNE: Hale 3, Petrie 2, Adams, Anthony, Goldstein, Harding, Harvey, Lower, McIntosh, Warren
FREMANTLE: Mayne 5, Johnson 2, Murphy 2, Ballantyne, Fyfe, Grover
BEST: NORTH MELBOURNE: Harvey, Wright, Swallow, Anthony, Hale
FREMANTLE: Mayne, Barlow, Ibbotson, Johnson, Ballanytne, Pearce
INJURIES: NORTH MELBOURNE:TBC
FREMANTLE: Grover (knee),
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Matthew Pavlich, Des Headland and Paul Hasleby were all late withdrawals for Fremantle
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Margetts, B.Ryan, McInerney
CROWD: 7,877 at ETIHAD STADIUM
FREMANTLE defender Greg Broughton has been cleared of engaging in rough conduct against Melbourne's Ricky Petterd.
Broughton was reported in the third quarter of the Dockers' 47-point win in Sunday night''s NAB Cup clash at Subiaco Oval for a head-high bump on Petterd.
It was the view of the match review panel that contact was 'inevitable'.
"Both players were moving from opposite directions to contest the ball," the panel said.
"The ball went between the two players, which meant contact was inevitable."
"Broughton braced for contact while Petterd stumbled, which contributed to high contact being made. Broughton did not have a realistic alternative to contest the ball or tackle his opponent."
"The action was not considered unreasonable in the circumstances as; the degree of force was not excessive, the player being bumped was actively involved in the play, the player being bumped would reasonably expect contact, there was no use of the elbow, the player being bumped could reasonably expect to influence the contest and the bumping player did not jump or leave the ground."
FREMANTLE will face North Melbourne in a NAB Cup quarter-final after downing Melbourne by 47 points at Subiaco Oval on Sunday night.
The Dockers set up the victory with a dominant first term before running out 1.13.10 (97) to 2.4.8 (50) winners.
Some off the gloss was taken off the win with defender Greg Broughton to come under scrutiny for his third-quarter bump on Ricky Petterd while Byron Schammer, Adam McPhee and Kepler Bradley suffered niggles during the match.
Rookie Michael Barlow did his chances of being elevated to the senior list no harm with a game-high 29 possessions and four inside 50’s while Paul Duffield (25) and Roger Hayden (23) also won plenty of the football.
Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich and Michael Johnson booted three goals apiece, rookie Clancee Pearce was a busy contributor with 20 disposals and two goals, including a super goal while Des Headland and Hayden Ballantyne kicked two majors each.
Veteran Antoni Grover put in a superb performance, keeping exciting young forward Liam Jurrah goalless.
For the Demons, former Lion Joel MacDonald impressed in his first match for the club but top-two draft picks Tom Scully and Jack Trengrove struggled to have much of an impact, managing just 15 and 11 touches respectively.
Fremantle played with greater intent than their opposition from the outset, winning more of the contested football and the tackle count 15-8 in the opening term.
The Dockers’ relentless pressure forced the Demons into numerous turnovers and they were made to pay as Fremantle slammed on four unanswered goals to go into quarter-time with a commanding 26-point lead.
The margin blew out to 33 points early in the second term before super goals from Brad Green and Aaron Davey and a major from Brad Miller got Melbourne back into the contest.
Dean Bailey’s men trailed by just 15 points late in the first half but their good work was undone when Pearce slammed home a super goal right on the siren to give the Dockers a 24-point advantage at the main break.
Four goals to one in the third term saw Fremantle go into three-quarter time with a match-winning 43-point lead.
FREMANTLE: 0.4.4, 1.6.6, 1.10.9, 1.13.10 (97)
MELBOURNE: 0.0.2, 2.1.4, 2.2.5, 2.4.8 (50)
SUPER GOALS: Fremantle: Pearce
Melbourne: Green, Davey
GOALS: Fremantle: Johnson 3, Pavlich 3, Ballantyne 2, Headland, Mayne, Sandilands, Pearce, Headland
Melbourne: Miller, Petterd, Miller, Morton
BEST: Fremantle: Barlow, Duffield, Hayden, Pearce, Ballantyne, Grover
Melbourne: Macdonald, Jones, Rivers, Davey
INJURIES: Fremantle: McPhee (ankle), Schammer (ankle), Bradley (hip)
Melbourne: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: TBC
CROWD: 11,031 at Subiaco
FREMANTLE veteran Dean Solomon has retired from AFL football, effective immediately.
The 30-year-old had planned to play on in 2010 but he was forced into retirement due to chronic problems with his right knee.
"I've seen two surgeons in the last week and the outlook they gave me is I've got zero per cent chance of playing football again," Solomon told a packed media conference.
"Unfortunately, with that advice I had no choice"
"I'll have to have an operation similar to (former Dockers ruckman) Justin Longmuir in the next three years to give me more life in the knee after football."
Solomon said he prided himself on always putting his body on the line during his career.
"Hopefully I leave with my teammates knowing every time I went onto the field I gave 100 per cent and always committed my body in any way I possibly could," he said.
"I never let them down I feel."
"Some disciplinary areas maybe but if there was a 50-50 ball or I had to put my body on the line I'd always do that."
A low point in Solomon's career came in 2008 when he landed a crude blow with his elbow on Geelong tagger Cameron Ling which left Ling with a fractured cheekbone and saw Solomon suspended for eight weeks.
"In my mind that's done and dusted and I'm just going to remember the good things I've achieved," Solomon said.
"A lot of people may remember that incident and bring it up but I hope those people remember the good footy I did play and I was part of a pretty good side at Essendon as well."
Taken with pick 20 by the Bombers in the 1997 national draft, Solomon played 158 games with the Dons and was a member of the club's 2000 premiership side.
He joined the Dockers at the end of 2006 and managed 51 appearances.
Solomon will work with Fremantle's development and coaching staff this season.
TonyK
Cibbuano
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