Essendon held on to record a brave victory over a fast-finishing Fremantle, keeping its slim finals' hopes alive in a four-point classic at Subiaco that finished 14.11 (95) to 13.13 (91).
The Bombers were as much as 24-points ahead in a sensational final term but five goals to the Dockers saw the hosts cut the lead to within a goal with just over a minute remaining.
Fremantle broke rapidly from the centre square but, just as a full-tilt Byron Schammer looked set to collect the ball and give the Dockers the lead, Adam McPhee stood strong, laying one of the biggest hits seen this season, to cause a turnover and give Matthew Knights' men their third consecutive win.
The Dockers were three men down after Ryan Crowley (punctured lung), Riley Dunn (hamstring) and Roger Hayden (hamstring) were all forced from the ground, but led by skipper Matthew Pavlich (six goals) and massive performances from Aaron Sandilands (45 hit outs) and Peter Bell, they produced one of the bravest performances of the year, although Essendon too, was hampered by losing Dustin Fletcher to a broken hand.
For the Bombers, Jobe Watson and Mark McVeigh both earned 36 possessions, helping Essendon win the clearances despite being beaten 59-12 in the hit-outs by Freo's ruck combination of Sandilands and Robert Warnock.
Their influence on the ball, along with several impressive contributions by David Hille and Leroy Jetta, helped Essendon establish its lead, before a desperate Sandilands took the game by the scruff of the neck, leading the Dockers' revival in the final term.
The Bombers took a three-point lead into the first change but the Dockers looked to have blown the game wide open, booting five goals to one in the first 17 minutes of the second term to lead by 20 points.
After a quiet first quarter, Rhys Palmer ran riot, collecting 10 disposals as Fremantle produced several wonderful transitions from defence to attack, with skipper Matthew Pavlich firing in three goals in 10 minutes.
But Freo's young midfield was gradually running out of puff and with both Hayden and Dunn on the bench, the Dockers interchange options were limited.
The Bombers made them pay as Hille lifted, picking up nine touches for the term and scoring two goals including an impressive snap after roving a tap from opposite number Sandilands.
McVeigh was also instrumental in Essendon's fight back before half time, with Hille's second in the 29th minute cutting the margin to a point in Freo's favour at the main break.
The Dockers' injury situation worsened early in the third quarter after Crowley was forced up the race, but Essendon's defence was also hurting as Fletcher didn't appear after halt-time either.
With only one player on the bench, the Dockers put players behind the ball, leading to an ugly start to the term that was slightly brightened by a well-threaded shot from Bomber Brett Stanton.
Against the run of play, former Bomber Dean Solomon pulled one back, but when Pavlich missed the chance to put his side five points up, the ball was swept down the other end for Ramanauskas to fire in an impressive snap.
In two minutes, Jetta's clever handpasses allowed the Bombers to add another two goals through Scott Lucas and Sam Lonergan, giving the visitors an 18-point break at the final change.
Despite Pavlich kicking the first goal 45 seconds into the last quarter after Sandilands had bustled his way through the middle, majors to Essendon's Kyle Reimers and a superb snap from Andrew Lovett saw Essendon go four goals up.
But another two goals from Pavlich, a spectacular snap by Josh Carr and a major from Tarrant set up a barnstorming finish to the encounter.
FREMANTLE: 2.5, 7.6, 8.9, 13.13 (91)
ESSENDON: 3.2, 7.5, 11.9, 14.11 (95)
GOALS: Fremantle: Pavlich 6, Mayne 2, Tarrant 2, Hinkley, Solomon, Carr
Essendon: Hille 2, Stanton 2, Ramanauskas 2, Lucas 2, McVeigh, Lloyd, McPhee, Lonergan, Reimers, Lovett
BEST: Fremantle: Pavlich, Sandilands, Bell, Grover, Palmer, Mayne, Solomon, Carr
Essendon: Watson, McVeigh, Hille, Jetta, McPhee, Ramanauskas
INJURIES: Fremantle: Roger Hayden (hamstring), Riley Dunn (hamstring), Ryan Crowley (punctured lung/fractured rib - awaiting scans)
Essendon: Dustin Fletcher (broken hand)
UMPIRES: McBurney, Stewart, Nicholls
REPORTS:
CHANGES: Fremantle: McPharlin (ribs) replaced by Head
Essendon: Neagle replaced by Peverill
CROWD: 34,239 at Subiaco Oval
Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3: Aaron Sandilands
2. Matthew Pavlich
1: Jobe Watson
The Bombers were as much as 24-points ahead in a sensational final term but five goals to the Dockers saw the hosts cut the lead to within a goal with just over a minute remaining.
Fremantle broke rapidly from the centre square but, just as a full-tilt Byron Schammer looked set to collect the ball and give the Dockers the lead, Adam McPhee stood strong, laying one of the biggest hits seen this season, to cause a turnover and give Matthew Knights' men their third consecutive win.
The Dockers were three men down after Ryan Crowley (punctured lung), Riley Dunn (hamstring) and Roger Hayden (hamstring) were all forced from the ground, but led by skipper Matthew Pavlich (six goals) and massive performances from Aaron Sandilands (45 hit outs) and Peter Bell, they produced one of the bravest performances of the year, although Essendon too, was hampered by losing Dustin Fletcher to a broken hand.
For the Bombers, Jobe Watson and Mark McVeigh both earned 36 possessions, helping Essendon win the clearances despite being beaten 59-12 in the hit-outs by Freo's ruck combination of Sandilands and Robert Warnock.
Their influence on the ball, along with several impressive contributions by David Hille and Leroy Jetta, helped Essendon establish its lead, before a desperate Sandilands took the game by the scruff of the neck, leading the Dockers' revival in the final term.
The Bombers took a three-point lead into the first change but the Dockers looked to have blown the game wide open, booting five goals to one in the first 17 minutes of the second term to lead by 20 points.
After a quiet first quarter, Rhys Palmer ran riot, collecting 10 disposals as Fremantle produced several wonderful transitions from defence to attack, with skipper Matthew Pavlich firing in three goals in 10 minutes.
But Freo's young midfield was gradually running out of puff and with both Hayden and Dunn on the bench, the Dockers interchange options were limited.
The Bombers made them pay as Hille lifted, picking up nine touches for the term and scoring two goals including an impressive snap after roving a tap from opposite number Sandilands.
McVeigh was also instrumental in Essendon's fight back before half time, with Hille's second in the 29th minute cutting the margin to a point in Freo's favour at the main break.
The Dockers' injury situation worsened early in the third quarter after Crowley was forced up the race, but Essendon's defence was also hurting as Fletcher didn't appear after halt-time either.
With only one player on the bench, the Dockers put players behind the ball, leading to an ugly start to the term that was slightly brightened by a well-threaded shot from Bomber Brett Stanton.
Against the run of play, former Bomber Dean Solomon pulled one back, but when Pavlich missed the chance to put his side five points up, the ball was swept down the other end for Ramanauskas to fire in an impressive snap.
In two minutes, Jetta's clever handpasses allowed the Bombers to add another two goals through Scott Lucas and Sam Lonergan, giving the visitors an 18-point break at the final change.
Despite Pavlich kicking the first goal 45 seconds into the last quarter after Sandilands had bustled his way through the middle, majors to Essendon's Kyle Reimers and a superb snap from Andrew Lovett saw Essendon go four goals up.
But another two goals from Pavlich, a spectacular snap by Josh Carr and a major from Tarrant set up a barnstorming finish to the encounter.
FREMANTLE: 2.5, 7.6, 8.9, 13.13 (91)
ESSENDON: 3.2, 7.5, 11.9, 14.11 (95)
GOALS: Fremantle: Pavlich 6, Mayne 2, Tarrant 2, Hinkley, Solomon, Carr
Essendon: Hille 2, Stanton 2, Ramanauskas 2, Lucas 2, McVeigh, Lloyd, McPhee, Lonergan, Reimers, Lovett
BEST: Fremantle: Pavlich, Sandilands, Bell, Grover, Palmer, Mayne, Solomon, Carr
Essendon: Watson, McVeigh, Hille, Jetta, McPhee, Ramanauskas
INJURIES: Fremantle: Roger Hayden (hamstring), Riley Dunn (hamstring), Ryan Crowley (punctured lung/fractured rib - awaiting scans)
Essendon: Dustin Fletcher (broken hand)
UMPIRES: McBurney, Stewart, Nicholls
REPORTS:
CHANGES: Fremantle: McPharlin (ribs) replaced by Head
Essendon: Neagle replaced by Peverill
CROWD: 34,239 at Subiaco Oval
Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3: Aaron Sandilands
2. Matthew Pavlich
1: Jobe Watson
